Spooky Legends of Bratislava: Old Town Dark History Tour

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is best known for its huge castle dating back to the 10th century, Michalská Gate, St Martin’s Cathedral (where Hungarian kings were crowned), the blue St. Elisabeth’s Church and… a restaurant in the shape of a UFO, located almost 100 metres above the Danube. Tourists coming here enjoy the Market Square with its Old Town Hall and the Slavin Hill, while very few are familiar with the terrifying face of this European capital from mediaeval times and beyond….

Bratislava is filled with horror stories. In mediaeval times witch-hunts were practised in many European countries, including Slovakia. Crowds of bloodthirsty onlookers would gather in the town square to watch with their own eyes as innocent women accused of witchcraft were burnt at the stake or executed with a sword. Historians believe that the witch trials did not end until the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries; unfortunately, we do not know the name of the last woman who was burned at the stake in Bratislava but many of them lost their lives here. In the 16th and 17th century the territory of present-day Slovakia experienced massive waves of epidemics that took a bloody toll. At one point there were so many corpses that the city was unable to keep up with their removal outside the city walls. The corpses were everywhere: in houses, vineyards and even in streets. As the number of victims continued to grow, grave digging could not be kept up with, forcing the authorities to create mass graves, including those without coffins…. The modern history of Bratislava also abounds with many horrific anecdotes and chilling stories. The legend of the White Lady of White Street, tales of a water goblin tormenting children, a haunted manor house on the Main Square or an inn where witches used to dine are still alive. And as we well know, there is a grain of truth in every legend…

If you want to discover Bratislava’s lesser-known face, we invite you on our walk – Spooky Legends Free Tour. It’s a fascinating tour during which you’ll get to know the dark stories from mediaeval times and beyond. You will visit places associated with epidemics, witch-hunts or bloody crimes that took place in Bratislava. If you are bored with the standard city tours, like the dark atmosphere and are looking for a thrill, it is a perfect tour for you!