A few miles west from Bratislava you can find one of the most important archeological sites in Central Europe – Devin castle (or rather castle ruins) built in the 15th century. The castle may not be fully preserved, but the people are doing a great job in the repairs and more and more things are repaired every year.
We visited the castle a few times already and there was always a new part of the castle renovated. The great part about the site is that apart from the castle, there is always something happening in the parking space below. Some festivals, wine tasting days, even sports events (one of the biggest runs in Bratislava starts from here).
Once again we visited the castle (2022) and found new parts and exhibitions opened.
Accessibility
Because it is so close to the capital city Bratislava your options on how to get there are many.
- Public transformation: from the bus stop Most SNP bus number 29, from the bus stop Mlynské Nivy bus number 70 to the bus stop mentioned previously and there you change to the number 29.
- Car: where quite a big parking space awaits you almost below the castle and it is for free.
- Bicycle: there is a cycling route going from Bratislava that will bring you directly underneath the caste almost 12 km (7,45 miles) long.
- Waddling: and yes you can also hike there, but it will take the longest as it is almost 15 km (9,32 miles) long.
- Boat: also directly from the Bratislava harbor in the Old town you can get a ride via boat. They operate regularly from the 1st of July till the 28th of August every day except Mondays and from the 28th of August till the 28th of October only on Saturday and Sunday.
- The boat goes twice a day, morning at 10 am and afternoon at 2:30 pm.
- The route is 12 km (7,45 miles) long and takes 90 minutes to Devin and 30 minutes back.
- Prices ate 15 EUR for adults there and back, children 10 EUR and penguins for free. They even offer to take your bike.
- For more information visit their site BlueDanube.
Practical Information
The castle (ruins) is opened almost year-long, apart from December.
- November till February opened from 10 am to 4 pm.
- March till October opened from 10 am to 4 pm.
- When there is ice in the winter months the castle is closed.
ADMISSION
- Adults: 2.50 EUR
- Children: 2,50 EUR
- Penguins: free entry
For more detailed information visit the website.
A little bit of history
- The site was inhabited since prehistoric times. The first settlement of the Devin castle is believed to be in the 5th century B.C.
- Lies at the confluence of the Danube and Morava Rivers.
- After the Celts from the 1st – 4th century, Devín became part of the Limes Romanus border defense system.
- In the 9th century, this place is associated with the name of Prince Rastislav, who had a huge Great Moravian fortress built here.
- In 1809 the castle was destroyed by Napoleonic troops.
- Archaeological research has been carried out on the castle with breaks since the 1930s.
- It is declared a national cultural monument.
Legend says…
Many legends go around the castle, but the two below are the most common and I love them both. We have drama in them, a dragon, a tragic love story.
The Well
Which is still standing there now. It was prince Rastislav who realized they are missing water and decided to let a well be dugout. And the work progressed well at first, the people inhabiting the castle were happy to have fresh water soon, but suddenly the men working on digging out the well started to disappear. Whoever entered the well was never seen. One day Slavoboj, a local hero stopped at the castle to greed the beautiful prince’s daughter Miloslava. He was known to be very brave and strong.
One day Slavoboj and Miloslava were walking close by the well and he noticed a sword lying next to it. Thinking it must be a sign, he called all the people from the castle. With a rope around him, he entered the well and the people only heard some noises as if he was fighting, but then only silence fell upon them.
Then he struck hard the rock of the well three-times and was pulled up by the people. As he emerged they saw he was holding the head of a dragon, who was responsible for the disappearing workers.
After that, the well was full of water and of course he married the beautiful princess Miloslava. Water was always in the well until both of them died, then the well dried out.
The Virgin Tower
A tragic love story to be short, about a maiden who married at that time the owner of the castle Nicholas even against the wishing of her family. On the day of their wedding after they said their yes, her family interfered, and after fighting her husband lost his life. Devastated by his loss she jumped out of the tower into the Danube river and died. Since that day the tower is called Virgin Tower.
Impressions
Finally, let me guide you a little through the castle. You have to waddle up a hill a little bit to get to the entrance gate, but nothing major it is definitely bearable. On hotter summer days, you can get sweaty though.
After entering the gate a beautiful green scenery awaits you with a trail you follow. Before you reach the castle there are many things to see or to stop by at, like for example a one-room small building, which was a chapel before.
Located next to it is a meadow for animals, where they have donkeys or goats.
Continuing then on the trail it will lead you to a crossroad where you can choose to explore the gardens with various statues a little bit or you will just take the way to the castle as we did.
We were lucky cause there were some attractions happening that day, we saw expositions from prehistoric times, knights, there was a small market with various things you buy, so it was very much interesting to stop there as well.
Finally making it to the castle it does not disappoint even though the majority of it is only ruins left. The site is very nicely maintained and there is a lot of space to waddle around and explore. Some parts of the castle are still standing and as mentioned they are renovating it still, so more and more can be seen.
But the area to waddle around will not disappoint you.
What I like most about it is the view you ger from it. And if you get a nice sunny day as we did, even more marvelous. But watch out for the wind, sometimes it can get a little bit too strong and there were moments where I started to believe that penguins can fly.
They also opened a new part of the castle which takes you even higher.
The castle is positioned at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers.
Read also: Castle Stará Ľubovňa, where the kings and queens met
The new exhibitions
As it’s being constantly reconstructed and new things are added or opened each visit can become as a new one. Which is also in case of this new exhibition, offering a peak into the rich history, displaying the things found from the civilizations which lived here.
We enjoyed particularly the fact it was carved into the mountain on which the castle stands, so it created an even better and more unique experience, and of course, during those hot summer days, it’s nice and cool in here.
A great addition to the already many things you can see there. Our favorite part used to be the view from the higest point, however, with new exhititions and parts of the castle opening, we might find a new favorite spot.
The ruins have a few parts that are available for waddling around and each shows something else. Another new adition was the possibility to try out bow shooting directly at the castle grounds.
What is also appreciated it the many benches available to sit down and relax, enjoy the castle.
More exhibitions to see
Located down is another room filled with history facts and it also holds a souvenir shop, so you can buy something to remember the castle by.
After leaving the castle we still stopped at the space below it, where there are many restaurants you can sit down and have a beer or two, or wine or whatever you are craving. It is also nice to walk around the castle. The surrounding area very nice and there is even an offering for pony rides and a bird school with a mini Zoo.
So definitely a lot of things to do and to see and for me I will come back again.