Tours · Bratislava · Palace
Presidential Palace
A gleaming white Rococo summer palace where Slovak presidents now reside, fronted by flag poles and a ceremonial guard. Once an aristocrat's pleasure house, today it is the dignified face of the Slovak Republic.
About this place
Completed in 1760 for the wealthy Hungarian nobleman Antal Grassalkovich, a close confidant of Empress Maria Theresa, this elegant Rococo palace was designed by architect Andreas Mayerhoffer as a summer residence and society venue. Behind its bright facade it hosted glittering Habsburg balls and musical premieres, with Joseph Haydn among the composers who performed for its guests. Through the centuries it served very different masters, becoming the seat of the wartime First Slovak Republic's president and later a communist youth center that left it badly damaged. Restored after the Velvet Revolution, it became the official residence of the President of Slovakia in 1996. Its French formal garden behind the palace is open to the public and free to enter.
Key facts
- 1760 year — The Rococo palace was completed for nobleman Antal Grassalkovich
- 1996 year — It became the official residence of the President of Slovakia
- 12 noon — A ceremonial changing of the guard with a trumpet takes place daily
📍 Hodžovo námestie 2978/1, 811 06, Bratislava