St. Martin's Cathedral Dóm svätého Martina |
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St. Martin's Cathedral, Bratislava
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Basic information | |
Location | Old Town, Bratislava, Slovakia |
Affiliation | Catholic |
Year consecrated | 1452 |
Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
Website |
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Architectural description | |
Architectural type | Fortified church |
Architectural style | Gothic |
Height (max) | 85 meters |
The St. Martin's Cathedral (Slovak: Katedrála svätého Martina, German: Kathedrale des Heiligen Martin, Hungarian: Szent Márton-dóm or Koronázó templom) is a church in Bratislava, Slovakia, and the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bratislava. It is situated at the western border of the historical city center below Bratislava Castle. It is the largest and one of the oldest churches in Bratislava, known especially for being the coronation church of the Kingdom of Hungary between 1563 and 1830.
Together with the castle on the hill adjacent, and somewhat similar in its striking but fairly stark Gothic lines and colouring, St Martin's 85 m (279 ft) spire dominates Old Town’s skyline. The tower virtually formed a part of the town’s fortifications, built as it was into the city’s defensive walls.
As with the castle, the surroundings of St Martin's are as memorable as the structure itself. In the cathedral’s case, this includes the picturesque remains of outbuildings in a spacious staired courtyard, and a working seminary with robed adepts on a cobblestone side-street. A small but significant neighbour of the cathedral is a monument to the synagogue, which stood next door for centuries until the Communist government demolished it around 1970 to make room for a new Nový Most bridge. The cathedral contains the remains of Saint John the Merciful who died in the early 7th Century.
The nave of the structure consists of three aisles divided by two rows of eight columns. It has an overall floor area of 69.37 m × 22.85 m (227.6 ft × 75.0 ft) with a maximum height of 16.02 m (52.6 ft). The tower is 85 m (279 ft) high and at one time was part of the medieval city fortifications. The cathedral is constructed in the traditional crucifix shape.