Zámocká 932/14, 901 01 Malacky, Slovensko
The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary and the Franciscan monastery with protective walls and four towers date to 1653. They were constructed by the Pálffy family in a Renaissance-Baroque style on the site of the former Balassa family Renaissance manor house which was later expanded to include a church. The interior of the church was updated in 1760 while the monastery expanded in 1890 and both structures were renovated in 1928. The interior courtyard, known as the Garden of Eden, is located between the individual wings of the monastery. Art lovers will appreciate the primary wooden altar of the Virgin Mary (from 1720) completed by Master Sagén. The Baroque organ from 1729 by Q. Dietrich is also of note. The church's other features of note include the epitaph of Count Pálffy and the Scala Santa, a masterful copy of the stairs Jesus Christ had to take on his last journey. Identical copies can only be found in the Vatican and in Jerusalem. The Scala Santa is located in a separate chapel. A visitor is to ascend the stairs on the left-hand side on their knees as legend has it that beneath every step are the encased the bodily remains of various saints. The stairs are descended in a standard, standing position along the right-hand side. The chapel is currently undergoing renovations.
When in Bratislava, don't miss the trip to the castle of Devin! It is very close to the old town od Bratislava, around 10 km and you'll get there with ease. Standing on a massive cliff, 212 meters above the ground, the castle serves as a museum with several exhibitions.
Devín Castle standing on a massive rock hill above the confluence of the Danube and Morava is an unusually impressive landmark. It is part of the oldest history of Slovakia. Its ground plan is very irregular. Today we enter the castle through the western Moravian Gate.
The castle, on a hill above the old town, dominates the city of Bratislava. It features in the first written reference to the city, which appears in the Annals of Salzburg of 907, in association with a battle between Bavarians and Hungarians.
The city of Senec is located at southwest Slovakia, in Bratislava county, 25km east of Bratislava. The most precious historical monument is on central square of Senec, the fortress-church Turecky Dum (Turkish house).