TOUR 4: Boat Tour to Ancient Devin Castle Ruin

Highlights

Scenic boat cruise to ancient Devin Castle ruin providing superb panoramic views of Bratislava’s landmarks along the river
The castle surroundings – former hope and fate for many during communism
Confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers
Devin Castle – gem of the South-West Slovakia; the very best views from the castle
Unique currant wine tasting

Overview

TOUR STARTS IN FRONT OF THE SLOVAK NATIONAL THEATRE

Individual tour arrangements for groups can be agreed over the email. The tour lasts 5 hours approximately. You will need to print your tour confirmation to show it to your tour guide. If you do not manage to print your tour confirmation bring it in an electronic form (phone, tablet, etc.) please.

You join your tour in front of the Slovak National Theatre (Hviezdoslavovo Square; 09.00am or 13.30pm according to your chosen time). Please wait in front of the theatre, next to the fountain; your tour guide will come to pick you up.

COMING TO JOIN THIS TOUR FROM VIENNA?

Perfect choice! Train or bus journey from Vienna to Bratislava takes only about 1 hour, the trains and buses run to Bratislava and back to Vienna every hour so do join this excellent tour!

To help you decide how to get to/from Bratislava, here are some chosen local public transport connections:

Trains

* In Bratislava get on the bus 93 from the Main train station (Hlavna Stanica) and get off on Hodzovo Square (Hodzovo Namestie) – 2 stops. From here it is just about 10-15 minute walk across the city centre to the Slovak National Theatre!

Leaving Vienna (Hauptbahnhof)	Arriving at Bratislava main train station (Hlavna Stanica)
05:16	06:22
06:16	07:22
07:16	08:22
08:16	09:22
09:16	10:22
10:16	11:22
11:16	12:22
12:16	13:22
13:16	14:22

Leaving Bratislava main train station (Hlavna Stanica)	Arriving in Vienna (Hauptbahnhof)
13:38	14:43
14:38	15:43
15:38	16:43
16:38	17:43
17:38	18:43
18:38	19:43
20:38	21:43
22:38	23:43

Buses (Regiojet)

You will get off the bus at SNP Bridge (Most SNP) stop. From here take a short walk to the Slovak National Theatre, just about 5-7 minutes across Hviezdoslavovo Square.

Leaving Vienna (Busterminal Stadioncenter, Engerthstrasse 242-244)	Arriving in Bratislava (Most SNP)
06:25	07:45
07:25	08:45
08:25	09:45
09:25	10:45
10:25	11:45
11:25	12:45
12:25	13:45
13:25	14:45

Leaving Bratislava (Most SNP)	Arriving in Vienna (Busterminal Stadioncenter, Engerthstrasse 242-244)
12:45	13:55
13:45	14:55
14:45	15:55
15:45	16:55
16:35	17:45
17:45	18:55
18:45	19:55
19:45	20:55

Buses (Blaguss)

You will get off the bus at SNP Bridge (Most SNP) stop. From here take a short walk to the Slovak National Theatre, just about 5-7 minutes across Hviezdoslavovo Square.

Leaving Vienna (VIB, Erdbergstrasse 200/A)	Arriving in Bratislava (Most SNP)
06:00	07:05
08:30	09:35
09:15	10:20
10:30	11:35
11:30	12:35
13:30	14:35
14:30	15:35
16:30	17:35

Leaving Bratislava (Most SNP)	Arriving in Vienna (VIB, Erdbergstrasse 200/A)
12:00	13:00
13:00	14:00
14:00	15:00
16:05	17:05
17:05	18:05
19:00	20:00
20:30	21:30
21:30	22:30
23:00	00:00

ANCIENT DEVIN CASTLE RUIN – THE PROUD CITADEL ON THE CLIFF

This boat tour takes you to discover one of the most beautiful places around Bratislava. Enjoy the popular cruise to Devin castle providing excellent views of some of the greatest Bratislava landmarks along the Danube’s riverbanks. The castle towers on a cliff high above the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers. It is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Slovakia and Central Europe and offers unmissable views of the surrounding country!

Tour Itinerary

SCENIC BOAT CRUISE TO ANCIENT DEVIN CASTLE RUIN

This popular cruise provides excellent views of some of the greatest Bratislava landmarks along the Danube’s riverbanks. It starts with seeing the important sights of Bratislava Historical Centre, St. Martin’s Cathedral, Bratislava Castle, Slovak Parliament and then it continues towards our destination Devin Castle copying the border with Austria. We may be accompanied by water birds that are in abundance along the river (TICKET INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF TOUR).

THE CASTLE SURROUNDINGS – FORMER HOPE AND FATE FOR MANY

Between 1945 and 1989 during the communist era the castle was open to the public but the area surrounding it constituted a restricted military zone and was heavily fortified with watchtowers and surrounded by barbed wire. The armed border guards were in charge of preventing Slovaks from escaping across the river to Austria. The command from the communist leadership was clear: “Shoot anyone who tries to escape!”. According to the Slovak Justice Ministry, nearly 400 people were shot dead from 1945 to 1989 trying to escape behind the Iron Curtain to the West.

CONFLUENCE OF THE DANUBE AND MORAVA RIVERS

With its 2857km the Danube is the second longest river in Europe. It starts in Black Forest in Germany and has its delta in Romania – heaven for hundreds of thousands of birds. As the only European river the Danube flows from the west to the east and flows into an inland sea. The much smaller Morava river comes to us from Czech Republic. And here the two rivers met and created their confluence. The old Slavs in the 9th century considered this place mystical. They belived mixing of waters from the two rivers created special energy that reinforced their magic rituals.

NATIONAL CULTURAL MONUMENT DEVIN CASTLE

The castle ruin is situated at the summit of the Devin rock, lying at the peninsula created here by the rivers Danube and Morava, at the confluence of the two rivers. The castle had been a nearly impenetrable citadel, firmly rooted into the cliff high above the confluence of the rivers. Only Napoleonic armies managed to destroy it. Napoleon and his troublesome troops captured the castle in 1809 and, despite the armistice signed in Pressburg (Bratislava), blew up the castle before moving on to further conquests… Walking through the castle grounds you will have a chance to soak up its eventful history and relish the excellent views of the two rivers, Austrian hills and the surrounding countryside of the Little Carpathians! (TICKET INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF TOUR)

UNIQUE CURRANT WINE TASTING

In 1922 the local from Devin, Alois Sonntag came up with an idea to start making currant wine in quantities for export. Currants were grown in abundance here together with apricots and were regularly delivered to the Royal Court in Vienna. Alois was inspired by the surplus of currants grown on the local fertile slopes of Devinska Kobyla (Devin Mare). He made his quality currant wine famous in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, but also overseas. The art of making this unique wine has been living until today. Now let us sit back and employ our senses exploring the tastes and aromas of the unique currant wines made of white, red and black currants (INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF TOUR).

We will return to Bratislava port at 14:00 or 18:30 according to your chosen time. Please do not forget there is also lunch/dinner INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF TOUR which you will enjoy in one of the cozy Bratislava Old Town restaurants after the tour.

The best half-day tour of Bratislava!

Summary

Tour availability:	April, 19 – September, 1: Tuesday to Sunday, twice a day; September, 07 – October, 27: Saturday & Sunday, twice a day Individual tour arrangements for groups can be agreed over the email.
Start:	09.00 or 13.30, in front of the Slovak National Theatre
Finish:	approx. 14.00 or 18.30, in front of the Slovak National Theatre
Duration:	approx. 5 hours
Price:	95 EUR per person (minimum 4 people) Individual tour arrangements for groups can be agreed over the email.
Included:	Tour guide The Danube boat cruise Devin castle Currant wine tasting Lunch/dinner Booking fee
Excluded:	Tour insurance

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Individual tour arrangements for groups can be agreed over the email.

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