Slovakia, a fairytale town in Europe, is home to awe-inspiring castles and historical monuments. Among the intricately structured cathedrals and buildings, there lies a fairy tale Blue Church in Bratislava.
Have you ever heard of it? We’ll forgive you if you haven’t. It’s is not well-known outside of Europe or even within Europe for that matter.
Despite the fact it is not well known, it is very unique in all its features. This guide explains all you need to know about the little Blue Church Bratislava. Put it on your bucket list and if you ever visit Bratislava, Slovakia, don’t forget to drop by this lovely church.
Blue Church Bratislava (Modrý kostol)
Some of you might be wondering what these two words have to do with the Blue church in Bratislava, especially those foreign to the county.
‘Modrý’ refers to the color blue and ‘Kostol’ means church in Slovak. “Modrý Kostol” can hence be directly translated to Blue Church.
Nestled on Bezručova Street on the eastern side of the Old Town in Bratislava, the Church greets visitors with various shades of beautiful blue.
The roof, the rafters, the ceiling and almost everything else is overflowing with light blue, sky blue, dark blue and any shade in-between. Even the mosaic and majolicas are in blue.
This Church is truly the blue fiesta manifested and why it should not be missed on a city trip to Bratislava.
Most of the churches in Europe are in gothic styleitecturd arch but the Blue Church is different.
It is one of the hidden gems of Bratislava.
Origins of The Blue Church
The Blue Church in Bratislava is also known as the Church of St. Elizabeth in honour of Saint Elizabeth.
Interestingly, the countrymen waited 700 years after her birth to make this special church in her honour.
It was built as a result of a problem posed by a Royal Catholic Grammar School that was being constructed in the area. For that church, a chapel had to be built for the students.
This church would reduce the space of the school and mean that local residents would not be able to use it/
As part of a well devised plan, the head of the Church Union, Teodor Kumlik and the director of the school, Karol Polikett took their case to the Bishop, Dr. Medard Kohl.
The pair persuaded him to construct a church nearby the school. The church was built between the years 1909-1913.
Countess Gabriele Maria Szapary is also largely credited for the construction of the blue church as donated a lot of money for its construction.
Architecture
The Exterior
Budapest architect Edmund Lechner created the layout of the church, both interior, and exterior.
The St. Elizabeth Church, along with the Grammar School, were both designed by the same architect, so they share similarities. One of them is the front gate.
Above the entrance doors, lies the circular mosaic of Saint Elizabeth holding a bunch of flowers. The illustration shows that she gave to the poor.
Concrete was the main building material used for the church along with miniature blue ceramic plates.
The Interior
The interior is just as charming as the exterior.
Mostly, the interior is dominated by the majestic blue.
Near the entrance, you can find the names of the donors of the Church.
Look out for the beautiful alter picture oil painting by Julius Tury. It portrays Saint Elizabeth’s generosity.
The altar inside the Church is also very impressive with its tabernacle plated with gold and silver.
There is also a stunning Church organ which was originally made by the company Schonhoffer from Bratislava.
Current Use of the Blue Church
The Blue Church has been used for mass for almost one hundred and twelve years now. It’s one of the most unique active churches in Bratislava.
Blue Church Mass
If you wish to attend mass at the Blue Church during your time in Bratislava it occurs at the following times:
- Monday to Saturday at 7:00am and at 6:00pm.
- Sunday at 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am and 6:00pm (18:00).
All services are given in the language of Slovak. Typically, it lasts for about 35 to 40 minutes.
How to visit
The Blue Church is located on the eastern part of Bratislava city.
The exact address if you wish to visit the church is Bezručova 2, Bratislava.
If you are venturing from the Old Town in Bratislava it is about a 10-15 minute walk outside the centre.
If you don’t wish to walk buses and trams run regularly to Bezručova.
We came to Bratislava from Budapest by train using Eurail, an easy 2 hour train ride away. You can read about the Budapest to Bratislava train including how to reserve tickets with a Eurail pass.
Another super easy European city to travel to Bratislava to is Vienna. The train Bratislava to is Vienna only takes 1 hour and 5 minutes.
Opening Times of the Blue Church Bratislava
The Blue Church in Bratislava is open 7 days of the week in the morning from 7:00 to 7:30 and in the evening from 5:30 to 7:00 .
On Sundays it is open from 7:30am to 12:00pm and 5:30pm to 7:00pm.
Tickets & Prices
Some churches in Europe have entrance fees.
However, there is No entry free to visit the Blue Church in Bratislava.
It is therefore a great free thing to do in Bratislava city while sightseeing!
Nearby Monuments
Besides the Modrý Kostol, Bratislava has many awesome places to explore.
Here are some of our favourites that you can visit on route to the Blue Church.
Monument of the Unborn Children
The monument of the unborn child is also located in the eastern part of the Old Town of Bratislava, very close to the Church.
This monument is dedicated to children that couldn’t be born to this world. AKA the anti-abortion monument.
At the top of the monument, a snake can be seen crushing a bird, a warning against abortion.
It also serves a positive purpose in the city as a lot of people go there to mourn the loss of their little loved ones.
Julius Satinsky Statue
In the Dunajska Street, between the city center and the bus station, lies this magnificent statue. The statue is of a legendary Slovakian actor, singer, comedian and writer, who won the State’s Award of Pribina Cross.
Julius Satinsky is legendary in Bratislava as he contributed a lot to Slovakian Art.
The statue stands on this particular street as it was once his home.
The statue was erected as a form of tribute to him after his death.
It is possible to view the statue on route to the Blue Church.
The Duck’s Fountain
The Duck’s Fountain is located about 0.2 km from the Church.
Arguably, the Duck’s Fountain is the prettiest fountain in the city so it is one not to be missed.
The fountain illustrates three kids teasing ducks – it gets its name from there.
One legend around the fountain claims that the boys were turned to stone after they disobeyed the Water Spirit. He cursed them for all eternity.
Galeria Umelka
The Galeria Umelka, completed on 1926, is a prime example of good modern architecture.
Nestled in Dostojevskeho road 2, it is located only 0.3 km from the Blue Church.
The Galeria Umelka was made as a union for Slovak’s fine arts and is still functioning today as a gallery.
It is free to enter and the artwork is frequently changed so it is worthwhile visiting again if you have been to Bratislava before.
Nedbalka Gallery
The four floors of this building provide ample space for the permanent exhibition of Slovakian modernism – its birth and development.
Art created by the pioneers of the Slovakian art can be seen along with the paintings of new and aspiring artists.
If you would like to learn more about Slovakian art this is the place to go.
It is open from 1:00pm to 7:00pm daily.
One hour is ample time to explore the gallery which is located about 0.2 km away from the Church.
Restaurants near the Blue Church
Slovakian food is mouth-watering with its Bryndzové Halušky (dumplings with sheep cheese – we tried this meal at Hilton Bratislava restaurant), Vepřo Knedlo Zelo (pork with dumplings and cabbage) and so much more.
Here are the restaurants we would recommend visiting near the Blue Church:
Corny Café
Huddled in Groesslingova 20, Bratislava, this café is cozy and homey.
You can savor coffee, Rhubarb pie or cake all at a reasonable price.
They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The café’s Mrkovy Tort (carrot cake) is exceptionally tasty.
In the morning, it opens at 8:00am – as they say the early bird catches the worm (carrot cake) first – and closes after 10:00pm at night.
Note: This cafe takes cash only. They do not accept credit card.
U Kubistu
U Kubistu is another place that serves tasty food near the Blue Church.
The menu is interesting with food like Slovak chicken with alkaline noodles and Beer battered fish fingers with boiled potatoes, aioli and spinach.
It also has a very nice atmosphere inside and they serve great coffee which is a plus!
The soups together with the hummus and the sandwiches are very tasty.
U Kubistu at Groesslingova 26 is located about 0.1 miles from the Church.
Sole Mio Pizza
Do you crave pizza everywhere you go? Then, Sole Mio Pizza is your place!
We saw people carrying pizza boxes from there when we left the blue Church and they smelt oh so good!
Sole Mio Pizza serves Italian style pizza and is less crowded, so you won’t have to worry about hordes of tourists.
It is located at Grosslingova 31 and open from 8:00am to 10:00pm.
Moj Bar
At Dobrovicova 13 in Bratislava stands the Moj Bar, beckoning people to enter its doors!
The dim lighting, the big windows and the sofa make it seem like a very comfortable living room rather than a bar. The food is also great.
One popular breakfast item is the spinach pastry. Order it if you are visiting the Blue Church early morning. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
The Blue Church is an unchartered, beautifully crafted building. When you’re in Bratislava, you need to make a visit at this stunning Church!
Where to stay in Bratislava?
We stayed at the Doubletree by Hilton Bratislava and would highly recommend this hotel as it is comfortable and conveniently located.
To book click here for summer deals.
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