Attention, border!
Devín in the Iron Curtain 1948 – 1989

The exhibition is located in the middle castle – after crossing the footbridge to the middle castle you will find it on the premises on your left.

The new exhibition of the Bratislava City Museum focuses on the history of Devín Castle and its surroundings in the context of the Iron Curtain. This year’s 35th anniversary of the fall of the communist regime in then Czechoslovakia is a moment when it is necessary to remember that democracy and freedom in the full spectrum of shades, as we know it today, is not automatic and may not be eternal. The exhibition aims to map the tightening restrictions on freedom of movement since the February coup in 1948 when the communist party seized power in Czechoslovakia. It describes the impact of these restrictions on the lives of the inhabitants of Slovakia, specifically Devín district, which became practically inaccessible in the 1950s. It specifically focuses on the construction of Devín Castle during the communist regime and military measures on the border with Austria. The exhibition also includes descriptions of specific escape attempts across the Devín section of the state border.

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Schedule a trip to one of the most important national cultural heritages in Slovakia. Apart from historical or natural assets, the Devín Castle also offers the exposition with precious archaeological findings or events for the whole family. Get familiar with the castle and its close neighbourhood which has a lot going for it.