Church of St. Elisabeth (Bratislava)
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The Church of St. Elisabeth (Slovak: Kostol svätej Alžbety), commonly known as The Blue Church (Slovak: Modrý kostolík), is a Catholic church designed in the Art Nouveau style, located in the eastern part of the Old Town in Bratislava, Slovakia. It is consecrated to Elisabeth of Hungary, daughter of Andrew II, who grew up in the Bratislava Castle. It is called "Blue Church" because of the colour of its facade, mosaics, majolicas and blue-glazed roof.
[edit] Architecture
The one-nave church was built in 1907-1908, four years after the plans of Ödön Lechner to build a church in the Art Nouveau style. The so-called Hungarian secessionist style forms dominate in the church. Lechner also drew the plans of neighbouring grammar school and of the vicarage.
The ground floor of the church is oval. In the foreground there is a 36.8 metres high cylindrical church tower. A cupola was at first planned, but it didn't came to realization. Instead, a barrel vault was built, ended by hip roof. The roof is covered with glazed bricks with decoration, which serves for dividing of the church.
The main and side entrance are enclosed with Romanesque double-pillars, which have an Oriental feeling. Pillars are also located near the windows.
The facade was at first painted with light pastel colours. Later the church got its characteristic blue colour. A line of blue tiles and wave-strip encircles the church.
[edit] Interior
The interior is richly decorated with the altarpieces. On the altar there is an illustration of St. Elisabeth, depicted giving out abilities to the beggars and poor.
A model of the church is in Mini-Europe in Brussels, representing Slovakia.
[edit] References
- Part of the information in this article is based on its German equivalent.
- Lacika, Ján (2000). Bratislava, 1st ed., Visiting Slovakia (in English), Bratislava, Slovakia: DAJAMA. ISBN 80-88975-16-6.
