Devin Castle and Fortress, Bratislava (must see)

Located at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers, the 212-meter tall cliff here has been settled since the Neolithic Age. Early fortifications date as far as the Bronze Age. With so much history on this one site, it's no wonder that many historians consider Devin Castle to be one of the most important archeological sites in Central Europe.

As it stands today, the castle here was built between 864 and the 15th century. It suffered most of its damage during the Napoleonic Wars in 1809. It is one of the oldest castles in all of Slovakia, but today it stands mainly as ruins.

The first fortifications were built during the Great Moravian period. There were smaller hill forts and a pre-romanesque church in the area as well.

The castle was better fortified in the 13th century as it guarded the western frontier of the Hungarian Kingdom. The castle changed hands several times, and a palace was added in the 1400s. More fortifications were added at that time during the wars with the Ottoman Empire.

The castle happened to be situated directly on the Iron Curtain between the Eastern Bloc countries and the West in more recent history. As a result, the area was heavily militarized until 1989, even though the castle was open to the public.

One of the most notable structures within the ruins is the Maiden Tower. The watch tower's isolated position over the river has spawned many legends. It is the castle's most photographed location.