Janko Kráľ Park[1][2] (Slovak: Sad Janka Kráľa, literally Janko Kráľ Orchard/Garden; formerly called[3]Städtischer Aupark (in German), is a park in Bratislava's Petržalka borough. It is located in the northern part of Petržalka, bordered by the Danube in the north, the Old Bridge access road in the east, a main road in the south and the Nový Most access road in the west. The park is one of the oldest municipal parks in Europe.[4] The statue of Janko Kráľ is situated in the park.[5]
The park was established in 1774–76[6] with the intention of creating a park for the public. Under the influence of Baroque classicism, the walks were set up in the shape of an eight-leg star and trees were planted along them. Each allée was named after its corresponding species of tree (alder, maple, willow, etc.). The park attained its present-day shape in 1839,[7] and was revamped in the 1970s.[8]
The Gothic tower (Gotická veža) is the prominent architectural structure in Janko Kráľ Park. It is the primary garden arbour and was previously a Franciscan church tower.
This Gothic tower was built in the early 15th century at the intersection of the South facing Franciscan church: carved by Michael Chnam. In 1897, an earthquake damaged the upper part of the tower, requiring that it be rebuilt, which was done in a Neogothic style by project architect Frigyes Schulek. The original top of the tower, after the earthquake, was placed in Janko Kráľ Park, where it is now an arbour.