The Old Town Hall (Stará radnica) is a complex of buildings on the north side of Hlavné námestie that grew up gradually from the 14th century onward. The Gothic tower is the oldest part, with a 15th-century cannonball still embedded in its wall — a souvenir of Napoleon's bombardment of the city in 1809. The ball is pointed out by every Bratislava guide and has become something of a city mascot.
The complex now houses the Bratislava City Museum (Múzeum mesta Bratislavy), which traces the history of the city from medieval times through to the 20th century. The collections include medieval torture instruments (displayed in the original prison cells in the basement), historical maps, and exhibitions on coronation ceremonies in the city. The museum is accessible and well laid out for non-specialists.
The courtyard of the Old Town Hall is one of the most attractive spaces in the old city — surrounded by Gothic arcades and Renaissance facades, it hosts open-air concerts and film screenings in the summer months.