The Primate's Palace (Primaciálny palác) is the finest Classicist building in Slovakia and one of the most elegant palaces of its era in Central Europe. It was built between 1778 and 1781 as the residence of the Archbishop of Esztergom, who held the title of Primate of Hungary. The pale yellow facade with its clean lines and central tympanum is a textbook example of late 18th-century Classicism.
The palace became famous in December 1805 when Napoleon Bonaparte signed the Treaty of Pressburg in the Hall of Mirrors after his victory at Austerlitz. The treaty forced Austria to cede Venetia to France and Tyrol to Bavaria, fundamentally reshaping European power. A copy of the treaty is on display.
Today the building serves as Bratislava's City Hall (Magistrat). Visitors can access the interior, which includes six 17th-century English tapestries discovered behind the walls during 20th-century renovations — among the finest tapestries in Central Europe. The Hall of Mirrors where the treaty was signed can also be visited.