Great Hall

The Great Hall is the largest and most distinguished room in the Grassalkovich Palace, the seat of the President of the Slovak Republic. It is situated on the first floor of this historic building. Even its entrance foyer has an imposing decor indicating that this is a venue for important social, political and cultural events. The hall reaches a height of 9.4 metres.

In the 18th century it was used for balls and concerts and now, it is the venue for all the major constitutional acts of the head of state – the appointment and departure from office of members of the government and other functionaries, official receptions, the signing of the guest book, press conferences and ceremonial lunches.

The hall is exceptionally rich in historical decoration. The walls feature stucco imitating marble, complemented by gilded ornaments. All gilding above two metres is the original from the 18th century; lower sections were restored in the 1990s. The design is attributed to the prominent Viennese architect Nicolas Pacassi, court architect to Maria Theresa. The hall’s grandeur is further elevated by crystal chandeliers from the late 19th century, electrified before the First World War, and a massive Bidjar-type oriental carpet, woven in Iran around 1890.

White Baroque tiled stoves with gilded details are installed in the corners of the room. These are replicas of 19th‑century originals made by the Bratislava restorer Mr Novota and his wife. Although fully functional, the stoves now serve primarily as decoration, since the room is heated by underfloor heating. The hall also retains its original gilded wooden sconces from the 18th century, which combine harmoniously with the other furnishings to give the room a coherent historical character.

The Standard of the President of the Slovak Republic stands against the west wall of the hall and serves as a backdrop for official photographs. Most of the furniture in the hall dates from the late 19th century and the modern lecterns have been designed to harmonise with it.

The Great Hall has been preserved almost as Maria Theresa herself saw it during her visit to the palace in 1775. Thanks to this authenticity, it remains a symbol of dignity, continuity and the representative character of the highest constitutional institution of the Slovak Republic.