Slovakia is a beautiful country that can offer tourists many wonderful places. And it's no different in Nitra either. The sixth largest city in Slovakia is spread over seven hills, and these are Zobor, Vŕšok, Kalvária, Borina, Hradná skala, Čermáň and Martinský vrch. If you have decided to visit this city, we bring you a list of the most iconic places that you should visit while staying at our hotel.
- Nitra Castle with the Basilica of St. Emeráma
First on the list is the landmark of the city, and that is the Nitra Castle. It is approximately half an hour's walk from the hotel. So you can choose it on foot, as it can be seen from practically every part of Nitra, so you cannot miss it. You can get to the castle grounds through the county square, but you can also choose a path along the new path that starts at the winter stadium. This pleasant walk will take you all the way to the 9th century, to the time when the castle was inhabited by Prince Pribin. The name of Prince Svätopluk, who stayed in the castle during the period of Great Moravia, also resonates among the important personalities of Slovak history. If you like legends, you will be interested in the fact that a few of them arose around this castle. For example, Moor's legend says that in the castle in the cathedral of St. Emerám was buried with the remains of St. Ondrej and Beňadik. In the meantime, the castle has been reconstructed since its inception and has preserved its appearance since the 17th century. Today, it houses the episcopal office. You can find all the necessary information, including opening hours, news and admission fees, at: /www.nitrianskyhrad.sk.
- Corgon statue
On the way from the castle, don't forget to stop by the statue of Corgoň. It is located on the corner of Samová and Východná Streets, a short distance from Pribinová Square, specifically on the right corner of Canon Greguška's house, and is placed in such a way as to support the first floor. The author of the statue from 1820 is Vavrinec Dunajský. Familiarly, the statue is known by the popular name Corgoň and is named after the legendary figure of the Nitra blacksmith. He was said to have enormous strength and massive muscles on his arms. Once, when the Turks attacked the Nitra castle and it seemed that they would conquer it, Corgoň came to help. Using heavy boulders and his massive stature, he scared off the Turks and managed to repulse their first attack. The statue is also associated with a superstition that by stroking its foot, all your wishes and wishes will come true.
- Statue of Cyril and Methodius
Another monument located in the vicinity of the castle is the statue of St. Cyril and Medot. This larger-than-life statue also carries its own primacy. It is the largest sculpture in Slovakia. It was revealed in 1990.
- Hradisko Zobor
As our hotels located on Zobor, it becomes an ideal starting point for an easy hike to Zobor mountain. A pleasant walk through the forest will take you to your destination in about 50 minutes. The tourist trail starts at the Zobor medical institution. You can reach it on foot within 30 minutes, or you can shorten this journey and use public transport. Approximately 300 meters from the hotel there is a bus stop called Turistická, where you just need to get on bus number 25 and in 4 minutes you will get off at the Nemocnica Zobor stop. From there, it is only 160 meters to the medical institution. The torso of the millennium monument on the Pyramid is the most famous Zobor monument, which is located under the top itself. Hradisko Zobor is a protected cultural monument and is accessible only for hiking. Along the way, the educational trail acquaints visitors with parts of the original fortification. And the view you get at the very top is definitely worth the walk.
- Church of St. Michael the Archangel
For the next monument, we will go a little further, namely to the Nitra district of Drážovce. You can walk to the church in a little over an hour, as the distance from the hotel is 5 kilometers. The route starts from the Zobor Medical Institute, which we described above. You can do it in a few minutes by car. Whether you marry church either way, we're sure you won't forget this visit. The green meadow with the lone church from the 12th century has an extraordinary charm. It was not for nothing that this landmark earned its image on the former Slovak 50-crown coin.
- Svorad's cave
On the western slope of the Zobor hill, just 100 meters from the aforementioned Medical Institute, there is a small, freely accessible cave named after the Zobor hermit St. Svorada. He lived a very ascetic way of life. He worked hard during the day, prayed at night and wore a heavy chain around his waist. His remains are kept in the Cathedral of St. Emerám at Nitra Castle in Pálfy's reliquary. In 1083, Svorad was declared a saint and the cave thus became a place of pilgrimage.
- Calvary
The Nitra calvary dates from the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. It takes one hour to get there from the hotel. All you have to do is walk from the hotel to the castle and from there take a quiet and pleasant route along the river until you reach Záhradná ulica, and here you only have to run up a few steps and you're there. Conquering the Nitrian peak Calvary as such, it is undemanding and only takes a few minutes. From the top you can see a wonderful view, this time on the opposite side of Nitra, namely the Zobor hill.
Other interesting places worth seeing in Nitra:
- Newly renovated St. Michael's Chapel on Farská street in the center of Nitra
- Archeopark Martinský vršok
- Open-air museum and agricultural museum
- SPU Botanical Garden
- Nitra gallery on Župno Square
- Ponitrian Museum on Svätopluk Square
- Church of St. Ladislav on Piaristicka street
- Mini ZOO in the city park
- Diocesan Museum in the castle grounds
- Jewish synagogue on the pedestrian zone
- Piribina's sword, shrouded in legend, on Svätopluk Square
As long as you are yourself stay in Nitra if you want to make it even more attractive and see as much as possible, bikesharing will be the ideal choice for you. You can find all the necessary information about where and how you can rent a bike at: https://arriva.bike.