Žarnovica: Churches, Castle History and Speedway

Žarnovica combines a complex architectural history with speedway and wildlife watching. If you are looking for a hotel in Žarnovica, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: the historic buildings tell different stories, while the sports venue, club activities and wildlife watching appeal to other interests.

Churches and their architectural history

The Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter and Paul was built around 1400 and was originally Gothic. Its tower combines a Gothic core with a Renaissance upper section. Its paired sound openings are designed in the style of a campanile. This makes it possible to distinguish different architectural features in a single building.

The church also houses a portal from the ruins of the castle chapel at Revište. It is decorated with intersecting rods, diamond-shaped bases and two mascarons. The portal’s origins link a specific architectural detail with the region’s castle history.

The Neo-Gothic Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was built in Žarnovica in 1894. A Stations of the Cross with 14 stations was established at the chapel site at the beginning of the 21st century. The church and chapel thus represent different architectural forms and periods within the local sacred architecture.

Žarnovický Manor House and Revište Castle

The Žarnovický Manor House dates from the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. According to historical sources, the building was probably erected in 1490 by Filip Dóczy on the older foundations of a fortified castle. A specific historical event is also associated with the building: in 1575, a meeting of seven mining towns was held there. It was agreed that a delegation would be sent to Vienna to ask the emperor for help against the Turks.

The probably originally medieval Gothic castle near the Žarnovický Manor House served as an outer fortification of Revište Castle. The ruins of Revište Castle are in Revištské Podzámčie, a district of Žarnovica. The castle was first mentioned in writing in 1331. It stands on a rocky andesite promontory on the right bank of the Hron.

The “Majitelia hradu Revište” educational trail was established in August 2012. Its eight panels show the castle’s owners and provide a brief history of the castle. The trail thus combines portrayals of the castle’s owners with a concise historical overview.

Wildlife Watching and Speedway

Zveropark in Revištské Podzámčie offers the opportunity to observe interesting animals. This provides a distinct theme alongside the town’s architectural and castle history.

The Žarnovický Speedway Stadium is located in the town’s sports complex. According to the operator, the venue has a 400-metre speedway track with a dolomite surface. If you are planning your visit around the speedway venue, check the current operating details beforehand.

The Speedway Club Žarnovica has organized the recurring “Plochá dráha detí” event practically since the club’s beginnings. The Speedway Academy offers motorcycles, spare parts and riding gear free of charge to interested people. Since equipment and arrangements may change, check the current details before planning around them.

The railway station is also part of the town’s history: Žarnovica has had a railway station since 1896.

Discover more destinations: Rudno Nad Hronom, Brehy, Orovnica, Hronský Beňadik, Hodruša-Hámre, Kľak, Tekovská Breznica, Župkov

For the broader travel overview: Scharnowitz.