Nové Zámky: Nature, Culture and Thermal Waters

In the Nové Zámky District, wetlands with distinctive species, historic buildings and geothermal baths offer a variety of travel experiences. To plan your trip, you can first decide whether nature, cultural history, thermal waters or a cycling route will shape your stay. The best way to get around also depends on your focus: some attractions are in Nové Zámky itself, while others are associated with places across the district.

Wetlands and Rare Species

The 590-hectare Parížske močiare protected area is home to the only confirmed breeding site of the Moustached Warbler in Slovakia. The Žitavský luh protected area preserves the last remnant of an original meandering watercourse across 124 hectares. The Spotted Crake and Western Marsh Harrier nest there every year; the area is also an important stopover and migration site for waterbirds, especially the Garganey. These examples show the variety of nature conservation themes in the district, from an important bird area to a preserved river landscape.

The Kamenínske slaniská Natura 2000 site covers 144.74 hectares in Kamenín and Kamenný Most. The plant life is also noteworthy at certain protected sites: Čenkovská step National Nature Reserve is one of two national nature reserves in the Čenkov protected area and is home to the only occurrence of Ephedra distachya in Slovakia. Burda is part of Kováčovské kopce National Nature Reserve and is also the reference point for one of the cycling routes described here.

Museums, Art and Regional Culture

The permanent exhibitions at the Múzeum Jána Thaina are devoted to archaeology, history, ethnography and notable regional figures. Its collection and research areas include archaeological finds, historical and folk-art collections, and library holdings. The Galéria umenia Ernesta Zmetáka offers a different perspective, with permanent exhibitions of European art from the 16th to the 20th century and an exhibition on Lajos Kassák. Guided tours, workshops, lectures and film screenings complement the program; dates for individual events vary.

Another aspect of the region’s cultural history is Žitavská paprika, which has protected designation of origin status in the European Union. At the archaeological tell of Zámeček near Nitriansky Hrádok, the remains of several generations of ancient settlements lie one on top of another. The site was established about 5,000 years ago. Different time periods are thus represented side by side in the region, from prehistoric settlement layers to art collections featuring works spanning several centuries.

Buildings and History in Nové Zámky

In Nové Zámky, surviving bastions recall the former fortress and reveal the city’s hexagonal layout. The preserved Forgách Bastion is home to the Calvary, dating from 1779. The Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Cross was built in 1584 and 1585. A Baroque Holy Trinity sculpture group from 1749 commemorates the great plague epidemic of 1740.

The Orthodox synagogue, which has survived to this day, is rectangular, single-storey and has a choir. Several Holocaust memorials are located in the synagogue and on its grounds. Group and individual visits can be arranged in advance through the tourist information office or by email. If you plan to visit, arrange it beforehand. Oak trees more than 200 years old grow in Berek Forest Park.

Thermal Waters and Baths

Podhájska combines thermal bathing with geothermal features. The thermal spa there uses highly mineralised geothermal healing water, whose mineral composition is comparable to that of the Dead Sea. The geothermal water was tapped in 1973 and reaches temperatures of up to 83°C at a depth of 1,900 metres. The thermal spa includes the Aquamarin wellness centre, with bathing, vitality and sauna areas as well as massage services. Check the current details of the facilities before your trip.

Other figures describe different baths in the district: Vadaš Thermal Resort in Štúrovo covers 25 hectares and has nine pools. At Štrand Emila Tatárika, thermal water rises from a geothermal well drilled to a depth of 1,506 metres and reaches 52°C. If you are comparing thermal facilities, these differences can help you narrow down your preferences.

Cycling Route and Travel Connections

The 30.5-kilometre cycling loop around Burda begins and ends in Štúrovo and passes through Kamenica nad Hronom, Chľaba and Leľa. Its length and the places along the route give the ride a clearly defined course; route and access conditions may change. Check the current route conditions before setting off.

Nové Zámky and Palárikovo are important railway hubs in the district and useful for planning onward travel. Road border crossings are located in Štúrovo and Salka. The Danube forms part of the southeastern border of the Nové Zámky District with Hungary. Nature and culture thus meet in a region close to the border; for practical trip planning, it is worth deciding early on what you want to focus on.

Discover more destinations: Dolný Ohaj, Dvory Nad Žitavou, Veľké Lovce, Travnica, Kamenín, Nové Zámky, Podhájska, Parkan, Bánov, Bíňa, Sikenička, Strekov, Svodín, Šarkan, Šurany, Tvrdošovce, Úľany Nad Žitavou, Rúbaň, Gbelce, Hul, Chľaba, Jatov, Kamenný Most, Branovo, Rastislavice, Kmeťovo, Komjatice, Lipová, Ľubá, Malá Nad Hronom, Mana, Michal Nad Žitavou, Mužla, Nána, Nová Vieska, Palárikovo, Pavlová, Radava, Veľký Kýr, Čechy.

For the broader travel overview: Nitra Region.