Nováky: River, Reservoir and Cultural Heritage

Location and Orientation

Nováky lies in the Upper Nitra Basin. The Nitra flows through the western part of the town. Roads I/9 and I64 pass through Nováky; railway line 140 between Nové Zámky and Prievidza runs along its edge. If you are looking for a hotel in Nováky, these details can help you plan your trip. First consider whether the town’s history, activities on the water or nature in the surrounding area is your main priority.

The Reservoir and How It Is Used

Nováky Reservoir, locally also called Novácke jazero, covers 18 hectares. It was built in the 1950s to cool the technical facilities of the Nováky Thermal Power Plant and regulate the flow of the Nitra. Visitors use its shores for walking, running, canoeing, cycling and fishing. The Nováky Racing Canoe Club is also based at the reservoir. The construction history answers a different question from its current recreational use: it explains the purpose of the facility, while the activities show how visitors use its shores.

Churches, Architectural History and Remembrance

The Church of St. Nicholas is one of the most significant religious monuments in Nováky. The present-day church was built in the Classical style from 1700 to 1703 on the site of an older church.

The Chapel of St. Juliana served as a burial chapel. It has a central, circular floor plan and is vaulted with a dome. A central floor plan arranges the space around a midpoint, while the dome forms its upper covering.

The Elekovská-Majtényiho kúria was built in the Renaissance style at the beginning of the 16th century as a residence for the lower nobility. Since 1963, it has been a national cultural monument and has been listed in the central register of monuments of the Slovak Republic. For the church, the construction period and style are defining details; for the chapel, the floor plan and former function are also relevant, while the kúria also reflects a historical social function.

The Nováky Miners’ Monument commemorates generations of miners whose work significantly shaped the town’s development. A monastery of the Notre Dame Order has also been in Nováky since 1941.

Landscape in the Surrounding Area

The Novácko-Košské wetlands lie near Nováky, between Nováky and Prievidza, close to the Nitra and Handlovka rivers. Mining-related land subsidence led to their formation; since around 1985, bodies of water and wetlands have developed there. Amphibians, reptiles, fish, insects, birds and various plant species have been recorded in the area.

In the wider region, the Vtáčnik Mountains between Prievidza, Handlová, Nováky and Partizánske offer opportunities for hiking and mountain biking. This adds a regional focus on mountain activities to the town’s history and the wetlands’ natural setting.

Discover more destinations: Opatovce Nad Nitrou, Nitrianske Sučany, Nitrica, Poluvsie, Sebedražie, Radobica, Malá Čausa, Pravenec

For the regional travel overview: Prievidza.