Open the left nitro menu. What is worth seeing in Nitra? What are functional cookies
By clicking anywhere on our site or clicking “Accept”, you agree to the use of cookies and other technologies for the processing of personal data. You can change your privacy settings. Cookies are used by us and our trusted partners to analyze, improve and personalize your user experience on the site. These cookies are also used to target advertising that you see both on our site and on other platforms.Useful information for tourists about Nitra in Slovakia - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.
Nitra is a Western Slovak city located on the river of the same name, and is the center of the region of the same name. The first mention of a small town lying at the base of the Tribeč mountain range dates back to 828. This oldest settlement by Slovak standards in the 9th century - during the reign of Prince Pribin - bore the title of the capital of Great Moravia, as the first Slovak state was then called.
An interesting detail from the prince’s biography: the ruler who ordered the construction of the country’s first Christian church in Nitra was at that time in the grip of paganism. Pribina was baptized much later, in the lands of the East Frankish kingdom, where he fled from Nitra under the pressure of his Great Moravian rival Moimir I. So Pribina died in a battle with another Great Moravian prince, Rostislav, already a converted Christian.
With the fall of Great Moravia, the historical path of Nitra did not end - it became the center of the Župa as part of the Kingdom of Hungary. Having achieved membership in the richest Hungarian cities, it was awarded the rights of a free royal city in 1248. Even the subsequent entry into Czechoslovakia did not moderate Nitra’s leadership ambitions - and in the new country the city became the center of the Czechoslovak Zhupa.
Today's population of the ancient Slovak city reaches about 88,000 people. However, the modesty of the given figure does not at all classify Nitra as a deep province. Evidence of this is theater and music festivals, local history, art and other museums, theaters that make up the aesthetic wealth of the city.
Modern Nitra is historically divided into districts. The Upper Old Town appears to visitors as a chaotic interweaving of streets. One of them takes tourists to the top of a hill crowned by the former Župani Palace. The same one to which restorers in 1908 gave a specific Art Nouveau style, demonstrating the smooth curves of natural lines, carefully displacing the artificial straightness of the corners.
The architecture of the Lower Town is personified by the neo-Renaissance Nitra Museum and the modernist appearance of the city theater. And the concert and exhibition halls of Nitra are located in the synagogue building, which carefully recreates the Moorish style.
A specific attraction of the town is the figure of Atlas, propping up the wall of the Golden Key palace. The polished fingers of the statue attract attention. These are traces of ritual touches of seminarians heading for exams. What can you do - and future clerics are no strangers to superstitions!
The castle of Nitra is worthy of attention, decorated with figures of Cyril and Methodius returned from communist oblivion. The plague column, which is indispensable in European cities, is also installed here. The view of the Lower Town from the castle bastions can be considered an independent attraction.
Nitra from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Nitra.
- Tours for the New Year Worldwide
- Last minute tours Worldwide
Nitra is an ancient Slovak city that was and remains an important spiritual and cultural center of the country. Here, on the orders of Prince Pribina, the first Christian church in Slovakia was built, and in the center of the city there are preserved ruins of a giant medieval castle and a cathedral complex with the first Benedictine monastery, theatrical performances and a wide variety of exhibitions. It is worth special mentioning the local wine: it is not very well known in the world, but once you try it, it is impossible to forget it. But the infrastructure in the city still leaves much to be desired.
How to get to Nitra
By car from Bratislava on the E571 highway (travel time about 1 hour).
By bus from Bratislava main station (about 1.5 hours). Getting there by train is quite inconvenient, since the route has a large number of transfers (about 3 hours).
Nitra bus and train stations are a 10-minute walk from the street. Stanichna. To get to the center of Nitra, you need to go north to st. Stefanikova, and then go to pl. Svyatopulkovo.
Search for air tickets to Bratislava (the nearest airport to Nitra)
Popular hotels in Nitra
Entertainment and attractions of Nitra
The city is divided into two parts - Upper and Lower Grad.
The center of the Upper Town is Nitra Castle. It is the center of the country's spiritual life. At the top of this part of the city is the Nitra Gallery, which displays works by contemporary Slovak artists. The former residence of the head of the regional administration, the Župansky Palace, is also located here. Nearby, in the ancient quarter through the arch, there is a historical reserve. The complex of the reserve includes: the Franciscan Church, the buildings of the Major and Minor Seminaries. And in the center of the square is a monument to Pribina - the first prince of Nitra.
The 14th century Cathedral is also interesting in its architecture. It combines several buildings: the Upper and Lower Church, as well as the Church of St. Emeram and is considered one of the most beautiful in Slovakia.
A distinctive feature of Nizhny Grad is the presence of churches of various denominations: a synagogue in the Moorish style, the Camaldolean monastery, the Church of St. Stephen. The historical center of Nizhny Grad is Svyatopulkovo Square. The Palace of Justice is located here, a monument of secular architecture of the city, as well as the Nitra Museum.
Nitra is home to one of the largest scientific complexes in Slovakia and includes an agricultural university, the University of Constantine the Philosopher, schools, and libraries.
Not far from Nitra there are several interesting places. One of them is Mount Zobor, which offers beautiful views of the surrounding area. On a hill is the ancient church of St. Michael. South of Nitra is the city of Komarno. It is interesting for its unusual buildings in the city center. Another place - the palace in the settlement of Topolčanki, is one of the most beautiful palaces in Slovakia.
At the intersection of the street. Stefanikova and st. In Sturovo you can shop at the Tesco supermarket.
Events
Nitra is an important agricultural region of Slovakia and is a fairly popular center for business tourists. It is here that the central agricultural exhibition “Agrocomplex” is held annually.
Also, the Summer in Nitra festival is held every year. The event program includes many concerts, exhibitions, and various shows.
- Where to stay: directly in Bratislava, where almost all hotels are within walking distance of the main attractions. Or in a calm and quiet resort in the vicinity of Bratislava - Smrdak. As an option (albeit a very expensive one), it is worth considering the Austrian capital - Vienna.
- What to see: cozy streets of the old city of hospitable
TOURISTS' ANSWERS:
Nitra is a city in Western Slovakia, 90 kilometers from the capital of the country Bratislava, located on the banks of one of the tributaries of the Danube - the Nitra River, near the spurs of the Tribec Mountains. The city is considered the cradle of Slovak Christianity and one of the strongholds of Catholicism today. Nitra is divided into the Upper and Lower Cities.
Nitra Castle
A magnificent castle complex in the heart of the Upper Town, offering magnificent views of Nitra and the surrounding area. On the castle grounds there is a cathedral where you can listen to organ music, a bishop's palace and a number of non-religious buildings. Particularly interesting is the stone bridge leading to the castle gates. It is decorated with statues of saints and stone vases.
Marian Column or Plague Column
The Marian Column, an elegant structure in the Baroque style, received its second name in memory of those who died during the plague epidemic. The column is located in the very center of the Upper City, in the Nitra Castle.
Nitra Cathedral (Castle Cathedral)
The Castle Cathedral is a religious complex consisting of St Emmeram's Church, the Upper and Lower Churches. The most significant of these architectural structures is the Emmerama Church, built in the Romanesque style with Gothic elements, located within the walls of Nitra Castle. The construction of the church took place in the 11th-13th centuries.
Župani Palace
The city palace, actually located in the Lower City, divides Nitra into the Upper and Lower City. Built in the neo-baroque style, this palace served as the seat of the county of Nitra. Later the building was rebuilt in Art Nouveau style. Nowadays there is the Nitra Gallery, where you can see the works of contemporary Slovak artists.
Svyatoplukova Square
The center of Nizhny Grad is Svyatoplukova Square. The Nitra Museum and the Palace of Justice are located here. Various performances and events are often held on the square. Here, on Svyatoplukova Square, there is the building of the Andrei Bagar City Theater, unusual for local architecture, built in a modernist style. The theater, in addition to its appearance, is famous throughout Slovakia for its productions. Folklore festivals are also held here.
Mount Zobor and St. Michael's Church
Low, less than 600 meters, Mount Zobor, which is part of the Slovak National Nature Reserve, is located in the suburbs of Nitra. Perched on the slopes of the mountain is a village called Drazovce, the most valuable architectural structure of which is the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, built in the 12th century. There is also a small castle with a museum of the history of Nitra and a tiny garden.
Palace in Topolchanki
In the immediate vicinity of the city, in a village called Topolčanki, there is a magnificent Renaissance palace, recognized as one of the most beautiful in all of Slovakia. Previously, this was the residence of the Austrian imperial family.
Komarno Fortress
In the vicinity of Nitra, in the town of Komárno, there is a fortress of the same name, which is part of the fortifications on the Danube River, built by the Hungarians. The Old Fortress, built by Italian architects, and the New Fortress, with eleven bastions, stand out. Nowadays, in the Komarno fortress there is a museum “Roman Lapidarium” with an interesting collection of monuments of Ancient Rome.
Is the answer helpful?
Nitra is a city that lies on the banks of the river of the same name. Nitra is one of the largest cities in Slovakia, and it is also the cradle of Christianity in this country, since it was in this city that the first church was built. The city itself is very interesting and there is a lot to see here, but the church theme certainly predominates in Nitra. I liked the city, but my husband was clearly bored, since a sunbed on the beach was much more interesting for him than a medieval temple. I won’t describe our family disputes for a long time; it’s better to go straight to the story about local attractions, which, by the way, you can see on your own without resorting to the services of a guide. I also advise you to visit the town of Komarno, which, in my opinion, is much more interesting than Nitra and much more comfortable. We spent five days in Nitra, but we spent only one day exploring Komarno and I really regret it.
St. Michael's Street. This street is located in the very center of Nitra. Directly from the city center, it leads to the walls of the Levice Fortress. Since this street is pedestrian, it is quite natural that it is very well, and I would even say, richly landscaped. The street got its name due to the fact that the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is located on it. Walking down the street a little further, you can see a grandiose structure - the old castle of Charles Robert, King of Hungary. The walls of this fortress successfully repelled the attacks of the Turks for more than a hundred years, and in one thousand six hundred and sixty-four, the Turkish army was completely defeated. All this gives good reasons for this street to be considered the most famous and popular in the entire city. It is from this street that all city excursions for tourists begin and it is from here that acquaintance with the city of Nitra and its surroundings begins. Such popularity is quite understandable, since this street contains the most spectacular of all the most spectacular attractions of the city. 
Hotel "Hell" building. This beauty is located in the town of Komarno, which is located just south of Nitra. Looking at this building, you cannot imagine that the building is a relatively young building, perhaps twenty years old. It was built in the style of German classicism of the eighteenth century. The name of the hotel has nothing to do with poor service or dirty rooms, it's just a kind of ploy to attract tourists. This is a four star hotel with excellent value for money. The hotel staff speaks fluently four languages - Hungarian, Slovak, English and German. The hotel has all the amenities such as air conditioning, wireless Internet, satellite TV and more. I hope that the next time we go to Slovakia, we will definitely stay at this hotel, as I really liked it both outside and inside.
Lutheran Church. This temple is located in the historical part of the town of Komarno. The church was built at the end of the eighteenth century using voluntary donations from parishioners in the period from one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six to one thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight. Initially, the church had a very modest appearance, since it had practically no decorative elements. A hundred years after its construction, during reconstruction, the church acquired the appearance in which it can be seen today, and this happened in one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine. Even a non-professional can easily understand that the tower that now adorns the church was built much later than the building itself, since it is strikingly different in style. Inside the church, there is an altar, and near it any parishioner can see a painting by Joseph Kuppisa, which is a copy of the famous Goliath by Rubens. It is noteworthy that during the construction of the church, stones were laid in it that remained from the times of the Roman Empire. In one thousand nine hundred and one, the community of the Lutheran Church acquired an organ that was made in Hungary by the famous master Joseph Angzter Pecs in Hungary. The city authorities are quite sensitive to all historical sights, and that is why, for the bicentennial anniversary of the church, they carried out a complete restoration and thereby gave it a new life.
St Michael's Cathedral. This cathedral is a classic parish church, the first mention of which dates back to one thousand two hundred and three. Throughout its existence, the cathedral suffered twice due to fires that occurred within its walls in one thousand eight hundred eight and one thousand nine hundred two. In the period from one thousand seven hundred and seventy-three to one thousand seven hundred and eighty, a new church was built here by the Esterhazy family. In the central part of the temple there are superstructures in the form of two towers, between which there is a statue of Saint Ladislas. Inside the cathedral, there is an altar, which was built in one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three in the style of classicism. The altar looks like a column on both sides of which there are sculptures, and in the center it is decorated with a photograph of St. Michael the Archangel. The benches for the parishioners of the cathedral are made of wood in the late Baroque style. There is a tombstone in the cathedral, which dates back to the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six, under which the Esterhazy family rests. In one thousand nine hundred and ninety-two, a major renovation was carried out in the cathedral, which significantly affected both the external and internal appearance of the cathedral, for example, an altar made of natural marble appeared in the cathedral. 
Nitra River. This is the left tributary of the Vah River. This river is considered the most polluted river in Slovakia, since it completely lacks treatment facilities and is polluted by domestic wastewater. 
Why there are no treatment facilities on it really surprises me, since the river cannot be called small, because it washes such cities as Prievidza, Nitra and Topolčany. The total area of the river is five thousand two hundred square kilometers, and its length is two hundred forty-two kilometers.
Nitra is a regional center and is located 80 km northeast of Bratislava. The river of the same name flows through it, and Zobor Hill rises above it on the northern side. Like Bratislava, Nitra is one of the oldest cities in Slovakia. The first confirmed historical mentions of Nitra date back to the 9th century. The city is of exceptional historical importance. The first settlements here arose in ancient times. This is confirmed by numerous archaeological finds.
Already 30,000 years ago this area was quite densely populated. The first peasant settlements appeared here approximately 6,000 years ago. The area of today's Nitra was an important center of the Celts, the Hermans and, ultimately, the Slavs. Here were the residences of famous rulers of the territory of modern Slovakia - the German Quad tribes and, from the 8th century to 1108, the residence of the Nitra Principality. In the first third of the 9th century, Prince Pribina ruled here, then the city was one of the centers of the Great Morava (Veľka Morava). In Nitra there is the first known church in Central and Eastern Europe, which was built in 828.
As a result of the development of construction, the number of residents of the city in the 19th century exceeded 10,000 and this complicated its management. In 1873 Nitra became a city with a magistrate under a mayor and a municipal council. Further development of the city was greatly complicated by two world wars. In the new Republic of Czechoslovakia, Nitra became the center of the district. After the Second World War, a period of rapid construction growth began, during which, however, some architectural monuments were destroyed. At that time, numerous schools, scientific and cultural institutes were built here. The city becomes the center of Slovak agricultural education, science and production.
In Nitra there is the Andreja Bagara Theater (Divadlo Andreja Bagara). The origin of theatrical art in Nitra dates back to 1883. Then the first theater was built here. It was on the site where it stands today, but was destroyed during the war in the 40s. The new theater building was built in 1992.
Nitra is one of the oldest cities in Slovakia, which arose on seven hills. It can be said that it represents a paradise for archaeologists. In addition to its rich history, Nitra is known as an agricultural center, or a city of students, as it is home to two higher education institutions: the Konstantin Filozofa University and the Slovak Agricultural University.
The territory of Nitra has been inhabited for almost 30,000 years. Prince Pribina lived here, who ordered the construction of the first church in Slovakia in the city. King Rastislav invited the brothers Konstantin and Method (Konštantín, Metód) to this territory to spread Christianity among the population in their native language.
The dominant monument of the city can easily be called the Nitrian Castle (Nitriansky hrad). At one time, it was an impregnable fortress that was able to withstand even the attacks of the Mongols. You can get to the castle from the High Place (Horné mesto (approx. - the name of the city district)). In the Horné mesto area there is a large number of unique historical monuments, including the Church of Saints Peter and Paul (Kostol sv. Petra a Pavla), the Small and Large Seminars with the diocesan library (Malý a Veľký seminár), which contains hundreds of unique books and manuscripts, Kluchov Palace, the corner of which is supported by the stone giant Atlanta, whom the city residents call Corgoň.
The city also has modern districts, streets and parks, statues and fountains, enterprises and factories. The city's international exhibition center "Agrokomplex" regularly hosts exhibitions. This is the only exhibition center of this kind in Slovakia.
The city hosts many local and international festivals.
Official site:
