The city stands Nitra is divided into the Upper and Lower Grad. The heart of the Upper Castle is the Castle of Nitra, founded by the Moravian kings in the 11th century. For six hundred years, he was considered impregnable, he capitulated only in 1663 to the troops of the Ottoman Empire. Nitra Castle was lucky - most of its fortifications and architectural elements have survived to this day. Today it is the center of the spiritual life of Slovakia. On the territory of the castle there is a cathedral and a palace-residence of the bishop of Nitra.
The Lower City is notable for buildings mainly of the 18-19 centuries: a church and a monastery in the Baroque style (18 century), the building of the former city administration (18 century), which today houses an art gallery, the Bagara theater and the Church of St. Stephen (12 century).
Several interesting points are located in the vicinity of Nitra. First, Mount Zobor (588 m), at the top of which is the 12th century St. Michael's Church, built on the site of an ancient Slavic settlement (it offers a beautiful view of the wine-growing surroundings). Secondly, the palace in the village of Topolchanki is one of the most beautiful palaces in Slovakia. It is made in the Renaissance style and at one time was the summer residence of the Austrian imperial family. Thirdly, the cozy town of Komarno in the south of the region with a unique historical building in the center.
Nitra is popular with business travelers. A lot of exhibitions are regularly held here. The city has the status of the most important agricultural region in Slovakia, therefore it is natural that it is in it that the country's central agricultural exhibition, Agrocomplex, takes place. The best hotels in Nitra are at the service of tourists: "Golden Key" ****, "Capital" ****, "City" ***.
Useful information for tourists about Nitra in Slovakia - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.
Nitra is a West Slovak city located on the river of the same name, which is the center of the region of the same name. The first mention of a small town lying at the base of the Tribech mountain range dates back to 828. This is the oldest settlement by Slovak standards in the 9th century - during the reign of Prince Pribin - it bore the title of the capital of Great Moravia, as the first Slovak state was then called.
An interesting detail of the prince's biography: the ruler who ordered the construction of the country's first Christian temple in Nitra was at that time in the power of paganism. Pribina was baptized much later, in the lands of the East Frankish kingdom, where he fled from Nitra under the onslaught of the great Moravian rival Moimir I. So Pribina died in battle with another Great Moravian prince - Rostislav - already a newly converted Christian.
With the fall of Great Moravia, the historical path of Nitra did not end - it became the center of the zupa within the Kingdom of Hungary. Reaching belonging to the richest Hungarian cities, she 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 this time.
The current population of the ancient Slovak city is about 88,000 people. However, the modesty of this figure does not at all rank Nitra as a deep province. Proofs of this are 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 City appears to visitors as a disorderly interweaving of streets. One of them takes tourists to the top of a hill crowned with the former Zhupan palace. The one to whom the restorers in 1908 gave a specific Art Nouveau style, demonstrating the smoothness of the curves of natural lines, diligently displacing the artificial straightness of the corners.
The architecture of the Lower City is embodied in the neo-Renaissance Nitra Museum and the modernist look 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 Atlantean figure propping up the wall of the Golden Key Palace. The polished fingers of the statue draw attention. These are traces of the ritual touch of seminarians heading for exams. What can you do - and future clerics are not alien to superstitions!
Noteworthy is the castle of Nitra, decorated with figures of Cyril and Methodius returned from communist oblivion. A plague column, which is indispensable in European cities, is also installed here. An independent attraction can be considered the view of the Lower Town, opening from the castle bastions.
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Nitra is an ancient Slovak city that was and remains an important spiritual and cultural center of the country. Here, by order of Prince Pribina, the first Christian church in Slovakia was built, and in the center of the city there are the ruins of a giant medieval castle and a cathedral complex with the first Benedictine monastery, theater performances and a wide variety of exhibitions. Local wine should be noted separately: it is not very well known in the world, but having tasted it once, it is no longer possible to forget it. But the infrastructure in the city leaves much to be desired.
How to get to Nitra
By car from Bratislava along the E571 highway (travel time is about 1 hour).
By bus from the main station of Bratislava (about 1.5 hours). Getting there by train is rather inconvenient, since the route is a large number of transfers (about 3 hours).
Nitra bus and train stations are a 10-minute walk from st. Stanichna. To get to the center of Nitra, you need to walk north to st. Stefanikov, and then go to pl. Svyatopulkovo.
Search for flights to Bratislava (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 Castle is the Nitra Castle. He 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 artists from Slovakia. Here is the former residence of the head of the regional administration - Zhupan Palace. Nearby, in the old quarter through the arch, there is a historical reserve. The complex of the reserve includes: Franciscan Church, buildings of the Big and Small Seminaries. And in the center of the square there is a monument to Pribina, the first prince of Nitra.
The XIV century Cathedral is also interesting for its architecture. It unites several buildings: the Upper and Lower Churches, 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 Moorish-style synagogue, the Camaldoli monastery, the Church of St. Stephen. The historical center of Nizhniy Grad is Svyatopulkovo Square. Here is the Palace of Justice - a monument of secular architecture of the city, as well as the Nitra Museum.
One of the largest scientific complexes in Slovakia is located in Nitra and includes an agricultural university, the University of Constantin the Philosopher, schools, and libraries.
There are several interesting places not far from Nitra. One of them is Mount Zobor, which offers a beautiful view of the surroundings. The ancient church of St. Michael is located on a hill. The town of Komarno is located to the south of Nitra. Interesting for its extraordinary buildings in the city center. Another place - the palace in the settlement of Topolchanki, is one of the most beautiful palaces in Slovakia.
At the intersection of st. Stefanikova and st. Sturovo you can shop at Tesco supermarket.
Developments
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, from year to year, the festival "Summer in Nitra" is held. The program of the event includes many concerts, exhibitions, various shows.
- Where to stay: directly in Bratislava, where almost all hotels are within walking distance from the main attractions. Or in a calm and quiet resort in the vicinity of Bratislava - Smrdaki. As an option (though very expensive) it is worth considering the Austrian capital - Vienna.
- What to see: cozy streets of the old town hospitable
