Send Gift Baskets to Nitra, Slovakia

66.1% of the population is Roman Catholic, and 2.6% is Augsburg Confessional. The percentage of other denominations was less than 0.5% (per denomination).

1. Nitra Castle

   – Built in the 16th century and surrounded by ramparts and bastions, Nitra Castle was the birthplace of the city. A Slavic tribe built its stronghold here in the early middle ages, and the town flourished around it.

2. St Emmeram’s Cathedral

   – A compound of different buildings makes up the cathedral, the marquee attraction within the castle walls. Among the structures on this site are a 14th-century Upper Church, an 11th-century Rotunda, and a 17th-century Lower Church.

3. Nitra Synagogue

   – Nitra’s magnificent synagogue dated back to 1911 and was built for the city’s Neolog Jewish community. The temple was designed by Budapest architect Lipót Baumhorn, who created 20 synagogues during the empire.

4. Zobor

   – Located against Nitra’s northern suburbs is a 587-meter hill with a panoramic view of the city. Zobor is the last peak before the Nitra Valley in the Tribeca range. Though the slopes are challenging, the scenery on top and the oak, beech, and pine woodland make up for it.

5. Dražovce Church

   – West of Zobor, this Romanesque church dates back to the 11th century and is still in excellent condition. Before the switch to Euros, the church appeared on the 100 Koruna note, and stamps still show it.

6. Upper Town

   – After passing under the County Hall, you’ll find yourself in the peaceful Upper Town, which grew up from the castle in medieval times. There are bending cobblestone streets and Baroque and Classical mansions and palaces in the Upper Town, and sights such as the Great Seminary, Franciscan Monastery, and the city’s beloved Corgoň sculpture.

7. Marian Column (Mariánsky Stĺp)

   – Between 1710 and 1739, an estimated quarter of Nitra’s population perished from plague outbreaks. To commemorate the dead and thank Mary for preventing further epidemics, this column was erected in 1750 with a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary on top.

8. Church of St Ladislaus

   – The Late-Baroque church is a must-see in the Lower Town (Dolné Mesto), which also features monastic buildings and a Piarist school. It would help if you took some time to examine the frescoes, many of which were painted by Austrian sculptor Martin Vögerle.

9. Corgoň

   – The statue depicting Atlas on the corner of the palatial house built for Bishop Jozef Kluch in the 1820s is an emblem for Nitra. Soon, it was given a new back-story: that depicted Corgoň, a Nitra blacksmith living in the city at the time of the Ottoman siege.

10. Nitra Calvary

    – Nitra isn’t just seen from the north but also from the city’s south from this rise. Numerous religious structures and monuments are imbued on the hill with spiritual meaning.

11. Diocese Museum

    – Located in the castle courtyard, the Diocese Museum houses a collection of illuminated manuscripts and liturgical treasures. Nitra Evangelistary, composed in 1083, is the most valuable text from the early days of Christianity in the region. The book was bound in the 1300s, and the front cover is embossed with precious gold.

12. Monastery and Church of St Peter and St Paul

    – From 1630, the Franciscan Church of Peter and St Paul is older than the Baroque exterior suggests. A relic from those early days can be found just outside the entrance.

13. Slovak Agricultural Museum

    – Featuring agricultural machinery and artifacts, the museum boasts indoor galleries, an open-air exhibit, and locomotives from a 19th-century railway. Discover the prehistoric farming roots in Slovakia, learn about agricultural motifs in Slovak art, and browse traditional handicrafts.

14. County Hall (Župný Dom)

    – A palatial Neo-Baroque building located at the southern foot of the upper town, where the medieval city gate used to stand. To get to the top of the hill, you must drive or walk through a passageway in this building.

15. Mestský Park

    – Nitra’s city park is 20 hectares of greenery encircling the river below the castle, all within walking distance. In summer, here is where most of the action takes place: a mini-zoo with donkeys, goats, pigs, and sheep, a playground, an outdoor pool, and a bar.