Nitra Castle is one of the oldest preserved buildings in the Nitra Region. According to archaeological excavations, the first beginnings of construction activity on the castle hill can be traced back to Roman times, when there was a Celtic, Dacian and later Germanic settlement in the castle. The first written mention of a fortified fortified settlement on the site of today’s castle dates back to 871. It mentions the construction activities of Prince Pribina and the consecration of his church in Nitra around 830. After the incorporation of the Principality of Nitra into the Moravian estate, the Nitra fortified settlement remained an important settlement center. In the period of Great Moravia, Prince Svatopluk stayed in Nitra and in the years 880 – 892 there was also a bishop’s residence here. After the fall of Great Moravia , this bishopric ceased to exist, but after the establishment of the Hungarian state , it was restored in the second half of the 11th century . The importance of Nitra Castle at this time is confirmed by the so-called . Maurus legend from 1064 – 1070 , which mentions the Basilica of St. . Emeram , in which the remains of St. . Andrew and Benedict . Andrew and Benedict . After the establishment of Hungary , Nitra Castle remained the seat of the allotment principalities , ruled by the successor to the Hungarian throne . During this period , the original Wall Wall was transformed into stone walls . As a strong and stone castle , Nitra resisted the Tatar invasion in 1241 , but three decades later in 1271 , however, it was badly damaged by fire during the siege by Přemysl Otakar II . After the fire , they restored not only the church , but probably also the fortifications of the castle . At the beginning of the 14th century , it was conquered twice in a row by Matúš Čák , and in 1431 it was besieged by the Hussites . Under King Sigismund , a new castle fortification was built in the first half of the 15th century , but even of this , little has been preserved , because in 1465 the castle was again ravaged by the army of King Matthias Corvinus . Further fortification buildings at the castle came in the 16th century , at the time of the Turkish danger , when they built a Renaissance castle palace and a new inner castle gate . During the uprisings of the estates in the first half of the 17th century , the castle was the center of military operations and in 1663 it even fell into the hands of the Turks for a short time . After removing the damage , they rebuilt the entire defensive system of the castle in the years 1673 – 1674 according to the requirements of modern fortification . However, great construction and restoration activities took place at the castle only after the end of the uprising of František Rákóczi at the beginning of the 18th century, when they rebuilt the so-called . upper church and built a new Bishop’s Palace . Constant reconstructions of the castle almost completely erased its original appearance . From the oldest development stage , a part of the Great Moravian palisade is uncovered , which can be seen in open casemates . Only a part of the Church of St. . Emeram from the first half of the 13th century has been preserved . From the Gothic period , a part of the fortification wall and a large Gothic (so-called upper) church from the first half of the 14th century have remained. From the 16th century the inner castle gate has been preserved. Only buildings from the end of the 17th and 18th centuries have been preserved in relatively good condition. The castle courtyard, casemates with a Great Moravian rampart, Vasil Tower, St. Emerama Cathedral are open to the public. Emeram and the Diocesan Museum.
The Cathedral of St. Emeram in Nitra
The Cathedral of St. Emeram in Nitra is the oldest diocesan church in Slovakia. It refers to and follows the period of Archbishop Methodius’ work, as evidenced by the bull Industriae tuae issued by Pope John VIII . , in 880. The cathedral symbolizes the teaching office of the bishop . The Cathedral of St. Emeram in Nitra rises on a 60-meter castle hill ( 190 m above sea level ) . Under the castle bridge on the left stands a sculpture of St. . Cyril and St. Methodius by Ludmila Cvengrošová on the right side a Baroque sculpture of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary from 1750 . Its author is the Austrian A. VÖGERLE and the commissioner is Bishop I. Esterházy . This sculpture commemorates two great plague epidemics in Nitra from the beginning of the 18th century. The castle, originally a drawbridge, was rebuilt in the years 1750-1780 and was decorated with Baroque statues and vases . Above the massive entrance gate , we are greeted by the coat of arms of Bishop T. Pálffy from 1673 . Behind the two gates , the smaller one for pedestrians , there is the coat of arms of Bishop Z. Mošóci from the eighties of the 16th century . On the left side there are old farm buildings , on the right there are stairs from the 17th century ( renovated in 2002 ) that lead to the Cathedral of St. Emeram . Plaques walled up above the entrance to the cathedral announce that its tower was built by Bishop J. Telegdi in 1642 . On another plaque , we can read what Bishop A. Erdödy , the secret prize and chancellor of the king , did for the church . The Cathedral of St. . Emerama consists – historically and architecturally – of three churches . The Romanesque church dates back to the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries . Some associate it with the first church of Prince Pribina . A silver reliquary from 1674 , in which the remains of St. . Svorad and St. . Benedict . The reliquary of St. . Cyril is a gift from Pope Paul VI . from 1969 . The construction of the upper church began by Bishop Meško , originally a Pole, and was built in the years 1333-1355 in the Gothic style . The lower church was built by J. Telegdi in the years 1622-1642 , after the plundering of the cathedral by the army of G. Bethlen . The most valuable is the altar of the Descent from the Cross, which consists of two sculptures . The oldest sculptural monument of the lower church are the tombstones of the bishops ; to the left of the altar of St. . John of Nepomuk is the tombstone of Bishop Jiří of Breznice , on the right the tombstone of Bishop Š. Feherkövy from 1588 . To the left of the stairs is an interesting tombstone of Bishop Z. Mošóci from 1587, on the right the confessional covers the epitaph of Bishop P. Abstémio – Bornemisza from 1579.
The Kapitulská Archive contains the oldest documents of Slovakia, namely the Zobor Documents from 1111 and 1113. The oldest manuscript monument in Slovakia is the Gospel from the 11th century with a binding from the 14th century.
Elesko Wine Park
The symbol of the winery is the travertine statue ELESKO named after the medieval guard castle ELESKO (from the Hungarian ELES kö – translated: Sharp Stone). It is also a symbol of the “guardian” of our vineyards, from which the noble unique wine ELESKO comes. The ELESKO winery was awarded the Building of the Year 2010 by the Public Award in the CE competition. ZA.AR. 2010 is located near Modra. You will find here the most modern technologies, experts in wine and gastronomy. If you want to take a look at the production of wine, there is a “path of knowledge” prepared for you, which will reveal the secrets of the royal drink. Welcome to the ELESKO Wine Park Wine Plant!
Market Colonnade – Karlovy Vary
According to the plan, the white wooden building, built in the Swiss style, was supposed to cover the springs for only a few years. However, when it had stood over the springs of Tržní and Charles IV for more than a hundred years, the city proceeded to preserve it and completely reconstruct it. Like a number of other buildings in Karlovy Vary, the Market Colonnade also comes from the workshop of Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer.
The colonnade is covered by a saddle roof and is closed on 3 sides by wooden walls. The front wall consists of a columned arcade. The market colonnade is decorated with various lace motifs carved into wood. Also interesting is the relief depicting the legend of the discovery of Karlovy Vary above the spring vase of Charles IV’s spring.
Mill Colonnade – Karlovy Vary
Not yet on sale, can only be purchased in the e-shop
Zítek’s original vision of the appearance of the Neo-Renaissance building differed significantly from its final form. The famous architect originally intended it as a two-storey building and even more lavish. After its completion, the colonnade was not received with great enthusiasm. It was said that it did not match the character of the spa center.
Since 1893, when it was extended to the Rock Spring, it has measured 132 m. Under its roof, which is supported by 124 Corinthian columns, there is an orchestra pit and five mineral springs. Its premises are decorated with allegorical sculptures. The roof terraces are equipped with 12 statues. Each of the statues represents one calendar month.
The Mill Colonnade is probably the most popular building in Karlovy Vary today, both among permanent residents and tourists.
Hot Spring Colonnade – Karlovy Vary
Not yet on sale, can only be purchased in the e-shop
The Hot Spring, a geyser of hot mineral water, has been covered by many buildings since the 16th century: a Baroque building, an Empire colonnade, a cast-iron or a temporary wooden colonnade. The next and so far the last building surrounding the Hot Spring dates back to the end of the 1960s. The colonnade was built in the so-called functionalist style and its author is the architect J. Votruba.
King George’s Ship
The cruise ship is moored in the dock on the Castle Embankment, about three hundred meters from King George Square, near the bridge over the Elbe. Our cruise ship offers regular boat cruises and one-way cruises. You can use the services of our restaurant on the boat as a pleasant diversion during the cruise. The restaurant on the boat also offers you the possibility of organizing social events (corporate parties, weddings, etc.). You can visit the restaurant on the boat in the high season from May to September and in the off-season, when the restaurant provides café services.
Cruise ship King George – regular cruises and cruises
During a half-hour boat cruise, we will take you from Poděbrady either to the confluence of the Elbe and Cidlina rivers or in the direction of Nymburk and vice versa. During regular cruises in the direction of the confluence of the Elbe and Cidlina, we offer the opportunity to get off and on.
Cruises are regular according to the timetable.
Cruises
The King George cruise ship offers regular one-hour cruises for the public as well as cruises with the possibility of renting for corporate purposes, school trips, weddings and other social events.
Botanical Garden Malaga – Gazebo
The Jardín Botánico La Concepción Botanical Garden is located about 5 km from the city center. The Botanical Garden covers an area of 25 square kilometers and contains more than three thousand species of plants from Europe, Asia, America, Africa and Oceania. The garden was founded in the 19th century and was opened to the public in 1994. In addition to a collection of palm trees, cedars, bamboo, ficus, citrus and other types of trees and flowers, you will also come across a waterfall and several historic buildings. The Malaga Botanical Garden is definitely worth a visit. In 1943, it was officially declared a historic art garden, currently considered a Cultural Monument (BIC).
Botanical Garden Malaga – Ninfa
The Jardín Botánico La Concepción Botanical Garden is located about 5 km from the city center. The Botanical Garden covers an area of 25 square kilometers and contains more than three thousand species of plants from Europe, Asia, America, Africa and Oceania. The garden was founded in the 19th century and was opened to the public in 1994. In addition to a collection of palm trees, cedars, bamboo, ficus, citrus and other types of trees and flowers, you will also come across a waterfall and several historic buildings. The Malaga Botanical Garden is definitely worth a visit. In 1943, it was officially declared a historic art garden, currently considered a Cultural Monument (BIC).
MINIATURE PARK – Matthew’s Kingdom
The miniature park is located in western Slovakia, in the Trenčín Region, in the district of Nové Mesto nad Váhom. It is located in the center of the village of Podolí near the elementary school complex, on the road Vrbové – Nové Mesto nad Váhom. The path leads under the eastern foot of the Little Carpathian Mountains, in the shadow of the peak of Velký Plešivec. Within sight of the area is also the mythical Čahtice Castle, infamous thanks to Elisabeth Báthoryová.
Exhibition
In the Miniature Park, there are models in scales of 1:25 and 1:50. On a larger scale, objects of rare churches and small objects are processed. These include churches in Klížské Hradiště and Lančár, wooden churches in Lukov-Venécia, Inovy, Topola and Kalná Roztoka. The Krupinská vartovka is also processed on this scale.
All models of castles are processed in a scale of 1:50.
The advantage of the models is that the visitor can see them in their full beauty from a “hawk’s view”. He can see them from all sides and so he can fully enjoy their diversity, massiveness and beauty. In reality, he will not see them like this, many of them are overgrown in forests and bushes.
History
The construction of the miniature park – Matouš’s Kingdom in the village of Podolí began in 2003. A plot of land near the primary school was acquired from the village of Podolí. The land was deforested and basic surface treatment was carried out on it. This was followed by its fencing and the construction of the first model – Branč Castle. It was supported by the European Union. In October 2003, the first model was christened, the accompanying program was organized by the fencing group Diadém from Martin.
In 2004, the park slowly got underway, and an extensive model of the Barber Castle – its core – began to be built. It was supported by the European Union. On the other hand, we built small models of the Živánská Tower, Krupinská vartovka, Jelšava Castle from our own resources.
In 2005, the completion of the Holič Castle – extensive water ditches – continued. A model of Šivetice Castle began to be made.