A thermal spring at 39.3 °C and the town museum in a 19th-century building reveal two different sides of Parkan (Štúrovo). Culture, the Danube waterfront, cycling stages and a fair in early October offer further concrete reasons to visit.
Culture, art and local history
The Štúrovo Town Museum is a local museum focusing on ethnography and local history. It is housed in a 19th-century building that belonged to the Franklovci family. Three halls are devoted to permanent exhibitions, another hosts temporary exhibitions, and there is also an outdoor exhibition in the courtyard. The museum thus brings together different types of displays, while its themes focus on local culture and history.
The Július Barta Town Gallery also offers changing perspectives: it has served the public since 1993, and exhibitions by local and international artists change monthly. As exhibition programmes may change, check the dates before visiting. In the park in front of the town hall, the Rozprávajúca skala sculpture commemorates the town’s first written mention. A bronze equestrian statue of the Polish King Jan Sobieski was unveiled in October 2008.
Cultural and historical sights include the former synagogue at Hlavná 32. Beside a church is a Baroque Calvary group dating from 1766, which includes a statue of Saint John of Nepomuk. Štúrovo is also home to a protected monument erected in the Baroque style in 1701. The military cemetery and monument on Ul. sv. Štefana date from 1947 and were declared a national cultural monument on 17 July 1963. It is the town’s only immovable national cultural monument.
If you are visiting in early October, the Simon and Jude Fair is a special event to look out for. It takes place annually at the beginning of the month and continues to shape the October festivities. Of the four fairs originally held, it is the only one that has survived in Štúrovo. Check the exact dates and programme before travelling.
Danube waterfront, rivers and bridge
Štúrovo is surrounded by the Kováčovské kopce hills. Burda, at 395 metres, is their highest peak. Near the town, the Hron flows into the Danube; the Danube waterfront is a popular walking area for locals and tourists. Near the Mária-Valéria Bridge, a viewing bench on the riverbank also serves as a photo frame.
The Mária-Valéria Bridge connects Štúrovo with Esztergom. It was opened as an iron bridge on 28 September 1895; after its reconstruction in 2001, it was ceremonially inaugurated on 11 October of the same year. The bridge therefore links the two towns and is marked by two significant dates in its history.
Thermal waters and leisure at Vadaš
A thermal spring with a temperature of 39.3 °C rises at the northern edge of Štúrovo. The Vadaš outdoor swimming pool and recreation complex was built around it, covering 24 hectares. Vadaš Thermal Resort has eight outdoor and five indoor pools, including the Lagúna wave pool, as well as six water slides. A lake offers opportunities for boating and pedal boating. As the resort’s facilities may change, check what is currently available before your visit.
Cycling routes of varying distances
The listed stages vary considerably in length and route. The first stage of the Ostrihom–Štúrovo cycling route is 16.8 kilometres long and starts in Štúrovo’s pedestrian zone. The second stage runs via Kamenný Most, Vŕšok and Nána back to Štúrovo; it is 23.8 kilometres long and follows the embankments of the Danube and Hron. The third stage, via Kamenica nad Hronom, Chľaba, Leľa and Bajtava, then returning to Štúrovo via Chľaba, is 42.7 kilometres long and suitable for mountain bikes only.
Another option is the cycling route around Burda, which starts and ends in Štúrovo. One section follows a forest track that can become slippery after rain and is difficult for road bikes. Take the trail conditions into account when choosing your bike, and check the latest route information before setting off.
Discover more destinations: Strekov, Nové Zámky, Pavlová, Šarkan, Dvory Nad Žitavou, Branovo, Dolný Ohaj, Gbelce.
Go to the overview of the wider area: Nové Zámky.
