For planning your trip, Žikava offers specific route information alongside its architectural and settlement history. The Zubria Obora nature trail, cycle route 5118 and a private fishing pond offer different activity options, complemented by sites of cultural and historical interest and local traditions.
Plan the nature trail and your journey separately
The Zubria Obora nature trail starts in Lovce or Žikava and runs along the edge of the bison enclosure in the protected area “Topoľčianska zubria zvernica”. It is 2.5 kilometres long, has ten stations, includes 100 metres of elevation gain and takes about an hour and a half. The self-guided trail can be walked in either direction, is considered easy and is open year-round. As access conditions may change, check them before your visit.
A bus connection from Žikava to the nature trail is also described. From there, it is five kilometres on foot along one of two forest roads to the starting point. These five kilometres are the additional walk to the start; the nature trail itself is 2.5 kilometres long. If you choose this route, check the current bus timetable, as transport connections can change. This lets you plan the walking time on the trail and the journey to the starting point separately.
Cycle route and fishing pond
Cycle route 5118 heads towards Žikava, continues to the stud farm at Breziny and then to the Žikava Reservoir, before carrying on to the Zubria zvernica. The named stops provide a clear sequence for the route, without implying a specific duration or level of difficulty.
Another activity option is the private Žikava fishing pond, a designated carp fishing water. The “catch and release” principle applies there; fish caught can be purchased according to the current price list. If you include the pond in your plans, check the current rules before your visit. This keeps the fishing option distinct from the cycle route and the self-guided nature trail.
Building history and traces of the past
Žikava was first mentioned in writing in 1075. At the Hájky archaeological site, stone chips and fragments of ancient pottery are among the sporadic prehistoric finds. A settlement near Hájky is attributed to the Neolithic Lengyel culture and dates to around 4000 BC. These archaeological finds and the first written mention thus relate to different periods in the village’s history.
The Church of St. Charles Borromeo was built in 1804. Originally, it was a single-nave building with an oval-ended presbytery and a tower built into the west façade. “Single-nave” describes a church with one main nave; the other details describe the presbytery’s end and the tower’s location. The chapel of “Sedembolestnej Panny Márie” is also one of Žikava’s cultural and historical sights.
Local connections and traditions
The National Stud Farm Topoľčianky has been permanently based in Žikava since 1962. Another cultural connection is the artist František Horniak, who was born in Žikava on 16 June 1956 and has created around 150 postage stamp engravings to date. These local connections add more recent chapters to the area’s architectural and settlement history, without prescribing a separate visiting programme.
Well-preserved folk traditions include Fašiangy, the raising of maypoles and church feasts. Specific dates and public programmes may vary. Your stay can therefore include a range of activities: a walk with clear time and distance information, a cycle route with named stops, or an exploration of Žikava’s archaeological, architectural and cultural history.
Discover more destinations: Čierne Kľačany, Tesárske Mlyňany, Lovce, Nemčiňany, Ladice, Zlatno, Velčice, Beladice
For the broader travel overview: Zlaté Moravce.
