What to see in Nové Zámky: 8 tips from Milan Bez Mapy

Nové Zámky is worth a visit, and I’m sorry I skipped it for so many years. It’s about an hour by train from Bratislava, with a synagogue, the Calvary, Berek forest park and the Štrand lido to see. You’ll get the most out of the town on a guided walk with a local historian.

Quick factsby Milan Bez Mapy

Getting there

About 1 hr by train from Bratislava, about 1 hr 20 mins by car

Railway station

An interwar art deco building; look out for where they hid the loudspeakers

Synagogue

One of the most beautiful I’ve seen; you usually can’t go inside, only on an occasional tour

Calvary

Only 20 steps to the top; I ended up sitting on a bench there for almost an hour

Tour with a historian

A two-hour tour with Alexander Štrba must be arranged in advance; in 2025 it cost €30 plus admission

What is there to see in Nové Zámky? I’ll admit I didn’t go there until I was 33. After all, why would anyone go to Nové Zámky? How wrong I was. Then I found out it’s only an hour from Bratislava by train (and about an hour and twenty minutes by car). That settled it: I was off to Nové Zámky.

Here are my tips on what to see, where to go and which sights not to miss in Nové Zámky.

Tip from Milan I’d recommend booking your accommodation as early as you can, because rooms in a good location at a fair price go first. Here you’ll find accommodation offers in the area valid today.

A short history of Nové Zámky (Castrum Novum, Érsekújvár)

Castrum Novum in Latin, Nové Zámky in Slovak and Érsekújvár in Hungarian: the town began life as a strategic fortress built to hold off Ottoman raids. In its day it was one of the most modern military fortifications in Central Europe. Only fragments of the fortress survive. Its outline is still easy to read, though: the street plan follows the shape of the old walls.

Among the sights linked to this period, the Calvary and Fogd’s Bastion (Fogdova bašta) stand out. The bastion is often wrongly taken for a remnant of the defences against the Ottomans. In fact it’s a garden pavilion that a prominent family built later on. The town plans to revitalise the area around it in the next few years.

If, like me, you’re after some peace in nature, Berek forest park or a walk along the Nitra river is ideal. The route has peaceful scenery and leads either to Berek itself or all the way to the Zúgov cascades. Building a hydroelectric power station changed them, but they’ve kept their atmosphere. They’re a favourite with locals for a short outing. So what did I see?

Things to do in Nové Zámky: Milan Bez Mapy’s picks

1. The railway station with its art deco look
2. The main square, its churches and statues
3. The monastery
4. The synagogue
5. The Calvary
6. Berek forest park
7. Juraj Meliš Green Valley
8. The Štrand lido

Nové Zámky railway station and the main square

The town caught me slightly off guard the moment I stepped off the train. The station building has an unmistakable style with art deco-inspired touches, and reminds me of the Empire State Building in New York. It’s the kind of thing you might sooner expect in Prague or Budapest than in a town in southern Slovakia. The station was built between the wars and is still one of the town’s architectural highlights. Look out for where they hid the loudspeakers that announce the departures. Very creative.

From there I headed straight for the centre along the cycle path to the main square (Hlavné námestie). The cycle path seems to be very popular: the local grannies treat it as their own Formula 1 circuit. The square is a calm, spacious place with statues, historic churches and a fountain that’s pleasantly refreshing in summer. Its main landmark is the Roman Catholic parish Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, whose roots go back as far as the 16th century.

• Tip from Milan The Lutheran church and several historic buildings are close by too. They make a pretty backdrop for a short stroll or a coffee on a terrace. Maybe I was just lucky, but I had glorious sunshine, which gave Nové Zámky the feel of a summer town.

If you’re drawn to the spiritual side or simply like quiet places, I’d recommend a stop at the Franciscan monastery. It dates from the 17th century and in its early days was one of the spiritual centres of the region. There’s something soothing about the atmosphere around it: a good place to think, or simply to rest in silence.

A reader, Mária, wrote to me in a comment on Facebook: ‘If you come to Nové Zámky, don’t miss Bistro ZOOM on the square; have their fabulous Neapolitan pizza with a good tiramisu for dessert, and you’ll leave with the best memory of our town.’

The synagogue in Nové Zámky

A little further on stands the Orthodox synagogue from 1880, which still serves the Jewish community. Nové Zámky once had a large Jewish community that played an important part in the town’s cultural and economic life. You usually can’t go inside; tours only take place now and then, for example with a local historian. Still, the façade alone is worth a stop and a moment’s reflection.

I keep an eye out for synagogues in Slovakia. There are lovely ones in Banská Štiavnica too, but this one strikes me as one of the finest I’ve ever seen. Unlike the synagogue in Bytča, it has been beautifully restored and nicely painted.

• Tip from Milan A short walk from the synagogue is the Slnečnica restaurant, where the locals told me to go for lunch.

Visiting the Calvary in Nové Zámky

The Calvary deserves a mention too: a place of historical and spiritual importance for the people who live here. It sits on a gentle rise (a gruelling climb of all of 20 steps) with a nice view over the surroundings. The Calvary dates from the 18th century and still hosts devotions and the Stations of the Cross. It’s also a popular spot for a quiet outing away from the centre.

I only meant to stay a moment, but somehow I ended up sitting on a bench there for almost an hour. The calm atmosphere drew me right in. Sometimes it’s good to simply stop and watch the world go by.

Berek forest park and Juraj Meliš Green Valley

If you fancy a break from the town and some fresh air, I recommend Berek forest park. It’s a large green area with plenty of trees, benches and paths, ideal for a walk, a run or a picnic. It’s also a natural place to unwind that the locals value highly.

Another pleasant place to relax is Juraj Meliš Green Valley (Zelené údolie Juraja Meliša): less well known, but all the more charming for it. It lies right on the edge of town and feels like a small escape into nature. If you like peace and quiet, water and greenery, you’ll be in your element here.

The Štrand municipal lido

And when the weather warms up, Nové Zámky has swimming too. The Štrand municipal lido is one of the largest of its kind in southern Slovakia. It has a long tradition, several pools and a water slide, and in summer it’s a great place to relax. When it opened in the 1930s, it was one of the most modern lidos in what was then Czechoslovakia.

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A guided tour of Nové Zámky with local historian Alexander Štrba

If you want more than a quick look round the town centre, get in touch with the local historian Alexander Štrba. For more than 25 years he has been leading two-hour walks around Nové Zámky. He talks about more than 100 statues, 90 memorial plaques and the hidden history of the Franciscan monastery. He also covers the Orthodox synagogue, which is still in use, and Bibliotheka Kaláka, a private library.

He has 25 books about Nové Zámky to his name and has also put together a guide in three languages. The tour must be arranged in advance. In 2025 it cost €30, plus small admission fees at the sights; check the current price with him directly. Contact: +421 904 874 117 or alexander.strba@gmail.com

Is Nové Zámky worth visiting? Milan Bez Mapy’s verdict

So if, like me, you’ve spent years passing Nové Zámky by, thinking there’s probably nothing much there, it’s time to think again. The town has history, an unhurried pace, interesting architecture and some lovely green corners. It’s exactly this mix that makes it a place that deserves a visit.

Happy travels to Nové Zámky!
Milan