Číčov

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Číčov is a village in Rye Island, in southwestern Slovakia, in the district of Komárno. It lies on the Danube Plain, on the left bank of the Danube, 30 km west of Komárno and 10 km south of Veľký Meder. The village is easily accessible from Komárno and Veľký Meder with suburban services. The nearest railway station is in Zemianska Olča, 9 km away.

Číčov is archaeological site settled since the Neolithic era. It was mentioned in 1172 for the first time as a property of the Benedictine monastery of Pannonhalma. From 1268 until the 17th century it was the serf village of Komárno Castle. Several yeoman families owned it. Then, the ownership of it got the Zichy family, and since 1776 it became the seat of the family line. Due to the position of the Danube in the village, it was an important place where fishermen lived.

 A catastrophic flood in 1965 destroyed almost the entire village. Číčov quickly recovered from the shock, new buildings were built, but on the other hand Číčov almost completely lost its original appearance.

The National Nature Reserve Dead Arm of Číčov is one of the best conserved and most precious places, from the point of view of natural history, of Rye Island. The dead arm was once a lateral arm of the Danube, but part of the water complex, which is the Lion lake originated in 1899, during floods when the Danube antiflood dike broke. Its area together with the protected areas is 135 ha, of which water covers 76.5 hectares. This area is a protected natural reservation since 1964, which was named Lion after a French soldier, who settled on the shore in and of the World War II. Visiting the reservation is possible only on foot, and only on marked trails. On the south side of the reservation, along the Danube is a cycling track.

Sights:

-      The instructive path along the Dead Arm of Číčov – instructive path is 6 km long and it has 12 stops. It leads around the Lion lake.

-      The manor house built in the Late Baroque style in 1776 and adapted in the late 19th century – two storied building with four corner towers. Since 1992 it is the restitution of property of the Kálnokyovcov. By the mansion there is a notable English park.

-      The Roman Catholic church of Assumption of the Virgin Mary: originally Baroque church from 1677 and adapted in Neo-Classical taste in the late 18th century.

-      The Neo-Classical Reformed church from 1784. The tower was added to it in 1792.

There are private accommodations, pubs and various shops in the village.