Štúrovo

www.sturovo.sk

Štúrovo is situated in the northeast part of Podunajská pahorkatina, surrounded by the rivers Danube, Hron and Ipeľ. Northwest from the town extends the Podunajská rovina and Kovačovské kopce in east, Burda and in the south Pilis Mountains. Administratively falls under the district Nové Zámky, as one of the three towns in this district. The distance from Nové Zámky is 48 km. Its distance from Komárno is 45 km and county town Nitra is 88 km far. From the Hungarian town Esztergom it’s only divided by the river Danube, and the two towns are connected by the Mária Valéria bridge. Other than individual passenger transport there are two provided transport links in and out of the town: rail and bus transportation.

Its rich history is closely connected with that of Esztergom lying on the opposite bank of the Danube in Hungary. It was settled as early as the Stone Age. In time of the Romans a guard station Anavum existed here. The town was probably founded by villages Nána and Kakath. The fishing village Kakath was first mentioned in 1075 and Nána in 1157. The Turks eventually succeeded in conquering Esztergom in 1543 and occupying Kakath. West of the destroyed Kakath, fortifications were constructed and the change of the settlement’s name to Parkan is related to these fortifications. The Turks introduced weekly markets at Parkan in 1589 and their tradition has survived up to the present days. The settlement was promoted to a town with market right in 1724. The Emperor Charles III granted market right to the town and the most important market day was that of Simon and Jude. Queen Maria Theresa endowed Parkan with municipal privileges in 1740. When the railway from Budapest to Bratislava in 1857 was finished, Parkan became an important railway junction. Štúrovo is today an important industrial centre. Above all the paper and pulp industry are developed, although the food, textile, building material and machinery industries are also represented in Štúrovo.

Štúrovo is above all a spa resort. The recreation complex Vadaš is well known even abroad. Thanks to its  10 000 person capacity, refurbished swimming pools of variable size, sheltered swimming pool, rebuilt buffets and sporting facilities it provides ideal conditions for relaxation to all fans of sun and water.

In the swimming complex you can find 7 external and 2 sheltered swimming pools, including a massage pool, external all-year sitting pool and a unique swimming pool with artificial waves, the only one in Slovakia, a Lagoon of  3800 m². The pools are supplied with thermal water from the depth of 130 m with a temperature of 39 °C.

Being the most southern town in the country it attracts lot of tourists with its fascinating natural surroundings. This is where the most spectacular part of the Curve of the Danube begins with a picturesque view to the classic basilica in Esztergom, Hungary. The Hron flows in to the Danube near the town, which also offers a great opportunity for those enjoying adventure trips adventurous walks in the nature. The nature is protected by two National Nature Reserves. One of them is the National Nature Reserve of Kováčovské hills-south. Lovers of wine can use the occasion and visit the Belianske kopce hills, which contain the Nature Reserve of Vŕšok. Vineyards with their corresponding wine cellars cover the slopes of the Belianske kopce hills.

Sights:

• Town Museum was opened in May 2004. The museum has two rooms for permanent exhibitions and one room for temporary exhibitions.
• The Late Baroque Roman Catholic church of St. Emerich from 1701, new side chapels were added to the main nave.
• The Late Baroque Calvary from 1760 and the statue of St. John Nepomuk, carved in stone by folk artists from 1807.
• More then 500 meter long bridge Mária Valéria got its name after the queen of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. The bridge was twice destroyed since then. First in 1920 and then in 1944, when the receding german army exploded it. The reconstructed bridge was finally opened in 2001.

There is a Tourist Information Office, hotels, pensions, apartments, private accommodations, restaurants, pubs and various shops in the town.