Holiday apartment in Nitrianske Pravno – Kalvária, Vyšehrad and culture

The old town hall stands on the main square of Nitrianske Pravno. It is the characteristic building and the dominant structure on the main square. This provides a clear architectural focal point from which to begin exploring the town, before turning attention to sacred buildings, historical landmarks and routes in the surrounding area.

Culture and history

The sacred architecture includes the Roman Catholic parish church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Originally, it was a stone Gothic church built in the first decades after the town was founded. The Kalvária in Nitrianske Pravno, situated on Galgensberg Hill, holds a special place: the unique complex comprises 27 sacred buildings in the Neo-Gothic style.

Fourteen chapels of the Stations of the Cross are connected at Kalvária by a winding path. The upper part of Kalvária offers a view of the Upper Nitra Basin. Here, the architectural complex, the layout of the paths and the view across the basin come together in a cohesive site, without the individual elements losing their own significance.

Vyšehradné also preserves noteworthy landmarks. The wooden belfry in Vyšehradné was built in 1802, designated a national cultural monument in 1996 and is one of the oldest belfries of its kind in Slovakia. The Haronika House in Vyšehradné contains a small museum dedicated to living arrangements and traditional clothing, as well as the “Keramika Haronika” ceramics workshop. The collection in the Haronika House includes ceramic vessels, folk-art objects made of metal, wood, leather and textiles, as well as old traditional costumes.

The Museum of the Carpathian Germans from Bratislava has a permanent exhibition entitled “History and Culture of the Carpathian Germans in Hauerland”. Visits to the Museum of the Carpathian Germans are possible by prior telephone appointment. Vyšehrad also contains evidence of the earliest settlement from the Late Stone Age and the Late Bronze Age, as well as traces of Slavic settlement.

Hiking

The Solka–Vyšehrad educational trail is an approximately 8 km circular route of moderate difficulty. It has 495 metres of elevation gain and takes about 3 to 4 hours at a hiking pace. The trail presents the history of this area as well as information about the local fauna and flora. The route, elevation gain, approximate duration and thematic focus together define a trail where the landscape and the communication of knowledge are closely intertwined.

Cycling

A cycling route begins in Nitrianske Pravno, leads via Tužina towards Temeš and returns to Nitrianske Pravno via Handlová, Remata and Ráztočno. The route is aimed at more experienced cyclists and includes climbs to mountain passes as well as rides on paved and unpaved forest roads. Its course connects the starting and return point with several named places and different road surfaces.

More destinations

For further exploration, you can also view Nitrianske Sučany, Temeš, Bystricany, Šútovce, Poluvsie, Dolné Vestenice, Oslany and Nitrica.

For the overarching travel overview: Prievidza.