	INTRODUCTION

	KOMÁRNO

	CITY MAP

	ACCOMMODATION

	RESTAURANTS

	CULTURE - FREE TIME

	ACTUAL PROGRAMMES

	LINKS

KOMÁRNO

Komárno belongs to one of the oldest towns in Slovakia. King Belo IV provided the settlement with town priviliges. Queen Maria Theresa granted Komárno the status of a free royal town in 1745. At that time Komárno was the fifth biggest town in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Despite the fact that the town perished a lot as it was hit by wars and various natural disasters - such as earthquakes, floods, fire, epidemics - a lot of cultural monuments have been preserved. The most important of these historical monuments is the fortress which was the largest fortification system of the Monarchy. Because of its historical and architectonic value, the fortress is declared as a national cultural monument. It was built at the confluence of the Váh (Vág) and Danube Rivers where a significant crossing place existed and was used all the year round. It was a perfectly built fortress with five bastions. The fortress withstood the probe in 1594 when Sinan pasha surrounded it with his huge troop of 100.000 soldiers. He besieged it for a month but couldn't capture it which proves that the fortress was impregnable. Emperor Leopold I ordered to complete the fortress with the so-called New Fortress which was erected between 1663-1673. Tall walls built from bricks and stone arose from the wide and deep moat. The New Fortress also had five bastions and it withstood the siege of the "Kuruts" soldiers (soldiers fighting against Habsburg oppression at the turn of the 17th century) under the leadership of Imre Thököly who entered into an alliance with the Turks. The fortress protected the town perfectly and averted the attacks of the enemy from the direction of the area called "Žitný ostrov" (Csallóköz).

Two big earthquakes hit the town, the first one in 1763 and the next in 1783, the epicentre of which was near the fortress and it sealed its fate. The rehabilitation and the reconstruction of the fortress was too expensive so the army was withdrawn and the area was given to the town. The buildings erected in the area of the fortress were sold by an auction.

Under the influence of the Napoleonic Wars, the Emperor's court in Vienna decided to renovate the fortress and extend the whole fortification system, able to host 200.000 soldiers. At present in bastion VI, which was renovated, is an exhibition of the museum - Roman Stonework. It is the largest collection of its kind in Slovakia.

In bastion V, which was also renovated, there is a private gallery - Gallery of Nations and the Park of Statues as well as a 1.3 km long contraescarpment (an underground passage) where a unique collection of photos of the Hungarian and Slovak parts of the fortification system are exposed. We can also find copies of the original maps from the period of preparing and building the fortification system.

The visiting hours from 15th March to 31st October are as follows:
tuesday, wednesday, thursday a friday at 9:00,11:00 and 14:00
info: +421 35 2851265, +421 903 309717, +421 907 178906

In the historical centre of the town there are forty monuments and three national cultural monuments. We can learn more about the history of the town in the Museum of Hungarian Culture and Danube region.

Franz Lehár, one of the most famous composers, was born in Komárno on 30th April 1870. His birthplace once stood in Palatine street (from 1980 Lehár park is in its place with the statue of F. Lehár). In commemoration of the composer the town arranges an annual festival called Lehár Days, an international competition in performing operettes.

Komárno is also the hometown of Mór Jókai, the world-famous Hungarian romantic writer and novelist. The characteristic figures of the inhabitants of Komárno and the atmosphere of the town are represented in his novels such as the Political novelties, The golden man, The cursed family. In commemoration of the famous writer Jókai Days are held each year.

An exeptional tourist attraction of the town is Europe Place, which was created in the historical centre of the town in 1999-2000. In the courtyard of Europe Place houses are erected representing the typical architecture of 45 European countries and regions.

Significant cultural and architectonic sights of Komárno

During tourist season of 2008 the following churches are open for the tourists and those who are interested:

Synagogue /ul.Štúrova/ 7 July 2008 - 11 July 2008 10:00 - 16:00 daily
Reformed church /ul. Jókaiho/ 11 August 2008 - 17 August 2008 10:00 - 17:00 daily
Evangelist church /ul. Františkánov/ 11 August 2008 - 17 August 2008 10:00 - 17:00 daily

1.	The Old fortress Built between 1546-57 with the participation of Italian military engineers.
2.	The New fortress Built between 1663-73, it was connected with the Old fortress by a bridge leading over a wide and deep moat.
3.	The Palatine line Built between 1839-47 as a defensive chain of new prussian type.
4.	The Váh (Vág) line Chain of fortifications built in the seventies of the 19th century at the River Váh, spreading as far as the confluence of the Váh and Danube Rivers.
5.	Town hall Reconstructed in 1875. The square in front of the town hall is dominated by the statue of Gen. Klapka which was erected in 1896.
6.	Zichy palace Originally the mansion of the Zichy family from the end of the 17th century.
7.	Statue of Holy Trinity Baroque statue erected in 1715 in commemoration of the first plague epidemic.
8.	The former Officers' Pavilion Built between 1858-63 in the spirit of English gothic style.
9.	Europe Place Collection of 45 buildings representing the countries and regions of Europe, built in 1999-2000.
10.	Bust of Ladislaus V. Monument of king Ladislavus V posthumous, who was born in Komárno in 1440.
11.	The former asylum and St. Ann's chapel Baroque building from the middle of the 18th century.
12.	Building of the ev. and v. vicarage Built at the end of the 18th century.
13.	Evangelist church Built between 1795-1797 in baroque style, the tower erected in 1899.
14.	The former Franciscan church Originally the old Calvinistic church was rebuilt into Franciscan church.
15.	Reformed church One of the most significant reformed churches in Slovakia, built between1784-1788, the tower was rebuilt in 1832.
16.	The former county hall Originally a late baroque building from the 18th century, reconstructed in 1798, later rebuilt in classicist style in 1813.
17.	The former asylum and St. Joseph's chapel From the architectonic-artistic point of view the conception of the interior is a remarkable late baroque construction, the foundation of which was put down by baron A.Zichy in 1741.
18.	The former Palace of Culture Built in 1913 in the style of late romanticism, at present it serves as the Museum of Hungarian culture and the Danube region.
19.	Monument of Mór Jókai Erected in 1937, the work of Július Berecz, a sculptor from Komárno.
20.	St. Andrew's church - a Roman catholic church Originally a church built in baroque style between 1723-1738. Radically rebuilt between 1748-1756. The present image of the tower is from1896.
21.	The former college of the Benedict order Baroque building (originally a Jesuit monastery) from the 18th century built on older foundations.
22.	The Serb Orthodox church Late baroque building from the second half of the 18th century, after the great fire it was rebuilt between 1849-1851.
23.	Statue of gen. Milan Rastislav Štefánik The work of the famous sculptor, Otakar Španiel from 1936.
24.	The tomb of Ľudovít Jaroslav Šulek It can be found in the ev. and reformed graveyard. The monument was prepared by Jozef Tóth.
25.	Statue of Cyril and Metód The work of sculptor Ladislav Berák, placed on the facade of the building of Matica Slovenská in M.R.Štefánik square.
26.	Statue of Franz Lehár The famous operette composer was born in 1870 in Komárno. The statue was prepared in 1980 in commemoration of the 110th anniversary of his birth. It is the work of the Czech sculptor, Emila Venkova.
27.	The Hungarian cavalryman In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution in 1848/49 the cavalryman appeared and blew his trumpet for the first time in 1999 in the tower of the Town hall of Komárno. From that year on, the cavalryman appears twice a day (at 10 a.m. and at 4 p.m.) and plays the marching song of Klapka.
28.	The former reformed college Built in 1796 as a two-storey building in classicist style.
29.	The small synagogue and social asylum Built in 1896 the asylum was founded by Koloman Fried. There was a memorial plaque placed on the building in commemoration of the victims of the holocaust.
30.	Rom.- catholic church of St. Rosalia Built in classicist style between 1839-1843.

REGION OF KOMÁRNO

Iža

Roman military camp - open air museum Celemantia

Eastwards from Komárno - (7 km) at the village of Iža in Leányvár ( Dievčí hrad) there are remains of the roman castle - fortified military camp and roman settlement called Celemantia. The Romans gradually built an expansive defensive fortification system alongside the River Danube, part of which was the military camp at Iža.
This part in Iža was declared as national cultural monument in 1991
Further information: Parish hall in Iža, +421 35 / 7783 151

Kolárovo

Water mill - Water mill museum

The town of Kolárovo is situated 22 km from Komárno, at the confluence of the River Váh and Malý Dunaj (Little Danube).

The floating water mill is located in the beautiful nature at the Malý Dunaj. The water mill museum is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.

Further information: +421 918 436 881

Wooden bridge - the longest bridge in Central Europe (86m)
The Frog's castle - the ruins of the original castle

www.vodnymlyn.sk

Hurbanovo

The town is located 17 km from Komárno on the left side of the River Žitava on the main route between Komárno and Nové Zámky.

Observatory - the technical monument was built in 1871 upon the order of Mikuláš Konkoly -Thege physic and astronom.

Visiting the observatory should be announced in advance on the following phone number: 035/7602 485

Feszty gallery
Further information: Local cultural centre +421 35 / 7602 383

Martovce

The village is situated on a marshy area, 12 km from Komárno.

Agricultural village house - exhibition of life in an adobe house from1781.

Further information: +421 35 / 7684 110
Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Feszty Park
Information: open from 31st March - to 31st October
p. Katona +421 915 728 891
www.fesztypark.sk

Búč

Eastwards from the Rivers Váh and Žitava, the village of Búč is located 30 km from Komárno.

Interesting sights:
Row of wine cellars and national costume
Statue of J. Nagy - commander Bulcsu
Agrotourism - Szobi, Vintop (Karkó)

Chotín

The village is located 10 km from Komárno
Gallery - Lilla
Further information: +421 35 / 7786 118

Okoličná na Ostrove

The village is located 25 km from Komárno.

Well in commemoration of Vajda Julianna " Lilla"
Further information: Parish hall +421 35 / 7793 931

Patince

The village is located 17 km from Komárno.

Recreational area - Wellness - Patince
Further information: +421 35/ 7787 764, 7787 754

Dubník

The village is located 35 km from Komárno.

Castle Meszlényi - Szénássy - In the reconstructed castle there is an exhibition of waxworks of famous people in the Hungarian history.

Further information: +421 35 / 7700 869, +421 35 / 6495 404

Andovce

The village is located about 35 km from Komárno.

Museum of Gergely Czuczor
Further information: +421 35 /6483 101

Zemné

The village is located about 35 km from Komárno.

Museum of Ányos Jedlik
Further information: +421 35 /6476 101