Bábolna combines stud farm history with a 20-hectare arboretum beside Csikótelep. Established in 1965, the arboretum is a nature conservation area of local significance. The town also offers memorials to horses and activities related to the stud farm: history and nature give the place its distinct character.
Stud Farm History and Horse Memorials
The exhibition on the history of the stud farm is housed in the former officers’ casino. It covers the period since the stud farm was founded in 1789 and traces more than two centuries of history through documents, maps, sculptures, paintings and objects from everyday life with horses. The collection brings the history to life through both historical records and items from daily life at the stud farm.
In the castle courtyard, the statue “Leghűségesebb bajtársnak” (“To the Most Faithful Comrade”) commemorates a horse that returned from the Battle of Győr in 1809 without its rider, thereby revealing the defeat. The Híres Lovak Emlékparkja, a memorial to the stud farm’s horses, is also located in the arboretum. The two memorial sites have different focuses: the statue tells the story of a specific event, while the memorial park honors the stud farm’s horses.
Arboretum, Animals and Carriage Ride
The arboretum includes a petting zoo and separate enclosures for domestic and wild animals. Animals found there include wild boar, fallow deer, roe deer, alpacas, Mangalica pigs, various sheep and a donkey. These animal areas add a distinct feature to a visit to the green space, alongside the horse memorials.
From Ménesudvar, visitors can travel to the nearby arboretum in a carriage drawn by two Shagya Arabian mares. Advance booking is required for the programs. The riding arena is also part of the stud farm’s character: it is 15 metres wide and 44 metres long and, in addition to daily work, serves as a venue for horse demonstrations.
Summer Bathing and Visit Planning
In summer, Bábolna Strand- és Termálfürdő offers an outdoor leisure pool, a paddling pool and a water playground. There are also bouncy castles, water bumper cars and an outdoor playhouse. The bathing facilities are seasonal; check current opening arrangements before travelling. Admission to the arboretum is free. Check current visitor information before your visit.
Bábolna offers several distinct themes: the exhibition, riding arena and memorials explore the history of the stud farm, while the arboretum brings together green space, a memorial site and animals. The baths add to this selection specifically in summer. When planning a stay, visitors can take the season into account, especially if bathing is part of the trip.
More Cultural and Historical Attractions in Komárom-Esztergom
The wider Komárom-Esztergom destination offers further cultural and historical perspectives. The Brigetio Öröksége Látogatóközpont houses an interactive permanent archaeological exhibition featuring finds from excavations at Brigetio. The Majki Kamalduli Remeteség is a Baroque monument complex with seventeen hermit houses, a church tower and a monastery; an exhibition there covers the general and Hungarian history of the Camaldolese Order. The Monostori Erőd is a military monument within Komárom’s fortress system. Its exhibitions and staged scenes illustrate the periods of the monarchy, the world wars and the Soviet occupation.
Discover more destinations: Komárom, Ács, Csém.
Go to the overview of the wider destination: Komáromi.
