A portal from the ruins of Revište Castle Chapel, a Gothic tower core and a castle on a rocky andesite outcrop: Žarnovica takes you from sacred architecture to traces of castle history. There is also a Stations of the Cross, a nature trail to Revište Castle, wildlife watching at Zveropark and speedway. If you are planning a stay, you can choose from a range of interests rather than reducing the town to a single attraction.
Sacred architecture in different styles
The originally Gothic Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul was built around 1400. Its tower has a Gothic core with a Renaissance upper section; the paired sound openings follow the style of a campanile. This brings different architectural forms together in a single building.
The church also contains a portal from the ruins of Revište Castle Chapel. It is decorated with intersecting rods, diamond-shaped bases and two mascarons. These details give the portal a distinctive accent alongside the history of the church building.
The Neo-Gothic Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was built in Žarnovica in 1894. A Stations of the Cross with 14 stations was laid out near the chapel at the beginning of the 21st century. The sacred focus therefore extends beyond the design of individual buildings: a sequence of religious stations is also among the themes you can discover in Žarnovica.
Kaštieľ and historical traces
The Žarnovický kaštieľ is associated with a building dating from the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. According to historical sources, Filip Dóczy probably had it built in 1490 on the older foundations of a fortified castle. A probably originally medieval Gothic castle at the Žarnovický kaštieľ served as an outpost of Revište Castle. This historical connection links two different places without equating their respective building histories.
A political episode is also associated with the kaštieľ: in 1575, a meeting of seven mining towns was held there. It was agreed that a delegation would be sent to Vienna to ask the emperor for help against the Turks. The oldest written mention of Revište Castle dates from 1331. Together, these dates offer a glimpse into different chapters of local and castle history.
Revište: Castle site and nature trail
Revištské Podzámčie is a district of Žarnovica; the ruins of Revište Castle are located there. The castle stands on a rocky andesite outcrop on the right bank of the Hron. The outcrop and riverbank describe the castle’s landscape setting, while the nature trail focuses on its history.
The “Majitelia hradu Revište” nature trail was established in August 2012. Its eight panels show the castle’s lords and provide a brief history of the castle. This lets you focus your visit on the history of the building and its owners; the panels offer a different perspective from the view of the site itself.
Wildlife watching and speedway
Zveropark in Revištské Podzámčie offers another side of the district: visitors can observe interesting animals there. This adds a nature and wildlife dimension to the historical themes, so you do not have to focus your trip exclusively on churches and castles.
Speedway offers another, distinctly different focus. According to its operator, the Žarnovický plochodrážny štadión in the municipal sports complex has a 400-metre speedway track with a dolomite surface. If you are planning a visit around it, check the current operating details beforehand. The Speedway Academy offers interested visitors motorcycles, spare parts and riding gear free of charge. As equipment and procedures may change, it is advisable to confirm the current arrangements in advance.
An event is also part of the speedway scene: the Speedway Club Žarnovica has organised “Plochá dráha detí” practically since the club’s beginnings. For travellers interested in motorsport, this offers a chance to combine a look at the track with a glimpse of the club’s long-standing activities.
Railway station and travel planning
Žarnovica’s railway station dates back to 1896. For specific train connections on your travel dates, check the current timetable. This keeps the station’s historical significance separate from the practical question of today’s connections.
Discover more destinations: Veľké Pole, Ostrý Grúň, Malá Lehota, Brehy, Tekovská Breznica, Horné Hámre, Hrabičov, Voznica.
Return to the main travel overview: Scharnowitz.
