Šarkan brings together the hilly landscape of the Pohronská pahorkatina, winegrowing traditions, architectural history and a regional cycling route. This means there is more than one possible focus when choosing a destination: you can explore the rural landscape, sacred and castle history, or a longer cycling stage. The cycling route passes through Šarkan, while its historic buildings and natural surroundings characterize the village in their own right.

Landscape between hills and floodplains

Šarkan lies in the southeastern part of the Pohronská pahorkatina hills. The northern part of the cadastral territory contains the marshy floodplains of the Paríž stream. The stream flows through the cadastral territory and empties into the Hron. The built-up area is surrounded by extensive arable fields, vineyards with wine cellars, grassland, and areas and linear features of landscape greenery. The grape motif on the municipal coat of arms represents the municipality’s agricultural traditions, particularly its winegrowing traditions. Together with the vineyards and wine cellars, it creates a clear link between municipal symbolism and the area’s rural character.

The Parížske močiare area near Šarkan covers 590 hectares and is under the jurisdiction of the Dunajské luhy Protected Landscape Area (CHKO). It is a distinct natural feature in the surrounding area; the protected area should be distinguished from the built-up part of the village.

Church, castle and historic details

The Roman Catholic Church of the Virgin Mary dates from 1810 and is a filial church of the Gbelce parish. The Koller family had the castle built in 1827. Its remains include a unique 19th-century wall; the fence on the eastern side of the castle is decorated with round towers. A late Baroque Pietà with a cross, dating from the second half of the 18th century, is listed in Šarkan as an immovable cultural monument. This places a monument from the 18th century alongside several architectural and castle details from the 19th century.

In 2014, the reconstructed and expanded castle estate opened as HOTEL CHÂTEAU ŠARKAN.

A regional cycling stage

Regional cycling route Stage 5 runs from Štúrovo via Kamenica nad Hronom, Kamenín, Bruty, Svodín, Šarkan, Ľubá, Belá and Nána, and back to Štúrovo. The stage is 65.4 kilometres long and has 335 metres of elevation gain; it is not suitable for road bikes. The distance and elevation figures refer to the entire stage, starting and ending in Štúrovo, not to a short local loop around Šarkan. If you include cycling in your plans, you can distinguish between passing through Šarkan and the demands of the full route option. Check the latest route details before setting off.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gbelce, Šurany, Palárikovo, Kamenný Most, Travnica, Podhájska, Kmeťovo, Mana

For the broader travel overview: Nové Zámky.