Žarnovica: Churches, Revište Castle and Speedway History

Žarnovica is ideal for travellers who want to combine sacred architecture, castle history and distinctive local culture. The town and its district of Revištské Podzámčie reveal several historical traces: from the originally Gothic Church of St Peter and Paul and the Žarnovický kaštieľ to the ruins of Revište Castle. This profile is complemented by an educational trail, an animal park and a strong speedway tradition.

Churches and historic buildings in Žarnovica

One of the prominent buildings is the Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and Paul, which was originally Gothic and built around 1400. Its tower has a Gothic core and a Renaissance upper section. Its paired sound openings, designed in the style of a campanile, are particularly striking. The church also contains a portal from the ruins of the castle chapel at Revište. It is decorated with intersecting rods, diamond-shaped bases and two mascarons.

A second sacred site is the Neo-Gothic Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, built in 1894. A Stations of the Cross with 14 stations was created by the chapel at the beginning of the 21st century. Thus, a building from the late 19th century and a considerably more recent religious design come together in one place.

The Žarnovický kaštieľ also leads back to an earlier era. The building dates from the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries and, according to historical sources, was built in 1490 by Filip Dóczy, probably on the older foundations of a fortified castle. The presumably originally medieval Gothic castle at the Žarnovický kaštieľ served as an outpost of Revište Castle. In 1575, seven mining towns held a consultation there. It was agreed that a delegation would be sent to Vienna to ask the emperor for help against the Turks.

Revište Castle and the educational trail

The ruins of Revište Castle are located in Revištské Podzámčie, a district of Žarnovica. Its oldest written mention dates from 1331. The castle stands on a rocky andesite spur on the right bank of the Hron. This setting characterises the historic site not only as a ruin but also as a distinctive landscape landmark.

The “Majitelia hradu Revište” educational trail was created in August 2012. It comprises eight information panels featuring depictions of the castle lords and a brief history of the castle. Those interested in the development of the building will therefore find a thematic complement to the ruins: the panels introduce the owners and place the castle within its history, without reducing the site to a single architectural detail.

Wildlife observation, railway station and speedway

The Zveropark in Revištské Podzámčie offers a different facet. Visitors have the opportunity to observe interesting animals there. The railway station is also important to the history and mobility of Žarnovica: Žarnovica has had a railway station since 1896. An unusual sporting attraction is the Žarnovický plochodrážny štadión in the town's sports complex. The speedway track is 400 metres long and surfaced with dolomite. The Speedway Academy provides all interested visitors with motorcycles, spare parts and riding gear free of charge.

Further destination pages

For further orientation, destination pages for Malá Lehota, Kľak, Tekovská Breznica, Horné Hámre, Hodruša-Hámre, Orovnica, Nová Baňa and Župkov are available.

For the overarching travel overview: Scharnowitz.