Bernolákovo – Castle, Monuments and the Čierna voda

Bernolákovo between Castle History and the Čierna voda

Bernolákovo combines an exceptionally rich cultural heritage with a landscape that can also be explored by bicycle. The castle, medieval castle ruins, churches and technical monuments tell stories from different eras. At the same time, the Čierna voda flows through the town as a lowland watercourse. This creates a destination where historical sights and a short cycling route can be meaningfully combined for a varied stay.

The Castle and the Esterházy Legacy

The castle in Bernolákovo was built by the Esterházy family between 1714 and 1722. The two-storey building has three wings and a U-shaped layout. It is also notable for being one of the early aristocratic residences designed together with the natural surroundings. After a three-year restoration, the castle was ceremonially reopened in 2017 and today offers numerous activities.

The history of the castle includes several independent ecclesiastical buildings. Count Esterházy had the Baroque Chapel of St. Anne built in 1724 at the northwestern corner of the castle park. It is currently used for church ceremonies. The Esterházy Chapel is a national cultural monument; Countess Ilona Esterházyová had it built in 1847. The two buildings thus represent different periods of the local Esterházy history.

Churches, Castle and Monuments in the Townscape

The Church of St. Stephen the King is the oldest cultural monument in Bernolákovo. Inside it is a golden chalice dating from 1666. Another striking reminder of the past is the ruins of Čeklís Castle, considered the oldest secular building in Bernolákovo. The castle was first mentioned in writing in 1323. Its ruins lie on an elevated terrace above the Čierna voda on the western edge of the town. The tower of Čeklís Castle controlled a toll crossing of the Čierna voda.

The Várdomb water tower, a technical national cultural monument, stands on the ruins of Čeklís Castle. The special opening rule is important when planning a visit: outside the stated opening hours, the water tower can be opened on weekdays by prior arrangement for groups of at least 15 to 20 people. In the town centre, the Anton Bernolák Monument also commemorates Anton Bernolák, a pioneer of the Slovak written language and founder of Slovenské učené tovarišstvo. The monument stands in front of the Roman Catholic parish house. Three stone wayside shrines, known in Slovak as Božie muky, stand directly along the roads of Bernolákovo.

Čierna voda and Cycling

The Čierna voda characterizes Bernolákovo as a lowland watercourse. A specific way to experience the town and its surroundings by bicycle is the 4.5 km Bernolákovo–Nová Dedinka cycling route. It begins at a footbridge over the Čierna voda in the centre of Bernolákovo and forms part of the Senecká cyklomagistrála. One station on the Čierna voda nature trail has information boards, benches and bicycle racks. In this way, the town combines short cultural and historical stops with a clearly described cycling connection.

Golf as Another Activity

In addition to culture and cycling, Bernolákovo also offers various golfing opportunities. The Golf and Country Club Bratislava-Bernolákovo has an 18-hole course. The golf centre also has a driving range and a putting green and is suitable for both experienced players and beginners. The park course at the Black & White Golf Resort Bernolákovo was the first 9-hole course built in Slovakia.

More local pages for planning your trip: Malinovo, Zálesie, Chorvátsky Grob, Most pri Bratislave, Senec, Miloslavov, Ivanka Pri Dunaji and Tomášov.

To the overarching travel overview: Senec.