Levice: Nature, Culture and Thermal Waters

Levice between the Hron Valley and the Ipeľská pahorkatina

Levice lies where the plain of the lower Hron Valley meets the western foothills of the Ipeľská pahorkatina.

Thermal waters, nature and distinctive landscapes

A clear attraction is the Margita-Ilona leisure complex. It has four pools with thermal water at 25 to 29 °C. Those looking for nature observation and peaceful landscapes will find a protected national nature reserve in the Horšianska Valley. An easy walk leads along the Sikenica stream.

The ponds of Levice are an important resting place for migratory birds and are also used for fish farming. In the Poiplie area, water habitats typical of southern Slovakia meet agricultural landscapes and pastureland. Poiplie is significant for bird species such as the white stork (Ciconia ciconia), kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and European bee-eater (Merops apiaster).

Šiklóš (Vápnik) offers a different perspective. The site is visited for its unique panoramic view of the region and is associated with the historic extraction of “Levický zlatý ónyx”. Šiklóš (Vápnik) can be reached on foot, by bicycle or by car. In Santovka, the travertines along the Búr stream and Tufová kopa are protected natural formations.

Hiking routes with different profiles

For a longer tour, the signposted Pukanec–Devičany hiking route is documented. It leads over the Krížny buk saddle, Ťatiar, Argaš, Priesil and Žuhračka, is 17 km long and has an elevation gain of 705 metres. A shorter option is the “Okolo mesta kráľovien” educational trail in Bátovce. It is 5.3 km long, leads through easy terrain and takes about four hours.

Another documented hike follows a disused railway line. It visits the Hontianska priepasť and the site of the former Hont Castle. The disused railway line and the former castle are part of the route’s described historical orientation; the name does not imply any current use of the railway line or a preserved castle structure.

Museums, castle and regional events

In Pukanec, several exhibitions focus on local and craft history. The Bohunice Water Mill exhibition has been open to the public since 1978; the mill is designated as a technical monument. The Jána Franka Pottery Museum includes a pottery workshop where visitors can see how ceramics were made in the past and are made today. The Exhibition on the History of Pukanec presents the oldest history of the municipality, the development of mining and crafts, as well as historic kitchen and bourgeois-room interiors. It is located at Námestie mieru 17 in Pukanec.

The Hontianske Museum presents permanent exhibitions on the folklore and history of the Hont region. Together with the Ľudovít-Simonyi Gallery, it offers visitor groups guided tours of the city’s sights. In this way, the museum landscape complements the nature and hiking topics with regional history and everyday culture.

Various events are organised at Levický hrad Castle, including the Levické hradné slávnosti. The Levický jarmok currently takes place in mid-October and offers local wines, Burčiak, gastronomy and crafts over four days. The Schubert Fest, also known as Schubertiáda, takes place twice a year, once in autumn and once in spring. Alongside the landscape and culture, these dates and event formats add a clear seasonal accent to a stay without limiting travel planning to a single event.

Lewenz, Šahy, Beša, Bielovce, Brhlovce, Čajkov, Čata, Devičany, Dolná Seč, Hronské Kľačany, Iňa, Ipeľské Úľany, Ipeľský Sokolec, Jabloňovce, Jesenské, Kozárovce, Krškany, Lok, Malé Ludince, Nový Tekov, Ondrejovce, Pastovce, Podlužany, Pohronský Ruskov, Pukanec, Rybník, Santovka, Slatina, Šarovce, Tehla, Tekovské Lužany, Tekovský Hrádok, Tlmače, Tupá, Veľké Kozmálovce, Veľké Turovce, Vyškovce Nad Ipľom, Želiezovce, Žemberovce, Sikenica, Hrkovce, Horné Semerovce, Kalná Nad Hronom and Plášťovce.

To the higher-level travel overview: Nitra Region.