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Mountain Bike
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MTB cycling journey into history
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Photo: Lenka Hanková, Krížom krážom Nitrianskym krajom
Nitra - Dražovský church - Zobor Sanatorium - Nitra. Route suitable for mountain bike and e-bike, exceptionally for experienced gravel riders.
Dražovský church, or the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, belongs to the oldest sacral monuments in Slovakia. It is also the oldest Romanesque site in the Nitra district. It stands on a high outcrop of the Tribeč Mountains, above the village of Dražovce. Under favorable conditions, you can observe the city of Nitra and its surroundings. It is very visible also from Nitra, so you certainly will not miss it.
Our cycling route starts in the city park near the parking lot, where you can comfortably arrive by car or bicycle. From this point, you take the cycle route towards Dražovce. The route is asphalted, very nice, suitable for families with children and for training. You will smoothly reach the village of Dražovce. You need to cross the street at the pedestrian crossing and go through a few side streets up to the church. Under favorable conditions, you will be offered beautiful views. This magical place is also used by families for picnics. A bit from the church there is a cave, by which a fireplace is built where you can barbecue. However, it is often overgrown with grass.
The trip continues towards the sanatorium. The cycle tourism sign will guide you all the time. You will face a slightly rocky section, so this route from Dražovský church is suitable rather for mountain bikes and e-bikes. The panoramic views along the way are worth the slight effort. You will pass through a beautiful forest past a wooden gazebo with a fireplace, which is a perfect place to rest if you need to recharge your energy for a moment. Stop at the sanatorium. We recommend that you visit Zobor Monastery, Svorad’s spring, and Svorad’s cave. At each of these points, you will learn something interesting about their history.
From the sanatorium, we descend on an asphalt road. However, you need to be careful as it is a busier road used by city transport, as well as tourists by car heading for the climb to the Pyramid / Zobor. Navigation will guide you back to the city park, where our route ends.
Author’s recommendation
More skilled hikers can go all the way to the Pyramid / Zobor hill. However, it is a more challenging cycling climb.
What you definitely should not miss:
Zobor Monastery, founded in the 9th century, is one of the oldest monasteries in Slovakia and was an important center of culture and education. Its ruins are today a destination for tourists and pilgrims. This monastery has a significant place in Slovak history, as it was founded in the 9th century and is among the oldest Benedictine monasteries in Slovakia. Its ruins today recall ancient times when the monastery served not only as a spiritual center but also as a place of education and manuscript copying. According to legend, its first known abbot was Svorad, who came from Poland. In 1468 the monastery was abolished by the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus, and in 1471 it was plundered and completely destroyed by Polish troops. In its place, the bishop of Nitra established a new monastery for the Camaldolese in 1691.
Near the monastery you will find Svorad’s spring. Trivia: Mauro’s legend about St. Svorad – Andrew and Benedict is the oldest preserved medieval prose written in Latin from the Slovak environment. The origin of the legend dates back to 1064–1070.
A bit above Svorad’s spring you will find Svorad’s cave, which lies on the western ridge of the lower peak of Zobor. At the surface opening of the cave, there is a stone altar of St. Svorad, the Zobor hermit from the early 11th century, built for several centuries. Above the cave stands an old iron cross over 450 years old, erected here in 1932, which comes from the tower of the ruined Nitra parish church of St. James, which stood on today’s Svätopluk Square. In memory of the plague epidemic in 1739, the people of Nitra vowed to make a votive pilgrimage every year on July 17 to their patrons – St. Svorad-Andrew and Benedict. There is a legend about the cave recorded by chronicler Cosmas, according to the stone statue of the Sorrowful Christ from 1746. Even at the very top of Zobor (587 m) under a rock, there is a rock hole about 6 meters long. The legend says that a Turkish vizier jumped here with his horse from the rock and his fall carved the hole in it.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
Mini farmaMini farma
Dražovský kostolík
Meškov vrch
Žibrica
Rozhľadňa Hôrka
Hojdačka pod Žibricou
Zobor
Svoradova jaskyňa
Via Ferrata Zobor
Pyramída Zobor
Požičovňa elektrobicyklov
Zoborský kláštor
Public transport
You can get to Nitra by suburban transport from all directions.
Directly to the city park, and in summer months, you can get there by public transport (cycle bus) no. 35, which runs every hour.
Parking
You can park your car in the large parking lot near the Winter Stadium by the city park – close to the Sihoť buffet.
Coordinates
Book recommendations for this region:
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions