Šintava: Hotels, the Váh and Castle History

Šintava lies on the left bank of the Váh. History, culture and activities by the water provide the three clear ways to explore this place.

History

A settlement from the Iron Age has been documented near the Váh crossing at the site of Šintava. A Great Moravian hillfort centre near Šintava protected this crossing and laid the foundations for the later medieval water castle. The first documented mention of Šintava Castle dates from 1042. A description from 1423 records the castle with two ring walls and three towers.

The history of printing is also connected with Šintava: under the protection of Július Salma, a printing works was established at Šintava Castle in 1573 and is considered the first in Slovakia. The Roman Catholic Church of St Martin is a Baroque-Classical building from the second half of the 18th century. The parish of St Martin in Šintava is documented as early as 1234; the church existed by the 12th century at the latest. It stands at the highest point of the former hillfort. Its terraces are still visible today along Hradná, Sereďská and Dlhá streets.

Culture

Two museum exhibitions are located in the meeting room of the municipal office in Šintava: ŠINTAVSKÁ IZBA and ŠINTAVSKÍ KOŠIKÁRI. Both are open during office hours. This places local history and traditional crafts at the same address, without mixing their respective subjects.

Stavanie mája is part of the recurring annual cycle. Every year on the last day of April, a maypole is erected in Šintava’s village square. Local recruits carry out this task to the sound of the Šintavanka brass band.

Nature and Active Recreation

The Lodenica area on the banks of the Váh is Šintava’s leisure and sports centre. In the western part of the cadastral area, the Váh flows in meanders. There are also bodies of water created by gravel extraction, which are currently used for unregulated recreation.

The boathouse of Veslársky klub Šintava is located directly on the Váh and is well equipped for rowing. The club has two dragon boats for recreational use. Each can accommodate 20 people, as well as a coxswain and a drummer. In addition to children, Veslársky klub Šintava also welcomes adults who enjoy rowing.

The local landscape also includes bodies of water with various uses. Bagrovisko Šintava is an 8.8-hectare carp fishing lake near Šintava where fishing is permitted year-round, subject to individual closed seasons. A route with an educational focus is a section of the eastern branch of the Hradná cesta, which runs through the Trnava region. A 21 km recreational route connects Hlohovec and Šintava and runs along the left bank of the Váh.

Wine and Festivals

Svätourbanská koštovka is a recurring wine tasting held on the grounds of the Šintavan winery in Šintava. Visitors can sample 20–30 wines at this event. Both Svätourbanská koštovka and the Burčiak Party offer the opportunity to tour the winery’s production facilities.

Another recurring event is Šintavské vinobranie. The harvest festival includes an allegorical procession, cultural performances, and exhibitions of fruit, vegetables and flowers.

More destinations

For further travel planning, you can continue to Šalgočka, Horné Saliby, Šoporňa, Sereď, Vozokany, Veľké Úľany, Zemianske Sady and Trstice.

For the higher-level travel overview: Galanta.