Discover Sokolovce: Hotels, Culture and Nature

Sokolovce lies about 7 km south of Piešťany on the left bank of the Váh, where its left-bank floodplain transitions into the southwestern part of the Považský Inovec mountains. At the same time, the Sĺňava Reservoir forms a natural boundary of the municipality. Part of Sokolovce lies within the Sĺňava Natura 2000 protected area, a protected bird area with the identification number SKCHVU026 and an area of 691 ha. It was established to protect aquatic habitats and breeding bird species.

Park and cycle path

The renovated southwestern part of Sokolovce Park is open to the public for recreation and outdoor activities. The park has an educational trail, a restored pavilion, playground equipment and an outdoor fitness area. In addition, a 1.2 km-long cycle path runs along Piešťanská Street. It was built in two stages in 2020 and 2021.

History

Traces of settlement from the Early Stone Age have been documented in the municipality of Sokolovce. Finds from the Early Iron Age, including finds from the La Tène period, also originate from the same area. There is also a Germanic grave from the 3rd century AD. The surviving evidence therefore ranges from early settlement traces to the period of Germanic burials.

In the past, the traditional church fairs in Sokolovce were characterised by pilgrimages in honour of the local Virgin Mary. Pilgrims came from the wider surrounding area. Near the Parish Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, there is also the Calvary group of Sokolovce, a Baroque sculptural group. It is said to have been moved there from an original location that remains unknown.

Architecture and Heritage

Sokolovce Castle is a Baroque-Classical manor house from the mid-18th century; a tower was added in the second half of the 19th century. The castle is listed in the Central Register of the Slovak Monument Fund under number 1019/1. The grounds include a park enhanced by David Horn, with a pond and protected rare trees, especially plane trees and two European beeches more than 200 years old.

The castle is currently privately owned and in very poor condition. It formerly served as a psychiatric hospital. The current situation and its historical use are just as much a part of the building's history as its Baroque-Classical form and the later addition of the tower.

The originally Baroque Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was built between 1768 and 1770. In a niche above its entrance stands a Baroque statue of Our Lady of Sorrows dating from 1700 to 1706. The church's furnishings include an organ made in 1755 by the organ builder Ján Mocke. Around 1786, it was brought to Sokolovce from the Trinitarian monastery in Trnava, probably after the monasteries were dissolved by Joseph II.

A trip on the Váh

On a guided trip on the Váh between Sokolovce and Hlohovec, the journey begins after a bus transfer from Hlohovec to the starting point in Sokolovce. Inflatable or plastic canoes, a raft and a paddleboard are available for this excursion. Before the start, registration, the issuing of the water-sports equipment and boats, and an introductory briefing are carried out.

More local pages: Pistian, Ostrov, Banka, Prasnik, Krakovany, Vrbove, Chtelnica, Rakovice.

To the higher-level travel overview: Okres Piešťany.