Bernolákovo: Castle, Monuments and Cycling Route

Bernolákovo has a strong focus on culture and history: its castle, churches, chapels and the ruins of Čeklís reflect different periods of construction and functions. Leisure options also include a 4.5 km cycling route and local golf facilities. When planning, it is worth considering these interests separately—especially since the Várdomb Water Tower has its own visiting conditions.

Castle and Chapels

The Esterházy family had the castle in Bernolákovo built between 1714 and 1722. The two-storey building has three wings and a U-shaped floor plan. It is one of the first aristocratic residences to have been designed together with its natural surroundings. Both the architecture and the connection between the residence and its surroundings therefore shape the castle’s historical significance. Following a three-year restoration, it was ceremonially reopened in 2017.

Count Esterházy had the Baroque Chapel of St. Anne built at the northwestern corner of the castle park in 1724. It is currently used for church ceremonies. The Esterházy Chapel is another national cultural monument: Countess Ilona Esterházyová had it built in 1847. The two construction dates provide a specific timeframe for the religious buildings; for St. Anne’s, its current use is also a defining detail.

Čeklís and the Várdomb Water Tower

The ruins of Čeklís Castle lie on an elevated terrace above the Čierna voda, at the western edge of Bernolákovo. The castle was first mentioned in writing in 1323; its ruins are considered the oldest secular building in the village. The Várdomb Water Tower stands on the castle ruins and is a technical national cultural monument. According to a historical archaeological interpretation, the tower may have controlled a toll crossing over the Čierna voda. This interpretation links its position on the elevated terrace with the history of the river crossing, but should be understood as a possible explanation.

The municipality announces the water tower’s opening hours separately. Outside the published hours, it can be opened on weekdays by prior arrangement for groups of at least 15 to 20 people. Anyone planning to visit Várdomb should take these conditions into account and check the hours announced by the municipality.

Church, Monument and Wayside Shrines

The Church of St. Stephen the King is Bernolákovo’s oldest cultural monument. The church houses a gold chalice dating from 1666. The Anton Bernolák Monument commemorates Anton Bernolák, a pioneer of the Slovak written language and founder of the Slovenské učené tovarišstvo. It stands in front of the Roman Catholic rectory. Three stone wayside shrines, known as Božie muky, stand right beside the roads in Bernolákovo. Together, these monuments represent different forms of cultural heritage: religious buildings, a historical object and memorials in the streetscape.

Cycling and Golf

The Čierna voda is a lowland river that flows through Bernolákovo. The 4.5 km Bernolákovo–Nová Dedinka cycling route starts at a pedestrian bridge over the river in the village centre. It is part of the Senecká cyklomagistrála. The route’s length, starting point and destination are thus all specified. One stop on the Čierna voda nature trail has information boards, benches and bicycle racks.

Golf is also a specific leisure option in the village. The Golf and Country Club Bratislava-Bernolákovo has an 18-hole course. The golf centre in Bernolákovo has a driving range and a putting green. The practice course at the Black & White Golf Resort Bernolákovo has its own historical distinction: it was the first 9-hole course built in Slovakia. The facilities mentioned therefore differ in course size, practice facilities and historical significance.

Discover more destinations: Zálesie, Most pri Bratislave, Kaplna, Senec, Ivanka Pri Dunaji, Miloslavov, Malinovo, Tomášov

Go to the main travel overview: Senec.