ZOO and botanical gardens Ponitrie

You can find the Botanická záhrada pri Slovenskej poľnohospodárskej univerzite v Nitre botanical garden right next to the Agrokomplex exhibition grounds. On an area of approximately 30 hectares, you can view more than 5,000 native plant species and cultivars. In addition to flora from the temperate zone, a tour of the greenhouse exhibitions will bring you closer to the world of the tropics, subtropics, and deserts. There is something to admire in the garden in every season. Come and see the beautiful colorful flowers, exotic fruit trees, and rare species of cacti and succulents for yourself.

The grounds of the Nitrianska botanická záhrada botanical garden consist of separate sections, which are a park, an ornamental nursery, orchards with ornamental trees, medicinal and cultivated plants, greenhouses, and a vivarium. In the expansive park, you can admire colorful ornamental grasses, blooming perennials, annuals, and bulbs such as tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, and ornamental alliums. Flowering trees and shrubs are also heavily represented here, including southern magnolia, empress tree, northern catalpa, and various species and cultivars of roses. Thanks to collection expeditions, carried out in the early days of the garden's establishment mainly to Ecuador, Peru, and Nicaragua. You can also admire rare and immensely valuable specimens of orchids and bromeliads here.

A rarity is the collection of useful plants and agricultural crops, which are represented by a large number of species and varieties of vegetables, fruit trees, grapevines, and spice plants. An extraordinarily rare feature is the collection of 180 apple tree species, among which old and local varieties are not missing. The vineyard features 85 varieties of grapevine. The aquatic ecosystem in the pond consists not only of fish and frogs, but also water lilies and yellow irises. Near the body of water, climbing plants stretch along a wooden structure, where you will find magnificent drooping Chinese wisteria and fiery red trumpet vine. Did you know that the pedestrian zone in Nitra, its adjacent streets, and squares are decorated with flower pots containing pelargoniums grown right in the botanical garden?

The youngest visitors will certainly be delighted by the Vivárium and the mini zoo, which is home to many exotic, heat-loving animals. The mascot is the turtle "Vinco", which is one of the largest turtles kept in Slovakia. As a souvenir, you can take a photograph with a crocodile, iguana, monitor lizard, exotic snakes, spiders, and lizards. In the small zoo, mouflons, fallow deer, Cameroon goats, and several bird species will keep you company. Playing at the playgrounds with climbing frames and swings will surely enrich your itinerary.

Your next steps can lead to the Nitrianska galéria. If it happens to be a hot summer day, a great alternative is water relaxation in the pools of the Letné kúpalisko na Sihoti swimming pool complex. In the early evening, relax in a romantic room of a cozy guest house. If you want to view all accommodation facilities near the Nitrianska botanická záhrada botanical garden, click on the accommodation in Nitra page. The next day, take a trip to Dražovský church and the famous Zobor mountain, where Hradisko Zobor stands majestically. You can watch an excellent theatrical performance presented by talented Slovak actors at Divadlo Andreja Bagara theater.

A European unique, Arborétum Mlyňany SAV, is situated between the villages of Vieska nad Žitavou and Tesárske Mlyňany in the district of Zlaté Moravce. The protected area of the botanical garden stands out with its rich collection of trees and shrubs. Its collections, which contain more than 2,300 species of woody plants from the Mediterranean, America, Africa, and Asia, place it in the position of the most significant dendrological facility in Slovakia. The unique green area, dominated by a picturesque manor house, is open to the public year-round.

The arboretum was founded in 1892 by the Hungarian nobleman Štefan Ambrózy-Migazzi. His main goal was to concentrate as many exotic trees and shrubs as possible in the botanical garden and to demonstrate their viability in our climatic conditions. In an oak-hornbeam grove, he gradually planted woody species imported from Germany, France, or England. The beginnings of the planting were linked to the construction of a Neoclassical manor house with a tower, which was completed in 1894. By 1925, it was possible to plant more than 300 species of evergreen plants in the arboretum. After World War II, the area came under state administration and was later taken over by the Slovak Academy of Sciences, which manages it to this day.

The arboretum currently covers an area of 67 ha, and its plant collection is divided according to a geographical principle into 5 parts with constructed educational trails. The central part consists of the oldest Ambrózyho park with a beautiful manor house and a predominance of monumental oak trees and original hornbeam stands. In the arboretum, you can also walk among the trees and shrubs of Asia, North America, Korea, and of course, there is also an area dedicated to Slovak dendroflora. The presentation of woody species in each part of the arboretum is combined with the typical architecture of the respective regions, complemented by small ponds and lakes.

In addition to being an important scientific workplace dedicated to research, the arboretum opens its park with a unique collection of trees and shrubs to the general public. You can freely stroll through the arboretum, with diverse species of trees, shrubs, and flowers from various corners of the world providing a backdrop. The park's information system will introduce you to the dendroflora of individual areas and draw your attention to points of interest. Among the most beautiful sectors is undoubtedly the East Asian section. The most visited period is related to the blooming of rhododendrons, which takes place at the end of April and the beginning of May. The green park also includes an ornamental plant nursery, from which you will certainly take home a rare piece for your garden.

Allow us to invite you for a walk through the charming world of global flora. You can combine a trip to this unique arboretum of European significance with recreation at the Slepčany water reservoir or with an excursion to Energoland Mochovce, where they will guide you through the entire evolution of energy from the Big Bang to the near future. If the highlights of this region have caught your interest, book accommodation near Arborétum Mlyňany SAV today and get ready for a stay full of unique experiences. We recommend choosing from our range of accommodation in Zlaté Moravce, from where you will have all the sights of the region in the palm of your hand.

Zoologická záhrada Bojnice as the first zoological garden in Slovakia has been welcoming its guests since 1955. It is among the most popular attractions in Bojnice, along with Bojnický zámok. The advantage is easy accessibility. A short walk takes you from the center of Bojnice to the zoo in a few minutes, while from Prievidza it is a longer 40-minute walk. If you are going by car, you can use designated parking spaces or simply park in Bojnice in a municipal or private parking lot for a small fee. The zoological garden is open every day of the year.

Over an area of 41 hectares, you will find more than 430 species of animals, totaling more than 3,500 specimens. Among the most significant are antelopes, gibbons, kangaroos, leopards, lions, elephants, and zebras. You will also see the cute panda or popular flamingos. And those who are not afraid of snakes are invited to the terrariums, where you will find various species of reptiles, brightly colored poison dart frogs, and spooky-looking toads. Your little ones will have the greatest joy visiting ZOO Bojnice. In addition to families with children, you will also frequently meet couples in love or seniors among the visitors. One thing is certain, you certainly won't be bored here.

However, ZOO Bojnice does not only offer the opportunity to get to know various animal species. The goal is to build a positive relationship with animals in children, educate them about life, and last but not least, help them. Animals that have been injured in the wild and need care often find their way to the zoo. If returning to nature is not possible after treatment, the animals are cared for until the end of their lives. If you are also an animal lover, you can help, for example, by adopting a selected animal through a one-time contribution.

Can you guess how many visitors have already passed through the zoo gates? Imagine that as early as 2008, they welcomed their 20-millionth visitor here. In addition to standard tours, Národná ZOO Bojnice also offers other experiential programs. For one day, you can become a zookeeper, gardener, or chef for the animals. They also have a zoo school for educating children and adults. Today, special programs for schools and other groups are available.

In Bojnice, it is also worth visiting other attractions. Families with children will have fun at Múzeum praveku and Dino park Bojnice. You must not miss Bojnický zámok and the experiential attraction Sokoliari Aquila. After an active day, we invite you to Kúpele Bojnice or Termálne kúpalisko Vodný svet - Bojnice, where you can recharge your energy.

To manage everything nice and important, we recommend spending at least a few days in Bojnice. Get inspired on our portal and find the right accommodation near ZOO Bojnice for yourself. Truly everyone can choose with us.

Among the sought-after villages in Slovakia are Topoľčianky, where, in addition to Národný žrebčín - Múzeum chovu koní, which serves as a horse breeding museum, you will also find the unique zubria zvernica. If you want to delight your children and show them these massive animals with your own eyes, visit its extensive grounds.

In the Tribeč mountain range, many years ago, the employees of Lesy SR decided to establish Topoľčianska zubria zvernica. The attraction is a major draw for this region. Getting to it is relatively simple. Thanks to directional signs, you can get directly from the center of the village all the way to the parking lot, which is built right next to the outer fence of the reserve.

The main mission of Zubria zvernica v Topoľčiankach was to save the life of the European bison from complete extinction. Thanks to the artificially created area, our protected animal species can live its endangered life in peace. The establishment of the area dates back to 1958, when the first two bison, Beyryeg and Beylianka, were brought into its enclosure. Their origin was from Belarus and the Soviet Union. Since then, the bison have managed to bond and bring new offspring into the world. In our territory, more than 180 bison have been born from the establishment of the protected area to the present.

Every year, more than a thousand visitors visit zubria zvernica. For a symbolic admission fee, you can view the bison grazing in the enclosure. We could count around 13 of them. Individuals that are not needed for further breeding are placed in zoos or sent to other reserves around the world. To make the area even more interesting for the general public, the employees of this enterprise strive for its attractiveness. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary, they managed to build Lesnícky náučný chodník Zubria zvernica. On its 10 panels, you will get acquainted with information regarding bison breeding, its related species, or even the plants that occur in this reserve. The length of the trail is 2,500 m, the terrain is undemanding, and mothers with strollers will also appreciate that. After the walk, you can direct your steps to the buffet and refresh yourself with chilled drinks or something good to eat.

For you to view the bison up close, the employees recommend visiting at the time of their feeding. After this amazing experience, you can set off to discover other points of interest in the village. Horses are treated royally at Národný žrebčín - Múzeum chovu koní, where they offer you the opportunity to peek into the lives of these animals during a 45-minute tour. Perhaps you are more of the type who craves information from our past, so direct your steps to Topoľčiansky zámok. The cherry on top can also be renting a Kolobežka pod Hradom Hrušov and thus exploring the surroundings from this means of transport.

A day packed with activities can make you tired. To have a place to lay your head and put your things away, we recommend booking accommodation near Zubria zvernica Topoľčianky. You can search for apartments in Topoľčianky via the forms on the MegaUbytovanie website, or check the offer of available rooms in the Topoľčianky hostels. The selection of accommodation providers with their accommodation facilities is varied here.

The contact zoo ARAKOVO v Bojniciach offers visitors a fascinating look into the world of colorful exotic birds with which you can establish direct contact.

The attraction is located in the spa town of Bojnice, in the Prievidza district, right in the area below the castle on Zámok a okolie street. ARAKOVO specializes in breeding various species of parrots, especially imposing macaws, cockatoos, and African greys, which are hand-reared and accustomed to human company. Visitors have the opportunity not only to observe the parrots but also to feed them with prepared food, let them land on their shoulder or hand, and take pictures with them. The entire experience takes place in the presence of expert caretakers who provide interesting information about the lives, intelligence, and temperament of individual birds. The facility emphasizes education on the conservation of these endangered species and proper care for exotic birds. Since these are living creatures, operations are partly dependent on the season and weather, so it is advisable to check current availability before visiting.

What can you find here?

In the area, you will find spacious aviaries and contact zones where dozens of parrots of various sizes and colors move freely. Bird food mixtures intended for the birds and professional staff who will teach you how to handle the feathered animals correctly and safely are available for visitors. Information boards about individual species and the option to purchase bird-themed souvenirs are also part of the experience.

Who is the place suitable for?

The place is ideal for families with children looking for an educational yet emotional experience interacting with animals. It is also sought after by lovers of exotic nature, photographers, and tourists who want to enrich their stay in Bojnice with an unconventional attraction. Given the direct contact with birds, individuals with feather allergies or those who have a natural respect for larger exotic birds should be cautious.

What can you visit in the surroundings?

In close proximity is the majestic Bojnický zámok castle and the adjacent Národná zoologická záhrada Bojnice zoo. Just a few steps from the area, you can visit the Zrkadlové bludisko mirror maze or the Dom ilúzií house of illusions. For lovers of history and prehistory, the Múzeum praveku Slovenska – Prepoštská jaskyňa museum of prehistory is within walking distance, while the well-known Kúpele Bojnice spa serves for relaxation.