Near the Hungarian border, visitors can enjoy cycling, a variety of water adventures, and delicious pastries from a bakery with a long-standing tradition.
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Upon entering the hotel lobby at the X-Bionic Sports Centre near Šamorín, the lively atmosphere at reception is immediately apparent. Dozens of swimmers from around the world are gathered, arriving for the World Junior Swimming Championships. It is later revealed that approximately 400 athletes will be staying here.
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According to X-Bionic director Michal Kraus, athletes attending training camps make up two-thirds of the clientele. The remaining third comprises companies that use the extensive sports resort for team-building activities and conferences.
The complex features a 50-metre outdoor swimming pool, as well as a smaller indoor pool, and is open to the public from Šamorín and the surrounding areas. “There is also a wellness centre, an aquapark, and bowling facilities, ensuring there is something for everyone,” Kraus adds.
X-Bionic attracts more than just athletes
During a tour of the extensive complex, the resort’s director pointed out a closed, unfinished pool containing thermal water, which will eventually be open to the public. Currently, swimmers train for competitions in the large swimming pool. The complex also includes a buffet and a bar.
A massive statue of a horse and rider stands prominently outside the sports resort, reflecting its equestrian focus. The facility houses racehorses and regularly hosts show jumping and endurance events.
“We receive about 40,000 guests each year, and visitor numbers are stabilising, indicating that the winter season is gradually becoming as popular as the summer months,” explained Kraus. During summer, families with children share the pools alongside athletes.
Looking ahead, Kraus aims to attract even more athletes to participate in a variety of sports. In addition to swimming and horse riding, the complex offers volleyball and football facilities.
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“Australian swimmers have already discovered us, but Hungarian visitors tend to be fewer, as water sports in Hungary receive strong state support, providing access to numerous swimming pools,” Kraus clarified.
Rozália Vörös from the Šamorín Tourist Information Centre confirmed that X-Bionic is a major attraction for visitors to the city. The dynamic sports facilities and activities now overshadow traditional monuments.
“Thousands of domestic and international tourists come here each year,” she added.
A monastery full of culture
In Šamorín, as in many towns across southern Slovakia, historical monuments are few and far between. Yet the former Paulánsky Monastery, a national cultural monument in the city centre, is well worth a visit. Partially renovated, the monastery houses a tourist centre and an exhibition hall on the ground floor, as well as a small museum.
This year, the city announced plans to renovate the first floor, with the intention of creating a historically themed escape room.
Šamorín also offers a variety of cultural events and festivals. “We strive to keep pace with modern trends and provide attractive programmes for visitors, while also emphasising the importance of preserving local customs and traditions,” adds Vörös.
Rafting and cycling on Žitný ostrov
Cycling tourism is on the rise in Šamorín and its surrounding areas, a trend that has been growing since the completion of the Gabčíkovo waterworks in the 1990s. Cyclists can use the path that runs along the dam of the reservoir, which forms the border between Slovakia and Hungary, allowing rides from Šamorín to either Komárno or Bratislava.
At the dam, visitors can enjoy a snack and take advantage of the ferry service crossing the Danube River.
In Dunajská Streda, the large thermal swimming pool is a popular destination for several days of relaxation. For those seeking activities beyond swimming, rafting on the Little Danube is available nearby. Guests can also rent bicycles at the swimming pool area to cycle to the Danube dam, connected to the town by a dedicated cycle path.
While Žitný ostrov (Rye Island)’s towns lack many historical monuments, Dunajská Streda’s town hall and the Žitný ostrov Museum – housed in a charming yellow mansion – are worth a visit. Unfortunately, the museum is surrounded by blocks of flats from the socialist era.
Retro-style pastry shop
For those who enjoy thermal waters, the thermal swimming pools in Veľký Meder offer plenty to explore. The Thermal Corvinus complex is extensive, featuring 13 swimming pools. If you need a break from soaking in the hot springs and have a sweet tooth, a visit to the nearby village of Okoč is recommended.
There, the family-run Köles pastry shop awaits in a beautiful historic house built in 1929. Once a Jewish-owned shop, it still retains its retro-style interior. The business is now run by Renata Kölesová, who inherited it from her father, a renowned confectioner during the socialist era. He founded the pastry shop in the late 1960s, during a brief period when the communist regime allowed private enterprise.
With the Trnava Region travel guide in hand, “Little Rome” reveals itself to be larger than life, ready to welcome visitors with open arms – and a glass of mead.
“Later, he had to work in a municipal pastry shop, but he was its manager, and we have lived in this house since 1972,” recalls his daughter. The cakes and ice creams are still made according to his original recipes.
There are no advertising boards or signposts for the pastry shop along the road from Veľký Meder. The owner believes there is no need for visual advertising, as her cakes have earned a stellar reputation in the surrounding area. Among the most popular treats are pinwheels, spitz, and honey cream.
“Tourists from Veľký Meder sometimes visit, but our main clientele consists of locals,” adds Kölesová. The lack of advertising has not hindered the pastry shop’s success; the owner employs 10 people and produces dozens of tarts and tens of thousands of cakes each month.
“Competition is increasing both locally and in Veľký Meder, but we pride ourselves on making quality homemade cakes,” the owner reveals, sharing the secret to the family business’s enduring success.
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