Nitra, Slovakia

The city of Nitra is a western Slovak city designated as the center of the Nitra region. The city is picturesquely located in the valley of the Nitra River, at the foot of the Zobor mountain. Nitra is considered the oldest in the country, along with Bratislava. Historically, the first written information about it dates back to the 9th century, when today's city was the capital of the first Slovak country - Great Moravia. Nitra is also the cradle of Christianity in Slovakia, where the first Slovak church was built.
Administratively, the city of Nitra is divided into Upper and Lower Castles.
The heart of the Upper Castle beats in Nitra's castle. In the 11th century, it was the seat of the Moravian kings. The castle of Nitra has managed to preserve some of its fortifications and architectural elements to this day. Today, it is the spiritual life of Slovakia, and it houses the Cathedral and the Palace, as well as the residence of the Bishop of Nitra.
The Lower Castle in Nitra also has quite a few sights. Such are the impressive buildings of the church and monastery, built in the Baroque style, the building of the former city administration, which today is an art gallery, the Bagara theater and the church of St. Stephen.
Other architectural jewels of the city cannot be missed in Nitra's business card. Near Nitra, for example, there is the church "St. Michael", which is perched on top of Mount Zobor, and was built on the site of an ancient Slavic settlement. Another landmark in the area is the palace in the village of Topolčanki, which is one of the most beautiful in Slovakia, built during the Renaissance. In the past, it played the role of the summer residence of the Austrian imperial family.