Surrounding
Ľudovít Štúr was the leader of the Slovak national revival in the 19th century, poet, journalist, teacher, publisher, philosopher, the author of the Slovak standart language leading to the contemporary Slovak literary language. Many memorial places in Modra are connected with his life, death and work, as he lived his last years in Modra: the Museum of Ľudovít Štúr with the Memorial room of Ľudovít Štúr, the Statue of Ľudovít Štúr on the town square, his grave on Modra` cemetery, and some more.
Other places worth sightseeing are German and Slovak Evangelical churches on the Street Dolná, Roman Catholic Church of St. Stephen the King on the square, residuum of the former fortifications, the Upper gate (the only well-preserved one of the three original town gates), Town Hall, Gallery of Ignác Bizmayer (it is seated in a rotund bastion from 17th century and presents the unique figural ceramic production of this master).
The surrounding woods of Modra are probably the biggest attraction for visitors. Many hiking trails lead from the town to picturesque spots in the Little Carpathians. It is a paradise for hiking, bicycle touring and horse riding. Two old, but still popular holiday areas Harmónia and Piesok with cottages and pensions located in these gentle mountains. Nice places to visit are Zámčisko (the remains of an old fort from the ninth and tenth centuries), Tisové skaly – Yew rocks (protected natural monument), Traja jazdci – Three riders, Kamenná brána – Stone gate, Medvedia skala – Bear rock.
The tourist view-tower on the Veľká Homola Hill opened in November 2001 has become a favourite viewpoint and probably the most popular place of tourism in the Little Carpathian Mountains. The wooden construction is 20 meters high and was built by volunteers from the surrounding regions, mostly from Modra and Pezinok. It provides a wonderful view all around and when the sky is clear you can see as far as the Austrian Alps. It is easily accessible using several combinations of tourist paths (2 hours from Modra).
The nearby Červený Kameň (Red Stone) is a well-preserved huge castle situated on a quartz hill over a small village Pila, situated in the Small Carpathian Mountains. It is a unique mid-European castle with an exhibition of furniture, arms, a picture gallery, and the largest collection of birds of prey in Slovakia. It offers an overview of typical interiors from the 16th to the 19th centuries, examples of household accessories and all types of weapons, including Oriental weapons. The castle chapel, historical library, castle pharmacy, and the knights' hall are part of a newly installed museum exhibition. Besides ASTUR Falconry further attractions draw tourists: horse and ponny riding, carriage trips around the historical park, castle festivals, knights` tournaments.
The Driny Cave is situated 2 km south-west from Smolenice and is the only show cave in western Slovakia. As compared with other show caves in Slovakia, where usually larger underground spaces prevail, it represents a system of narrow fissure passages, however with beautiful dripstone decoration. It is 700m long, the average temperature in the cave is 8°C, the air humidity is about 97%. There are stalactites and stalagmites of different heights and colours. Admirable draperies with tooth-like edging, sinter waterfalls and inflows, pagoda-like stalagmites, stalactites and sinter pools are typical for this cave. The symbol of the cave is a configuration of stalactites that resembles ears of an elephant.
