# Partizánske

Partizánske is an industrial city of 22,000 people (2018) in Western Slovakia. It was founded in 1938 to provide housing for workers in a Bata shoe factory.

## Understand

Partizánske, formerly called Baťovany, is one of the famous serial cities built and financed by Jan Antonín Baťa in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Great Britain, and more than a dozen other countries. The name change from Baťovany was done to Partizánske was to commemorate the place where the Slovak Uprising began and where more than 250 Baťa residents lost their lives defending the city from the Waffen SS in 1944.

### History

The city is in the upper part of the valley of Nitra River in a beautiful and interesting regions of Slovakia. Partizánske is a shoemaking metropolis, also called the entrance gate of upper Nitra's region. Strážovské Mountains and Vtáčnik Massif surround the city. Partizánske has plenty of parks, flowered streets, and trees.
The city was established in 1938-1939 by Jan Antonín Baťa who founded a shoemaking factory and town originally called Baťovany. At its pre-World War II peak, Baťa became one of the best known brands of shoes, tires and other manufactured goods.
Partizánske's symbol is a blazon with a shoe between two roses and a seal of Šimonovany, the historical part of the town. The city also has its own flag and seal.

## Get in

* 48.62695918.3709731 Train station, Gen. Svobodu. (updated Nov 2016)
* 48.62773218.3709262 Bus station, Nitrianska cesta. (updated Nov 2016)

## See

* 48.62566218.3727541 SNP Square (Námestie Slovenského národného povstania) (Downtown). The square was reconstructed in 1998. Comprises a fountain and a statue of soldiers who were killed in World War II.
* 48.63118.3912 Šimonovany Castle (also known as Water Castle) (in the oldest part of the town). Built in 14th-15th century when it was located in a small island in the middle of Nitra River.
* 48.60827718.3439153 Brodzany manor house (Near Partizánske). Has beautiful green garden with romantic scenery. It has its own museum named after Alexander Sergejevic Puskin, a famous writer.
* 48.62651618.3718654 Sacred Heart of Jesus church (Kostol Božského Srdca Ježišovho). Features a big marble cross with a statue of Jesus.
* 48.62633518.3710215 Tomáš Baťa Statue (In front of the shoemaking factory). Weighs 330 kg and measures 2 metres. Though Tomáš Baťa was the founder of several of the Baťa companies including T&A Baťa of Zlín. The assets of T&A Baťa were purchased by Tomáš's brother Jan Antonín Baťa in 1931 and the company was reformed under the name Baťa a.s., Zlín. Tomáš Sr. who died in 1932 had no connection with the creation of Baťovany in Slovakia in 1938-39 (later renamed Partizánske in 1948). Baťovany was the creation of his younger brother Jan Antonín Baťa.
* 48.62651618.3718656 Flower Shoe (Downtown). The most important symbol of the city.
* 48.6300418.34117 Observatory, Malé Bielice 177. Important culture-educative place for students, and there is possibility to observe sky during the day as well as during the night. The main dominant of this observatory is its cupola with lens telescope.

## Do

* Thermal sources. Partizánske has three thermal sources. There is a new big lido with four different pools, toboggan, volleyball ground, snack bars, cafes, and other recreational facilities. Near it, there is a spa where people look for relax, massages, and sauna not only in summer months.
* Lakes. There are two lakes close to Partizánske that are surrounded by beautiful nature where anglers can find their peaceful area. Some people own small wood cottages on their banks where they spend weekends.
* Winter sports. There are also several possibilities to do winter sports in this area. You can do ice skating on local lakes surface or in ice hockey stadium. Skiing is available in close skiing area called Horná Ves. Furthermore, many accommodation facilities offer you comfortable winter or summer holiday there.
* Autocross and motocross. Partizánske is famous for international competition in autocross and motocross that take place in close village Veľké Uherce. World cups as well as European cup in motocross are big events over the Slovakia and many people arrive to visit this competition. Atmosphere of this occasion attracts attention of many visitors.
* The way across the magic forest. Every year 1 June. Event for children.

## Eat
### Budget

* Ismet. This amazing ice cream parlour in the central square of Partizánske is something of a small social hub, and serves the most ludicrous array of delicious ice creams for only 50-60c a scoop. Well worth visiting more than once. (updated Jan 2023)

### Mid-range

* Restaurant Clerence (by the main street). The restaurant is a beautiful place for having a nice lunch or relaxing with friends. Guests will enjoy terrace outside the restaurant in hot summer days and evenings. The prices are affordable and no one will be disappointed of paying the bill after eating the meal.
* Restaurant Dukas. This is not classical restaurant where just a nice food is served, but this restaurant offers the customers something extra. This restaurant is placed inside the Sport Centrum, where visitors can use the multifunctional sport field with tribune. Beside the field, guests will find there four bowling lines. This is a good place for meeting with friends or having fun relaxing and playing interesting games.

### Splurge

* 48.64194518.4848291 Restaurant Afrodita (Kaštieľ Čereňany), Prievidzská 406/30, 972 46 Čereňany. This restaurant offers something very special. The restaurant was moved from the town to small village called Čereňany, which is about 15 km away from Partizánske, and is known for cooking for celebrities, political visitors and other famous people. According to the evaluation provided by the Slovak magazine called Trend, the Afrodita restaurant is on the top place among the best restaurants in Slovakia. There guests can find very luxurious seats for official meetings, smaller saloons, and traditional Slovak room made of wood, in which the traditional Slovak foods are offered. Due to the region, which is about 150 km from the capital, the prices are lower than one would expect seeing the beautiful castle where the restaurant takes place. Around the castle is an eye-catching park where the terrace offers comfort during hot summer days.

## Go next

* Bojnice