Sokolovce Mansion
National Cultural Monument of the Slovak Republic No. 1019/1
The Manor House and Park in Sokolovce
The manor house and its adjoining park in Sokolovce represent the most significant historical landmark on the left bank of the Váh River between Piešťany and Hlohovec. This estate is unique as a well-preserved example of a historic rural residence, complete with a park featuring rare tree species and a natural water body.
The period following the end of World War II marked the most challenging chapter in the history of the manor and park—now recognized as national cultural monuments—due to frequent changes in their use. Once a renowned state-run medical facility, the site gradually fell into decline. However, a turning point came at Christmas 2022, when the municipality took over its restoration by purchasing the manor house, beginning a new era in its history. The goal is a comprehensive restoration and functional revival of the estate—transforming it into a senior care home, cultural and community venue, and an ecologically valuable park.
According to historical research, the noble residence in Sokolovce was founded in the 17th century by the Nyáry family, one of the oldest noble families in the Kingdom of Hungary. The family’s earliest known ancestor, János Nyáry, a royal agent, is mentioned as early as 1329, while the first written record of the village itself (“Zokol”) dates back to 1293.
The first known owner of the Sokolovce estate was Count Zsigmund Nyáry. Together with his wife Klára Eva Angelika Maláth de Székely and their son József Lajos Miklós Nyáry, he continued to manage the property. The Nyáry family likely acquired the entire village through purchase from the local Skarbal family. Count Zsigmund Nyáry commissioned the construction of the manor house sometime after 1703, but no later than 1746. He also initiated the building of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The Baroque-Classical manor house and its park (second half of the 18th century) changed hands several times over the years: passing through the Amadé, Windisch-Grätz, Degenfeld, and Hirschwerk families. In the latter half of the 19th century, the estate was owned by Dávid Horn, who added a lookout tower and enhanced the park with a pond and rare trees. During the tenure of Count Adolf Degenfeld-Schomburg, a model farm and distillery were established. The last owners were the Gyulay family, who voluntarily left the estate in 1945 and fled to Vienna ahead of the advancing Eastern Front.
The years 1945 to 2021 were especially hard on the manor and park. The property saw varied uses—from temporary housing for liberating troops to warehouses, supply depots, a school, and eventually a tuberculosis sanatorium (until 1976). The interiors were renovated in 1963 and again in 1980 to accommodate a medical facility for TB and later for addiction treatment. Although it was designated a national cultural monument in 1998, the manor was left vulnerable following the collapse of the state healthcare system (2005) and the sale of “surplus” assets (2008). After the copper roof was looted in 2012, the building deteriorated rapidly and became a ruin.
The municipality’s efforts culminated on December 24, 2022, with the acquisition of the estate into public ownership. Since then, the village—together with former and current residents, natives, partners, and national institutions—has been working on a full restoration of both national landmarks. The aim is to repurpose them for modern use, enhancing the quality of life for both local inhabitants and visitors to the region.