Most people come to Veľký Meder for the thermal baths. Spend more than a day here, though, and you will find that Rye Island (Žitný ostrov), the flat country between the arms of the Danube, has plenty to offer beyond the pools. And that you can put a day together even when it rains.
When the sun is out
The thermal baths
Thermal Corvinus is 700 metres from our manor. Seven indoor pools are open all year round, with six outdoor pools added in summer, plus water slides and a sauna world. The 8.3-hectare complex sits in a woodland park. We take our guests there by free shuttle.
We wrote about it in more detail in our guide to Thermal Corvinus.
Cycling on Rye Island
Rye Island is the largest river island in Europe and it is completely flat, which makes it ideal for cycling with children or for anyone less used to the saddle. The routes run along the arms of the Danube and through villages where time seems to have stopped.
We lend bicycles to our guests at the manor, so there is no need to bring your own.
Nature and water
- Číčov oxbow lake of the Danube, a protected stretch of water and one of the best places in the region for birdwatching.
- Dunajské luhy Protected Landscape Area, with floodplain forests and Danube backwaters, pleasant for walking and cycling alike.
- Gabčíkovo viewing tower, with views over the waterworks and across the whole of Rye Island.
Days out for families
- Malkia Park: a big-cat park, good for a full day out with children.
- Kolárovo water mill, a historic water mill and milling museum on the Little Danube.
- Győr, a Hungarian city about 25 km away, with the Audi Aréna, Xantus zoo, a basilica and the Rába-Quelle thermal baths.
You will find the full list with map links on our Surroundings page.
When it rains
Rain on Rye Island does not mean the end of the programme.
The indoor part of the baths is open all year: seven pools and a sauna world with a salt chamber. On a rainy day it is often more pleasant than in the heat, simply because there are fewer people.
At the manor we have a gallery of contemporary paintings, board games (chess, cards, pétanque) and table tennis. The children keep busy, the adults have a coffee and look out over the park.
And then there is the option most people rarely allow themselves: doing nothing at all. A baroque manor house with its own park is a better place for that than a flat by the main road.
Depending on how much time you have
An hour. A walk through the park or along the dyke. Nothing to plan.
Half a day. The viewing platforms at the Gabčíkovo waterworks, where entry is free, or a shorter ride along the dyke.
A full day. Malkia Park in Orechová Potôň, the water mill in Kolárovo, or Győr across the border.
A rainy day. The indoor part of the baths, the gallery at the manor, board games. Or the milling museum in Kolárovo, which is under a roof.
What suits which season
Spring. The cycling season starts and the countryside wakes up. Note: the Číčov oxbow lake is off limits from March to mid-July because of the nesting season.
Summer. Outdoor pools and the longest days, but also the most people. Plan your days out for the morning or the early evening; at midday the open dyke is hot.
Autumn. Our favourite time of year. Pleasant for cycling and walking, the baths are open, and there are fewer people about.
Winter. The indoor part of the baths and the sauna world. The park looks nothing like the summer photographs: mist over the lake and silence.
What you can do without leaving the park
You do not have to travel anywhere. Our 35,000 m² park has:
- a lake for fishing, a quiet pastime even for complete beginners,
- horses and walks through the park, including for those who have never sat in a saddle,
- a farmyard with animals of Rye Island,
- a viewing tower above the lake,
- sports pitches and a wooden barn.
More on our Experiences page.
Fishing for complete beginners
Fishing on a private lake is one of the few pastimes where nothing is rushed, and that is exactly why it suits a holiday.
What it involves. You spend most of the time sitting. A fish is not guaranteed, and that is part of it. If you are after action, this is not it; if you need to switch off, it is precisely it.
When it is worth going. Early morning and early evening tend to be the best parts of the day. At midday, in the heat, it is quiet in the water too.
With children. The patience of small children is measured in minutes, not hours. What works is taking them along briefly, showing them the tackle and leaving the rest to them. Those who stay, stay.
What to bring. Something warm for the early morning, sun protection for midday and insect repellent all day, because we are by the water and surrounded by greenery.
What to ask us in advance. The fishing rules at our lake, what tackle is available, whether you need to bring your own and what the current conditions are. Write to us and we will confirm the details. Conditions change through the year and we would rather you did not rely on out-of-date information.
Where to stay
We are a baroque manor house with our own park, 700 metres from the thermal baths. 13 rooms and apartments in seven categories, home cooking from Rye Island served as half board, a free shuttle to the baths and the railway station, and free parking in an enclosed, monitored courtyard.
Have a look at our accommodation or our stay packages, which we offer exclusively for direct bookings.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Veľký Meder besides the thermal baths?
Rye Island offers cycling routes, the Číčov oxbow lake of the Danube, the water mill in Kolárovo, the viewing tower in Gabčíkovo and the Malkia Park big-cat park. Győr in Hungary is about 25 km away.
Is the area good for cycling?
Yes, Rye Island is flat and criss-crossed with cycling routes. We lend bicycles to our guests at the manor.
What is there to do on a rainy day?
The indoor part of the thermal baths is open all year round. At the manor you will find a gallery of contemporary paintings, board games and table tennis.
