Between Nitra and Topoľčany, at the foot of the Tribeč Mountains, there is a renaissance manor of the noble Apponyi family in the small village of Oponice. For almost six centuries, it was the seat of this important Hungarian family, who, besides diplomacy, was also famous for their rich family library. After a costly reconstruction in 2007-2011, the manor house was restored to its original form and a rare baroque library with 17 324 volumes returned. The books include the works of Aristotle, Plato, Newton, Macchiaveli, Galilei, Goethe and other major European authors in the original editions. In the past, the Apponyies' home was visited by many distinguished guests such as Theodore Roosevelt, Josephine Baker, the Maharaja of Patiala, or Thomas Cardeza, an American millionaire from Philadelphia, survivor of the Titanic in 1912. These prominent figures are given attention in the library.
The mansion serves as a four-star hotel today, providing accommodation in 34 rooms – Comfort Suite type, Junior Suite type and seven apartments. The hotel complex also includes the Songe restaurant, lobby bar, bowling and wellnes. It is surrounded by a beautiful nine-hectare park with rare woods dominated by sets of plate trees and precious gingko. Since there was a long tradition of tennis, two new tennis courts and a park lake were built at the site of the original court. The Appony hotel is a great place for wedding receptions, birthday parties, corporate events, conferences, seminars, and other social and stylish events that can be hosted in the magnificent and spacious halls (Wedding salon, Blue salon and Private salon).
