Period postcards depict the Schoeller Manor with its park. (source: Csaba Tolnai)
For decades, the once-grand park at the heart of Levice has been a shadow of its former self. Now, with more than €1 million secured for its restoration, the town is set to bring it back to life.
Designed over 120 years ago by Swedish architect Carl Gustav Swensson, the park was a visionary project made possible by landowner Gustav Schoeller—often dubbed the “Levice Rockefeller.” At the time, it was unlike anything seen before in the region.
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Neglect set in after the Second World War, and though a partial restoration in recent years revived its ponds and fountain, much of the park remained in disrepair.
The upcoming revitalisation will focus on restoring its green spaces, reinstating the original historic gate, and rebuilding the park’s fence. To preserve its renewed beauty, the park will also be closed to the public at night.
More than 120 years of history
Older residents of Levice recall the park as a place where animals roamed freely, exotic birds lived in aviaries, and a pond with a fountain added to the ambience. Locals still refer to it as Schoeller Park, although its official name is Milan Rastislav Štefánik Park. The park is owned by the city.
Not far from the town square, the estate once featured a manor house for the landowner, along with a mill, a vegetable garden, and an English-style park. The Schoeller family operated the mill and played a key role in the development of both Levice and the surrounding agricultural region.
The manor was surrounded by a park spanning 1.67 hectares.
“The manor’s impressive exterior was complemented by a beautiful park, filled with rare trees and plants, among which conifers and ferns stood out. The ponds and canals were home to water lilies, fish, and other rare wildlife,” wrote the late Csaba Tolnai in his book Levice in Old Postcards.
He included early 20th-century postcards showcasing the park and Schoeller Manor, with “climbing plants winding their way up the walls,” which helped spread the park’s fame worldwide.
The renowned landscape architect Carl Gustav Swensson paid great attention to detail. Peacocks roamed the grounds, an aviary housed exotic birds, and a pen was dedicated to forest animals. A tennis court also graced the park. The atmosphere was further enhanced by a fountain and an artificial geyser, with decorative wooden bridges arching over the ponds.
The decline of the idyllic park
The Second World War marked the end of the once magnificent manor. In 1944, the Schoeller family left Levice, and during the city’s bombardment, the manor was struck by a bomb. Although the building could have been saved, a shortage of building materials led local residents to dismantle it, using the bricks to repair their homes. In 1948, the decision was made to demolish the remaining structure. Today, a flowerbed occupies the site, with a plaque commemorating the manor’s existence.
The park’s large wrought-iron gate remained as an entrance for years before being repurposed as the gateway to an amphitheatre, where it still stands.
Over time, the park fell into disrepair. Remnants of its former grandeur endure, including towering trees and one of the original aviaries, which has since been converted into a gazebo. In 2021, the city restored the park’s neglected ponds and geyser.
A new chapter for the park
The restoration of the park is set to continue.
The revitalisation will cost €1.092 million, with €1.005 million provided through a non-repayable grant from the Investments Ministry.
The project has two main objectives. In the park, efforts will focus on maintaining and caring for existing trees and shrubs, as well as planting new ones. The park will also benefit from upgraded lighting, irrigation systems, fencing, and small-scale furniture.
Additionally, retention and infiltration areas will be introduced to manage rainwater across the 1.67-hectare site.
“Once the fencing is in place, the park will be closed at night. The revitalised Schoeller Gate will once again become a prominent feature, restoring the park’s historic charm,” said Mayor Ján Krtík, signalling a return to the park’s storied past.
© My Levice
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