Nové Zámky (pronunciation; German: Neuhäus[e]l; Hungarian: Érsekújvár; Latin: Novum Castrum; is a town in Nové Zámky District in the Nitra Region of southwestern Slovakia.

Nové Zámky
Town
From the top, Hlavné Námestie, Nové Zámky Synagogue, Czuczor Gergely's school
Main square of Nové Zámky
Flag of Nové Zámky
Coat of arms of Nové Zámky
Nové Zámky is located in Nitra Region
Nové Zámky
Nové Zámky
Location in Slovakia
Nové Zámky is located in Slovakia
Nové Zámky
Nové Zámky
Nové Zámky (Slovakia)
Coordinates: 47°59′08″N 18°09′28″E / 47.98556°N 18.15778°E / 47.98556; 18.15778
Country Slovakia
RegionNitra
DistrictNové Zámky
Founded1573
Government
 • MayorOtokar Klein
Area
 • Total72.57 km2 (28.02 sq mi)
 (2022)
Elevation
114[2] m (374[2] ft)
Population
 (2022)[3]
 • Total36,781
 • Density510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
940 01[2]
Area code+421 35[2]
Car plateNZ
Websitewww.novezamky.sk

Geography edit

The town is located on the Danubian Lowland, on the Nitra River, at an altitude of 119 metres. It is located around 100 km from Bratislava and around 25 km from the Hungarian border. It is a road and railway hub of southern Slovakia.

The town lies in the temperate zone and has a continental climate. Annual average temperature reaches around 10 °C (50.0 °F), with the warmest month being July with an average of 20 °C (68 °F) and the coldest January with −2 °C (28 °F). Average annual precipitation is 556 mm.[4]

History edit

 
ca. 1680 plan of the "Neuhäusel Fortress as it was besieged and taken by the Ottomans in 1663”
 
1696 plan of "Newhausel" on the "Noytra". Manesson: Art de la Guerre.
 
Nové Zámky Catholic Church.
 
Memorial plaque of the Jews from Nové Zámky who died during World War II

The town has a distinguished history. From the second half of the 10th century until 1918, it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary. A fortress was built as a defence against the Ottoman Empire, on the site of an older settlement in the years 1573–81. Between 1589 and 1663, the settlement was the seat of the Captaincy of Lower Hungary. The town developed around the fortress. The huge new fortress was one of the most modern in Europe when it was built, a prime example of the star fortress which was considered to be adapted to the advance in artillery in the preceding centuries. (In fact, the Hungarian name means "the archbishop's new castle".)

The Ottomans failed to conquer it six times (except Ottoman rule between 1566–1595[5] and 1605–1606),[6] but in 1663 they managed to do so.[7] It was made the center of an Ottoman eyalet in present-day southern Slovakia – with the subordinate sanjaks of Litra, Leve, Novigrad, Holok, Bukabak and Şefradi (probably Šahy).

The saying "Strong as an Ottoman in front of Nové Zámky", which means working with determination and stability, reflects the memory of conquest determination of the Ottomans.

In 1685 it was conquered by the imperial troops of Charles V, Duke of Lorraine. Six years later, it received town privileges from the Esztergom archbishop.

The town also played an important role in many anti-Habsburg uprisings in the northern parts of Royal Hungary in the 17th century. Emperor Charles VI had it razed in 1724–1725, to prevent potential further insurrections which would use the fortress as their base.

After the break-up of Austria-Hungary in 1918/1920, the town became part of the newly created Czechoslovakia. As a result of the First Vienna Award, it was occupied by Hungary between 1938 and 1945.

After the Germans occupied Hungary in March 1944, the deportation of Hungarian Jewry to Auschwitz began.[8] The town’s Jews were concentrated in a temporary ghetto.[8] On June 12 and 15, 1944, two transports of Jews were sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp.[8] The entire local Jewry was deported; few survived.[8]

During World War II (1944), the town was heavily damaged by bombings of the Allies.[9] Only small parts of the fortress are still standing today. It is, however, still depicted on the city's coat of arms.

Culture edit

Museums edit

The Ernest Zmeták Art Gallery on Björnsonova Street has two permanent exhibitions. The first one, called "European Art of the 16th to 20th Century″, is based on the donation of a local painter and collector, Ernest Zmeták. The second one presents the works of art of a local Hungarian avant-garde artist and writer, Lajos Kassák.[10]

Synagogue edit

The orthodox synagogue is located at Česká bašta and dates from 1880.[11] After reconstruction in 1992 it was registered as a historic landmark of Slovakia. It is one of only four synagogues in Slovakia (in Bratislava, Košice, Bardejov and Nové Zámky) that are used for religious purposes by the local Jewish community.

Franciscan church and monastery edit

see Franciscan church and monastery, Nové Zámky

The Franciscan church and monastery was built in the early baroque style in the middle of the 17th century. The complex was renovated in the 18th and at the end of the 19th century.

Demographics edit

The 2001 census recorded a population of 42,262 people, with 69.67% of them being Slovaks, 27.52% Hungarians and others. The most widespread religion was Roman Catholicism (71.72%), followed by a group without denomination (17.75%) and Evangelics (Lutherans) (3.36%).

Year Population Year Population
1694
1,200
1880
10,584
1713
1,525
1890
11,299
1731
2,970
1900
13,204
1755
3,873
1910
16,228
1779
4,671
1940
23,306
1787
5,167
1945
13,400
1811
5,493
1946
18,710
1821
5,957
1950
20,031
1830
6,904
1961
22,041
1851
6,936
1965
23,457
1857
7,622
1991
42,923
1869
9,483
2001
42,262
Ethnic comparison by year
1700 1720 1890 1910 1930 1938 1991 2001 2011
61%
46%
71%
91.43%
45%
88%
31.10%
27.50%
25%
36%
8%
5.94%
42%
9.5%
66.82%
69.70%
German
13%
17%
4%
2%
-
-
-
<0.1%
-
-
3%
-
-
-
-
0.60%
-
-
13%
8.48%
8%
-
-
0.4%

Notable people edit

Twin towns – sister cities edit

Nové Zámky is twinned with:[12]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (www.statistics.sk). "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce". www.statistics.sk. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Základná charakteristika". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  3. ^ Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (www.statistics.sk). "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne)". www.statistics.sk. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  4. ^ "(Slovak)". Novezamky.sk. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  5. ^ http://mek.niif.hu/01800/01885/html/cd5m/kepek/c4341pe94122.jpg[bare URL image file]
  6. ^ "Kanuni'nin Deniz Siyaseti". Egze.com. 6 March 2006. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  7. ^ a.s, Petit Press (24 April 2006). "Nové Zámky". spectator.sme.sk.
  8. ^ a b c d "Nove Zamky". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org.
  9. ^ "Nove Zamky - New Castles in Slovakia". slowakei-netz.de.
  10. ^ "Art Gallery of Ernest Zmeták in Nové Zámky". www.regionnitra.sk.
  11. ^ "Nové Zámky – Orthodox synagogue". www.slovak-jewish-heritage.org.
  12. ^ "Družobné mestá" (in Slovak). Nové Zámky. Retrieved 2 September 2019.

External links edit