Nové Zámky

Geography

The municipality lies at an altitude of 114 metres (374 ft) and covers an area of 72.56 km2 (28.02 sq mi) (2025).

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.

History

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, but in 1663 they managed to do so. 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. The town’s Jews were concentrated in a temporary ghetto. On June 12 and 15, 1944, two transports of Jews were sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. The entire local Jewry was deported; few survived.

Culture

Museums

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.

Synagogue

The orthodox synagogue is located at Česká bašta and dates from 1880. 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

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.

Population

It has a population of 35,628 people (31 December 2025).

Ethnicity

In year 2021 was 37,791 people by ethnicity 27,250 as Slovak, 9157 as Hungarian, 2786 as Not found out, 280 as Czech, 134 as Other, 72 as Romani, 52 as Ukrainian, 50 as Russian, 44 as Vietnamese, 33 as German, 29 as Chinese, 27 as Polish, 23 as Rusyn, 21 as Croatian, 20 as Jewish, 19 as English, 18 as Bulgarian, 10 as Serbian, 8 as Italian, 8 as Romanian, 8 as Albanian, 7 as Irish, 5 as Greek, 5 as French, 4 as Turkish, 4 as Austrian, 4 as Moravian, 2 as Silesian, 2 as Canadian and 1 as Iranian.

Note on population: The difference values of population numbers in the table "Population statistic" and in the sections "Ethnicity" & "Religion" is caused by the use of various statistical methods.

Religion

In year 2021 was 37,791 people by religion 19,368 from Roman Catholic Church, 11,996 from None, 3636 from Not found out, 867 from Evangelical Church, 729 from Calvinist Church, 181 from Greek Catholic Church, 145 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 142 from Jehovah's Witnesses, 124 from Ad hoc movements, 109 from Other, 94 from Apostolic Church, 87 from Baptists Church, 79 from Buddhism, 52 from Other and not ascertained christian church, 44 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 37 from Jewish community, 30 from Islam, 18 from United Methodist Church, 14 from Old Catholic Church, 13 from Paganism and natural spirituality, 11 from Seventh-day Adventist Church, 6 from Hinduism, 4 from Bahá'i Community, 2 from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1 from New Apostolic Church, 1 from Czechoslovak Hussite Church and 1 from Church of the Brethren.

Notable people

Lucien Aigner – photographer

Etienne Aigner – fashion designer

Anton Bernolák – linguist

Ayrton Cable – social activist

Ferenc Helbing – graphic artist

Mary Katherine Horony – noted Old West figure, partner of Dr. John H. "Doc" Holliday, present at the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona

Lajos Kassák – writer, critic, poet, publisher

Ernest Klein - linguist, author, and rabbi

Ľudovít Klein - mixed martial artist

Samuel Klein - rabbi, historian, and historical geographer in Mandatory Palestine.

Henrieta Nagyová – tennis player

Peter Ölvecký – professional ice hockey player

Ladislav Pataki – sports scientist, athletics coach, masters athletics champion

György Pray – Jesuit Abbot, canon, librarian, historian

Miriam Roth – Israeli pioneer of preschool education, author and scholar of children's literature

Martina Suchá – tennis player

Yaakov Weiss - member of the Irgun in Mandatory Palestine

Twin towns – sister cities

Nové Zámky is twinned with: