Bánovce nad Bebravou

Bánovce nad Bebravou (German: Banowitz, Hungarian: Bán) is a town in Slovakia, in the Trenčín Region.

Bánovce nad Bebravou
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Bánovce nad Bebravou Location of Bánovce nad Bebravou in the Trenčín Region Show map of Trenčín Region Bánovce nad Bebravou Location of Bánovce nad Bebravou in Slovakia Show map of Slovakia
Coordinates: 48.72°N 18.26°E / 48.72; 18.26
Country	Slovakia
Region	Trenčín Region
District	Bánovce nad Bebravou District
First mentioned	1232
Government
• Mayor	Rudolfa Novotná
Area [1]
• Total	26.55 km2 (10.25 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	209 m (686 ft)
Population  (2021)[3]
• Total	16,486
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	957 01[2]
Area code	+421 38[2]
Car plate	BN
Website	www.banovce.sk

Names

The name is derived from the personal name or title Bán meaning "the village of Bán's people". "Nad Bebravou" means "above Bebrava" (beaver river).^[4] The oldest inscription mentioning the town as villa Ben dates back to 1232. Other recorded names are Villa Ban (1318), Banowitz (1389), oppidum Banowcz (1439), Ban (1467), Banowcze (1471).^[4]

Geography

It is located at the northernmost edge of the Danubian Hills, at the foothills of the Strážovské vrchy mountains at the confluence of the Radiša and Bebrava rivers. It is 25 km away from Prievidza, 30 km from Trenčín and 50 km from Nitra.

History

The oldest settlement stems from the Bronze Age. The town was promoted in 1376 into free royal town (until 1389, then landlord township). In the Middle Ages, Bánovce became an important trade centre - for shoemakers, carpenters, smiths, butchers, weavers and others. In 1633, the Ottomans encroaching from the south plundered the town. The first elementary school was opened in the 17th century. During the first Czechoslovak republic, it was an agricultural-crafting town. During World War II, the town was taken by Romanian troops of the 1st Army on 5 April 1945. After World War II, automobile, furniture and textile industries developed.

Places of interest

• Saint Nicholas Church - an originally Gothic church from the 15th century
• Holy Trinity Church
• Synagogue - now used as a Lutheran church
• Country castle in the Horné Ozorovce borough

In total, there are 15 cultural memorials in the town and its boroughs inscribed in the central inventory of cultural memorials in Bratislava.

The Bánovská Parenica (the most famous cycling race in the region) is regularly organized every year on the 6th of September and goes through this village. The competition is available for a high range of cyclists. It starts in the town of Bánovce nad Bebravou and is organized by the regional club of tourists Klub slovenských turistov ^[5] and JPL.

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1970	9,496	—
1980	15,342	+61.6%
1991	19,893	+29.7%
2001	20,901	+5.1%
2011	19,564	−6.4%
2021	17,311	−11.5%
Source: Censuses[6][7]

According to the 2001 census, the town had 20,901 inhabitants. 97% of inhabitants were Slovaks, 1.4% Roma and 0.7% Czechs.^[8] The religious makeup was 73.9% Roman Catholics, 11.5% people with no religious affiliation, and 11.3% Lutherans.^[8]

Boroughs

The city consists of the following boroughs:

1. Bánovce nad Bebravou
2. Biskupice
3. Dolné Ozorovce
4. Horné Ozorovce
5. Malé Chlievany

Famous people

• Jozef Forgáč (1904 – 1966), SDB, Roman Catholic priest end Missionary (Chile, Argentina).^[9]

Twin towns — sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Slovakia

Bánovce nad Bebravou is twinned with:^[10][11]

• Kopřivnice, Czech Republic
• Milotice, Czech Republic
• Lubliniec, Poland
• Esztergom, Hungary

Genealogical resources

The records for genealogical research are available at the state archive in Nitra (Slovak: Štátny archív v Nitre).

• Roman Catholic church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1700-1895 (parish A)

See also

• List of municipalities and towns in Slovakia