Komárom is a city in Hungary on the south bank of the Danube in Komárom-Esztergom county. Komárno, Slovakia, is on the northern bank. Komárom was formerly a separate village called Újszőny.

Sights

The majority of the historical and cultural sites, including the town center of the former Komárno, were well preserved and remain to this day. The county and town halls, the courthouse, St. Andrews Church, the Danube Museum, and other buildings are examples of some of the many historical structures still standing today. Klapka Square (named after György Klapka, the Hungarian general who defended Komárno against the Austrians in the War of Independence) and the well preserved remains of the fortification structure are Komárno’s main historical monuments symbolizing both the pride and resilience of this historical important town. The fortification structure includes Old and New fortresses at the confluence of the rivers Danube and Váh and the bastions from the Palatine’s line to protect the city from west and the bastions of the Váh’s line to protect the river banks of Váh. Komárno and Komárom were one city during the Austria-Hungary era, that’s why there are additionally three fortresses on the Hungary bank of the Danube river, Star (Hungarian: Csillag), Igmand and Monostor. Europe Square in the center purports to represent buildings from all parts of Europe. The buildings function as shops and restaurants.

Demographics and culture

In 2001, the town had a population of 37,366. 60% of the inhabitants are Hungarians and Slovaks made up 34.7%.

Native language in 2011: 20,080 Hungarian (58.5%), 9,883 Slovak (28.8%), 139 Roma/Gipsy (0.4%), 213 Czech (0.7%) and 3,813 with unknown native language (no data). Total population: 34,349. Ethnicities in 2011: 18,506 Hungarian (53.9%), 11,509 Slovak (33.5%), 141 Roma/Gipsy (0.4%), 232 Czech (0.7%) and 3,699 with unknown ethnicity (no data). Total population: 34,349. (There is no possibility to declare two ethnicities or two native languages, many inhabitants do not declare ethnicity and native language because of discrimination in the past.) The overwhelming majority are bilingual.

In 2004 the first Hungarian-language university in Slovakia since 1919, the J. Selye University was established in Komárno. Serbs of Slovakia have had their seat in the town since the 15th century.