Kovarce
Municipality in Nitra Region, Slovakia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kovarce (German: Kowarz or Kowaritz; Hungarian: Kovarc) is a municipality in the Topoľčany District of the Nitra Region, Slovakia.[4] In 2011 it had 1581 inhabitants.[5]
Kovarce
Kovarc | |
|---|---|
Saint Nicholas church | |
 Flag | |
  Kovarce Location of Kovarce in the Nitra Region  Kovarce Location of Kovarce in Slovakia | |
| Coordinates: 48.50°N 18.17°E | |
| Country |  Slovakia |
| Region |  Nitra Region |
| District | Topoľčany District |
| First mentioned | 1280 |
| Area | |
• Total | 25.04 km2 (9.67 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 162 m (531 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,515 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 956 15[2] |
| Area code | +421 38[2] |
| Vehicle registration plate (until 2022) | TO |
| Website | obeckovarce |
Geography
The municipality lies at an altitude of 162 metres (531 ft)[2] and covers an area of 25.04 km2 (9.67 sq mi) (2024).[6]
History
Kovarce dates back at least to the late 13th century, in the Hungarian Kingdom, when it was the property of the Ludanick family. It was seized by Matthew III Csák during the troubles of the early 14th century. In 1395, it became property of the Apponyi family. It fell to Turkish attacks in 1530, 1599 and 1663. In 1663–1685, a period of Ottoman rule between the fourth Austro-Turkish war and the War of the Holy League, it was part of the Uyvar Province as an administrative unit of the Nahiye of Nitra.[7]
In 1864 a sugar refinery was built in the village.[8] A daughter of the sugar refinery's founder, Anton Wels, was the maternal grandmother of Audrey Hepburn.[9]
Population
| Year | 1994 | 2004 | 2014 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | 1623 | 1577 | 1612 | 1515 |
| Difference | −2.83% | +2.21% | −6.01% |
| Year | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Count | 1527 | 1515 |
| Difference | −0.78% |
It has a population of 1515 people (31 December 2024).[11]
Ethnicity
In year 2021 was 1579 people by ethnicity 1499 as Slovak, 82 as Not found out, 7 as Czech, 7 as Other, 4 as Hungarian, 2 as Ukrainian, 2 as Russian, 1 as Italian, 1 as Rusyn and 1 as Austrian.
Note on population: The difference between the population numbers above and in the census (here and below) is that the population numbers above are mostly made up of permanent residents, etc.; and the census should indicate the place where people actually mainly live.
For example, a student is a citizen of a village because they have permanent residence there (they lived there as a child and has parents), but most of the time he studies at a university in the city.
Religion
| Religion | Number | Fraction |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic Church | 1156 | 73.21% |
| None | 290 | 18.37% |
| Not found out | 75 | 4.75% |
| Evangelical Church | 31 | 1.96% |
| Total | 1579 |
In year 2021 was 1579 people by religion 1156 from Roman Catholic Church, 290 from None, 75 from Not found out, 31 from Evangelical Church, 8 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 6 from Greek Catholic Church, 4 from Ad hoc movements, 3 from Other, 2 from Buddhism, 1 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 1 from Paganism and natural spirituality, 1 from Other and not ascertained christian church and 1 from Apostolic Church.
Points of interest
The former castle stands in the midst of the village. The Wels family purchased it from its last aristocratic owners and remodeled it by building a second floor,[15] then sold it to the Apponyi family after the death of Anton Wels in 1876.[16] The Apponyis appear not to have lived there but rented it, to the local Rosenthal brothers until 1906. From 1906 the castle was rented to American businessman (and in 1912 Titanic survivor) Thomas Cardeza, a grandson of the founder of Fidelity Trust Company in Philadelphia, and his French-born wife Mary (née Racine and descendant of Jean Racine), both of whom had lived between 1903 and 1906 in nearby Nitrianska Streda.[17] The Cardezas also made transformations, including building the southern wing's second floor, and kept a small zoo including bears and monkeys in the castle's garden. They left Kovarce after the American entry into World War I in April 1917, but kept renting the property until 1920. In late 1926, Count Henrik Apponyi sold it to the Czechoslovak Government which transformed it into an institution for war invalids. In 1953, it became an institution for mentally ill patients, which it still is under the name "Clementia".[18]
Another mansion in the village, initially built in the 18th century, is now privately owned.
Saint Nicholas Church, in the center of the village, dates back to the 18th century.
Saint Anne Church, on a hill dominating the village, was built in the 19th century in the neo-Gothic style.
Former castle, now Clementia institution
Statue of Saint Florian in front of the former castle
St Anne Church
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