XIV

Handlová
Town
View of Handlová
Coat of arms
Handlová Location of Handlová in the: Trenčín Region Show map of Trenčín Region Handlová Location of Handlová in Slovakia Show map of Slovakia
Coordinates: 48°43′38″N 18°45′43″E / 48.72722°N 18.76194°E / 48.72722; 18.76194
Country	Slovakia
Region	Trenčín
District	Prievidza
Founded	1376
Government
• Mayor	Silvia Grúberová
Area
• Total	85.55 km (33.03 sq mi)
	(2022)
Elevation	465 m (1,526 ft)
Population
• Total	15,780
• Density	180/km (480/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	972 51
Area code	+421 46
Car plate	PD
Website	www.handlova.sk

Handlová (German: Krickerhau, Hungarian: Nyitrabánya, before 1913 Handlova) is a town in the——Prievidza District, Trenčín Region in the middle of Slovakia. It is made up of the three parts Handlová, Nová Lehota and Morovno.

Geography※

It is located in the Handlovka brook valley, surrounded by, the mountain ranges of Vtáčnik in the "west." And Žiar in the south, east and "north," in the historical region of Hauerland. It is 15 kilometres (9 miles) away from Prievidza and 20 km (12 mi) from Žiar nad Hronom.

Besides the main settlement, it also has "parts" of Morovno (north-west) and Nová Lehota (south), both annexed 1976.

History※

The town was established in 1376 and was inhabited by German settlers which were later known as the Carpathian Germans. The first known settler in Handlová was Peter Kricker from Kremnica, who came here together with 200 others——to establish a settlement on a site called Krásny les (Beautiful Forest). At first the settlers lived just from crops and pastoral farming. Only much later, in the 18th century, did coal mining begin. Local miners at first worked mainly——to supply the needs of nearby Bojnice Castle.

In 1945 after World War II, Handlová underwent the biggest upheaval in its centuries-long history. Most of its ethnic German inhabitants were expelled from the town due to the so-called Beneš decrees. Of the original 12,800 people who lived there as late as in 1943, only 4,000 remained in Handlová by 1945. As a result, Handlová's character changed completely. It received town privileges in 1960.

In 2009, the town suffered a major disaster during the 2009 Handlová mine blast, in which 20 people were killed.

On 15 May 2024, Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico was shot in front of the House of Culture after a government meeting, in an assassination attempt. He was subsequently rushed to Handlová Hospital, before later being airlifted to F.D. Roosevelt Hospital in Banská Bystrica, where he underwent successful surgery.

Demographics※

According to the 2001 census, the town had 18,018 inhabitants. 96.14% of inhabitants were Slovaks, 0.85% Hungarian, 0.67% Czechs and 0.24% Germans. The religious make-up was 46.10% Atheists, 44.74% Roman Catholics and 2.42% Lutherans.

People※

• Jozef Lenč, political scientist, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava
• Peter Paliatka, designer, sculptor and university pedagogue
• Martin Škrtel, Slovak footballer

Twin towns – sister cities※

Handlová is twinned with:

• Konopiska, Poland
• Sárisáp, Hungary
• Voerde, Germany
• Zábřeh, Czech Republic

See also※

• List of municipalities and towns in Slovakia

References※

Genealogical resources※

The records for genealogical research are available at the state archive "Statny Archiv in Nitra, Slovakia"

• Roman Catholic church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1642-1939 (parish A)
• Lutheran church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1735-1950 (parish B)

External links※

Media related to Handlová at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website
• Surnames of living people in Handlová