Šamorín (Somorja)
Town
A church in Šamorín
Country	Slovakia
Region	Trnava
District	Dunajská Streda
Tourism region	Podunajsko
River	Danube
Elevation	130 m (427 ft)
Coordinates	48°01′36″N 17°18′42″E / 48.02667°N 17.31167°E / 48.02667; 17.31167
Area	44.348 km² (17 sq mi)
Population	12,481 (31 December 2005)
Density	281 / km² (728 / sq mi)
First mentioned	1238
Mayor	Károly Domsitz
Timezone	CET (UTC+1)
- summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	931 01
Phone prefix	421-31
Car plate	DS
Location of Šamorín in Slovakia
Location of Šamorín in the Trnava Region
Wikimedia Commons: Šamorín
Statistics: MOŠ/MIS
Website: http://www.samorin.sk

Šamorín or Somorja (Slovak: Šamorín, Hungarian: Somorja, German: Sommerein) is a small town in western Slovakia, southeast of Bratislava.

Geography

The town is located on the Danubian Flat at the Žitný ostrov island, near the Gabčíkovo dam on the Danube. It is located around 17 km south-east of Bratislava and 25 km west of Dunajská Streda. Administratively, the town belongs to the Trnava Region, Dunajská Streda District.

History

The town was mentioned for the first time in 1238 as ecclesia Sancte Mariae and was a prominent port on the Danube during the Middle Ages. Agriculture also played a major role in the town's development. As a result of this prosperity, its citizens enjoyed a brisk trade in the new technologies and many shipyards on the Danube. However, with rise of Pressburg (now Bratislava), the city became less and less important. Šamorín eventually lost its right to the status of Royal Free City, which it had been granted in 1405 during the reign of King Sigismund. In the sixteenth century, the city became notable again because of the witch trials held there.

Demographics (2001 census)

According to the 2001 census, ethnic groups included 66.63% Hungarians and 30.96% Slovaks. The religious make-up was 75.27% Roman Catholics, 4.42% Evangelic, 11.75% without denomination and others.

Landmarks

• The Reformed Church, originally Catholic and built in the 13th century in the late Romanesque style.
• The Catholic Church and its former cloister from the 18th century in the Baroque style.
• The Protestant Church of 1784
• The Synagogue, built in 1912 in a Romanesque Revival style
• The Renaissance-style city hall

Municipal division

Šamorín has five districts: Šamorín proper and the villages of Bučuháza (Hungarian: Bucsuháza), Čilistov, Kráľovianky (Hungarian: Királyfia), and Mliečno.

Historically incorporated villages

• 1808: Gancsháza
• 1960: Čilistov (Hungarian: Csölösztő)
• 1976: Mliečno (Hungarian: Tejfalu)

International relations

Twin towns - Sister cities

Šamorín is twinned with:

• Leiderdorp, Netherlands
• Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary
• Hainburg, Austria

• The information in this article is based on that in its German equivalent.

Notes

Municipalities of Dunajská Streda District Dunajská Streda • Šamorín • Veľký Meder Báč • Baka • Baloň • Bellova Ves • Blahová • Blatná na Ostrove • Bodíky • Boheľov • Čakany • Čenkovce • Čiližská Radvaň • Dobrohošť • Dolný Bar • Dolný Štál • Dunajský Klátov • Gabčíkovo • Holice • Horná Potôň • Horné Mýto • Horný Bar • Hubice • Hviezdoslavov • Jahodná • Janíky • Jurová • Kľúčovec • Kostolné Kračany • Kráľovičove Kračany • Kútniky • Kvetoslavov • Kyselica • Lehnice • Lúč na Ostrove • Macov • Mad • Malé Dvorníky • Medveďov • Michal na Ostrove • Mierovo • Nový Život • Ňárad • Ohrady • Okoč • Oľdza • Orechová Potôň • Padáň • Pataš • Povoda • Rohovce • Sap • Štvrtok na Ostrove • Topoľníky • Trhová Hradská • Trnávka • Trstená na Ostrove • Veľká Paka • Veľké Blahovo • Veľké Dvorníky • Vieska • Vojka nad Dunajom • Vrakúň • Vydrany • Zlaté Klasy