Dudince (before 1927 Ďudince,, ) is a spa town in southern Slovakia. With a population of around 1,400, it is the smallest town in Slovakia. It is known for its mineral water, hot springs and destination spas. It is located near the edge of the Banská Bystrica Region of Slovakia.

Geography

It is located in the foothills of the Krupina Plain (inner western Carpathian Mountains) in the valley of the Štiavnica river, around 27 km south-west from Krupina and 15 km north from Šahy. Besides the main settlement, there is a formerly independent village, Merovce (annexed in 1960). The town lies in the Stredoslovenska wine region and is surrounded by vineyards. Travertine piles and a "Roman" spa (see image gallery) can also be found there.

Climate

History

Archaeological discoveries show that the town was inhabited in the Neolithic era. The first written acknowledgement dates back to 1284 as Dyud. The oldest mention of the hot springs was in 1551, however, there is strong evidence to suggest that the Romas knew of the thermal pools over 2000 years ago. The town was the host for the 2013 European Race Walking Cup.

Demographics

According to the 2001 census, the town had 1,500 inhabitants. 95.67% of inhabitants were Slovaks, 3.53% Hungarians and 0.20% Roma. The religious make-up was 55.67% Roman Catholics, 28.93% Lutherans and 11.27% people with no religious affiliation.

Sister city

Dudince is a twin town of Kent, Ohio, in the United States.

Genealogical resources

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

Photos