Pilis

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Pilis
The Beleznay-Nyári Palace from the air
The Beleznay-Nyári Palace from the air
Pilis (Hungary)
Pilis
Pilis
Location of Pilis
Coordinates: 47°17′04″N 19°32′37″E / 47.28438, 19.54347
Country Flag of Hungary Hungary
County Pest
Area
 - Total 47.33 km² (18.3 sq mi)
Population (2004)
 - Total 11,432
 - Density 230.4/km² (596.7/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 2721
Area code(s) 29

Pilis is a town in Pest county, Hungary.

[edit] History

It was inhabited in the prehistoric times, but later it was abandoned at the end of the Roman rule. The town was then first mentioned in 1326. It was destroyed during the ottoman rule in the 16th century, and was reestablished only in 1711, by János Beleznay, the local landlord. He brought Slovak settlers from Upper Hungary, and built a palace in 1717 for himself and his family. The Beleznay family sold the town and its surroundings in the 19th century to the Nyári family, whom renamed the palace to "Beleznay-Nyári palace".

However the ethnic composition of the town changed during the centuries, there is still a sizable Slovak minority which has its own local government, which is responsible of keeping the Slovak traditions and memories of Pilis.

The Pilis hills hold a special place in the collective consciousness of Hungarians as it is believed the hills have a sacred quality and were once the home of spiritually oriented monks and laymen.

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