Chľaba

	name:	Chľaba
	Population:	712
	Area:	1395 ha
	Administrative status:	village
	Location of settlement centre:	47.494733, 18.493646
	Height of settlement centre:	115

www.Chlaba.sk

Chľaba is a village in Slovakia in the district of Nové Zámky, located in the southeastern corner of the Danube plain in an area where Ipeľ results in the Danube. It lies 12 km northeast of Štúrovo. Its small area is bounded on the north by Kováčovské hill, on the east by river Ipeľ and on the south by mighty Danube. The village is easily accessible from Štúrovo with suburban services. The nearest railway station is in Štúrovo, 15 km away.

As an important archeological locality its settlements are documented from the Neolithic times until the Middle Ages. It was referred to as a fisherman’s village called villa Helenba in 1138. Remains of disappeared medieval villages from the 11th to 16th century were discovered in the administrative territory of Chľaba. It was owned by several Church institutions. First of all it was the Provostship of Dömös and after 1523 the Chapter of Esztergom owned it. In 1234 it is mentioned in connection with orchards existing here and in 1339 it had a hunting ground. The villagers were mostly farmers and vintners in the past and their wine cellars boast a 300 year history.

As one of the few villages in the southern part of Slovakia, it is situated in the picturesque environment of the Kovačovské kopce covered in Evergreen forests and meadows planted with vineyards. Beautiful nature, the nearby lovely historic town Esztergom and recreation area Kováčov together offer a great perspective in the future developement both in recreation and tourism in this village.

Sights:

-      Nearby, or directly in Chľaba are a couple of wine cellars of the length of approximately 10 meters with barrel vaults, which are arched directly in andesite hills. With the purpose of preservating the unique samples of architectonic and craft art and wine-growing tradition, was in 2005 established the Cellar museum. It is situated near the church in front of the building of the kindergarten.

-      Late Baroque Roman Catholic church of St. Emerich from 1769, it was reconstructed in the Neo-Classical style in the early 19th century. This single-nave building with in-built tower contains a Late Neo-Classical font from the middle of the 19th century.

-      South-east of the village is the railway bridge over the Ipeľ to the village of Szob in Hungary.

There are chalets, private accommodation, pubs and food shops in the village.