Modra

Modra
Municipality
The "Upper Gate", the only remaining fortification gate in Modra
The "Upper Gate", the only remaining fortification gate in Modra
Flag of Modra
Flag
Coat of arms of Modra
Coat of arms
Modra is located in Bratislava Region
Modra
Modra
Location of Modra in the Bratislava Region
Modra is located in Slovakia
Modra
Modra
Location of Modra in Slovakia
Coordinates: 48°20′N 17°19′E / 48.33°N 17.31°E / 48.33; 17.31
Country Slovakia
Region Bratislava Region
DistrictPezinok District
First mentioned1158
Government
 • MayorMgr. Juraj Petrakovič
Area
 • Total
49.62 km2 (19.16 sq mi)
Elevation
314 m (1,030 ft)
Population
 (2025)
 • Total
9,055
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
900 01
Area code+421 33
Vehicle registration plate (until 2022)PK
Websitewww.modra.sk

Modra (pronunciationⓘ; German: Modern, Hungarian: Modor, Latin: Modur) is a city and municipality in the Bratislava Region in Slovakia. It has a population of 9,201 as of 2013. It nestles in the foothills of the Malé Karpaty (Little Carpathian mountains) and is an excellent centre for hiking.

Modra is famous for its pottery industry. Its blue-and-white porcelain is famous throughout Slovakia.

It is also known as one of the most important viticulture centres in the Little Carpathians region.

Besides the main town, there are also other adjacent settlements incorporated in the municipality: former vassalage viticulture village Kráľová and two recreational hamlets of Harmónia and Piesok (also known as Zochova Chata), both located in the woods of Little Carpathians mountains.

Geography

The municipality lies at an altitude of 314 metres (1,030 ft) and covers an area of 49.62 km2 (19.16 sq mi) (2025).

Etymology

Most experts agree that the name is connected to Slovak: modrá (blue). The name probably originates from another historic geographic name in the neighbourhood, e.g., Modrá hora (Blue Mountain). According to a less probable hypothesis, the name comes from Hungarian: madár (a bird).

History

The first traces of habitation go back to the 3rd millennium BCE, and the first permanent habitation dates back to the time of Great Moravia, when the Slavs lived there. The first mention of Modra was in 1158 in a document of the Géza II of Hungary, when it belonged to the bishop of Nitra. After the Mongol invasion of 1241, the settlement was reconstructed by the German colonists. The first mention of vineyards goes back to 1321. The settlement received its town privileges in 1361 and became a free royal town in 1607. The town fortifications with three gates were constructed in 1610–1647. Since the 17th century, it has been one of the leading craft centers in present-day Slovakia. The ceramic industry and majolica production started in the 19th century. In 1883, a school of ceramics was established, where through the skillfulness of Habaners, the so-called Slovak ceramics were created. The railway track from Bratislava to Trnava bypassed the town in the 1840s, as the local magistrate refused to allow the railway construction.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19707,249—    
19807,679+5.9%
19918,090+5.4%
20018,536+5.5%
20118,751+2.5%
20219,346+6.8%
Source: Censuses
Population statistic (10 years)
Year1995200520152025
Count8426870489019055
Difference +3.29% +2.26% +1.73%
Population statistic
Year20242025
Count91609055
Difference−1.14%

It has a population of 9055 people (31 December 2025).

Ethnicity

Census 2021 (1+%)
EthnicityNumberFraction
Slovak859992%
Not found out5816.21%
Czech1141.21%
Total9346

In year 2021 was 9346 people by ethnicity 8599 as Slovak, 581 as Not found out, 114 as Czech, 83 as Hungarian, 48 as Other, 32 as German, 23 as Rusyn, 19 as Russian, 17 as Ukrainian, 13 as Italian, 12 as Romani, 10 as French, 10 as Croatian, 9 as Serbian, 9 as Moravian, 6 as Jewish, 6 as Polish, 4 as Bulgarian, 4 as English, 3 as Austrian, 3 as Canadian, 3 as Albanian, 2 as Irish, 2 as Romanian, 2 as Greek and 1 as Silesian.

Note on population: The difference values of population numbers in the table "Population statistic" and in the sections "Ethnicity" & "Religion" is caused by the use of various statistical methods.

Religion

Census 2021 (1+%)
ReligionNumberFraction
Roman Catholic Church390341.76%
None294531.51%
Evangelical Church158416.95%
Not found out5736.13%
Total9346

In year 2021 was 9346 people by religion 3903 from Roman Catholic Church, 2945 from None, 1584 from Evangelical Church, 573 from Not found out, 64 from Greek Catholic Church, 42 from Ad hoc movements, 41 from Other, 39 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 33 from Other and not ascertained christian church, 32 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 23 from Buddhism, 15 from Paganism and natural spirituality, 11 from Calvinist Church, 7 from Jehovah's Witnesses, 6 from Apostolic Church, 5 from Jewish community, 5 from Old Catholic Church, 4 from United Methodist Church, 4 from Seventh-day Adventist Church, 3 from Islam, 3 from Hinduism, 1 from Czechoslovak Hussite Church, 1 from Church of the Brethren, 1 from Baptists Church and 1 from Bahá'i Community.

Landmarks

Memorial plate of Ľudovít Štúr on the Museum wall

Modra in fiction

In 2010 the Canadian film director Ingrid Veninger made a film about returning to the town after many years in Canada, called MODRA, starring Alexander Gammal and her daughter Hallie Switzer.

Notable people

Twin towns — sister cities

Modra is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "MGR. Juraj Petrakovič | Primátor | Modra".
  2. 1 2 "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_obc=AREAS_SK, v_om7014rr_ukaz=Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Základná charakteristika". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  4. ↑ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  5. 1 2 Štefánik, Martin; Lukačka, Ján, eds. (2010). Lexikón stredovekých miest na Slovensku [Lexicon of Medieval Towns in Slovakia] (PDF) (in Slovak). Bratislava: Historický ústav SAV. p. 273. ISBN 978-80-89396-11-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  6. ↑ "Statistical lexikon of municipalities 1970-2011" (PDF) (in Slovak).
  7. ↑ "Census 2021 - Population - Basic results". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2021-01-01.
  8. 1 2 "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  9. ↑ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  10. ↑ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  11. ↑ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  12. ↑ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  13. ↑ "Modranské oskoruše a Ľudovít Štúr". MedvedkuDajLabku (in Slovak). 2019-05-03. Retrieved 2026-09-17.
  14. ↑ "Partnerské mestá". modra.sk (in Slovak). Modra. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
  15. ↑ "Hustopeče dál rozvíjí spolupráci s partnerskými městy". hustopece.cz (in Czech). Hustopeče. 2019-03-05. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
  16. ↑ "Verbroederingen". overijse.be (in Dutch). Overijse. Retrieved 2019-09-05.

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