Komló

Komló (, Kumlau, Komlov) is a town in Baranya county, Hungary. The name of the settlement is derived from the local crop of hops (komló), an ingredient of beer. By the 18th century a depiction of this plant running up a support already featured on the herald of the town.

The former village of Komló became a planned mining city during the socialist era. It was the second biggest mining centre in Hungary after Tatabánya.

History
The area was inhabited by the Romans, the ruins of 2nd-century Roman villas were discovered during the laying of foundations for new buildings in the area (Mecsekjánosi, Körtvélyes). The existence of the once village is first mentioned in a charter from 1256 as 'villa Compleov', then part of the estates of the Pécsvárad Abbey.

The small settlements that are part of Komló today were already inhabited during the Árpád Age (Kökönyös (Kwkenyes), Gadány-puszta (Gadan), Keményfalva (Kemefalua), Jánosi (Csépán), Mecsekfalu (Szopok), Kisbattyán (Battyan), Zobákpuszta (Zabaguy) and Sikonda (Sicund)).

Komló was not deserted during the Turkish rule, however the population was very scant. Until the end of World War II, the inhabitants were Danube Swabians. Most of the former German settlers were expelled to Germany and Austria in 1945–1948, pursuant to the Potsdam Agreement. Today only a few Germans remain, and the majority of the population are the descendants of Hungarians from the Czechoslovak–Hungarian population exchange.

After 1945, Komló was among those settlements whose expansion into a city was a somewhat forced affair directed by political decisions. A determining factor of its development was the role in coal mining. After more than 100 years of operation mining in the area ceased on 1 January 2000.

Sightseeing


The ruin of Gothic medieval chapel is situated (dates from 13-14th) behind the church of Komló. A graveyard surrounded the chapel at one time. Between the towns of Hosszúhetény and Komló, the Takanyó Valley is present. The Museum of the Local History is settled in the centre of the town (there is an exhibition where one can see the footprints of the Komlosaurus carbonis). Sikonda is a spa resort that belongs to Komló. Its thermal baths was developed around the slightly radioactive and carbonic acid waters discovered in 1928. In 1995 an earlier ruling was confirmed, recognising the therapeutic effects of the thermal waters.

Demographics
As of 2022, the town is 86.7% Hungarian, 3.3% Gypsy, 2.1% German, and 1.8% of non-European origin. The population is 23.4% Roman Catholic, 3.3% Reformed, and 27.6% nondenominational.

Climate
Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfb" (Marine West Coast Climate/Oceanic climate).

Sport

 * Komlói Bányász SK, football team

Twin towns – sister cities
Komló is twinned with:
 * 🇷🇴 Beiuș, Romania
 * 🇫🇷 Éragny, France
 * 🇩🇪 Neckartenzlingen, Germany
 * 🇮🇹 Torrice, Italy
 * Valpovo, Croatia