| Fiľakovo | |
| Other Name: | Fülek |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Slovakia |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Banská Bystrica |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Lučenec |
| Pushpin Map: | Slovakia Banská Bystrica Region#Slovakia |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Coordinates: | 48.2683°N 19.8247°W |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Attila Agócs |
| Leader Party: | MOST-HÍD |
| Established Title: | First mentioned |
| Established Date: | 1242 |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 16.18 |
| Elevation M: | 190[2] |
| Population Footnotes: | [3] |
| Population Total: | 9770 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 986 01 |
| Area Code: | +421 47 |
| Blank Name: | Car plate |
| Blank Info: | LC |
| Website: | www.filakovo.sk |
| Elevation Ft: | 620 |
| Area Note: | |
Fiľakovo (in Slovak pronounced as /ˈfiʎakɔʋɔ/; Hungarian: Fülek, German: Fülleck, Turkish: Filek) is a town in the Banská Bystrica Region of south-central Slovakia. Historically it was located in Nógrád County, as part of the Nógrád, Novohrad, "Newcastle" region.
It is located in the Cerová vrchovina hills, in the valley of the Belina brook, located around 20km (10miles) from the Hungarian city of Salgótarján, 85km (53miles) from Banská Bystrica, about 150km (90miles) from Košice and around 220km (140miles) from Bratislava.
The first written record of the town, along with the Fiľakovo Castle is from 1242, where the castle withstood the Mongol invasions. It is mentioned in 1246 as Filek. In 1423 the town received municipal privileges. In 1553 the town with the castle was conquered by the Turks and was the seat of a sanjak until 1593, when it was reconquered by the Imperial troops. However, it was conquered once more by the Ottomans in 1662 and the town along with the castle was burned down in 1682 by troops of Imre Thököly. It was finally passed to Austrians in 1686. Before the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918, it was part of Nógrád County within the Kingdom of Hungary. It again belonged to Hungary from 1938 to 1945 as a result of the First Vienna Award.
According to the 2001 census, ethnic groups included 64.40% Hungarians, 30.19% Slovaks, and 4.03% Roma. The religion make-up was as follows: 77.52% Roman Catholic, 11.82% without denomination, 3.21% not specified and others.[4]
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Slovakia.
Fiľakovo is twinned with:[5] [6]
Bátonyterenye, Hungary Salgótarján, Hungary Szécsény, Hungary Szigethalom, Hungary
Ustrzyki Dolne, PolandThe records for genealogical research are available at the state archive "Statny Archiv in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia"