Važec (German: Waagsdorf or Weißwaag; Hungarian: Vázsec or Vágfalva) is a village and municipality in Liptovský Mikuláš District in the Žilina Region of northern Slovakia, at the foot of Kriváň in the High Tatras mountains, Slovakia's symbolic and often considered most beautiful mountain.

History

In historical records the village was first mentioned in 1280. Jaroslav Augusta painted a number of watercolors of this village. Before the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918, Važec was part of Liptó County within the Kingdom of Hungary. From 1939 to 1945, it was part of the Slovak Republic. On 29 January 1945, the Red Army and the 1st Czechoslovak Army Corps entered Važec and it was once again part of Czechoslovakia.

Fire of 1931

464 of the village's 582 homes were destroyed by fire July 17–18, 1931. The fire killed 6 persons and injured 18 others, resulted in the loss of hundreds of heads of stock, and produced damages estimated at $1 million in 1931 dollars. The fire originated from three different points, raising suspicion of incendiarism.

  • German Military Cemetery in Važec
  • German Military Cemetery in Važec

Geography

The municipality lies at an altitude of 788 metres (2,585 ft) and covers an area of 59.68 km2 (23.04 sq mi) (2025).

Population

Population statistic (10 years)
Year1995200520152025
Count2394236323522366
Difference−1.29%−0.46%+0.59%
Population statistic
Year20242025
Count23722366
Difference−0.25%

It has a population of 2366 people (31 December 2025).

Ethnicity

Census 2021 (1+ %)
EthnicityNumberFraction
Slovak214590.05%
Not found out2199.19%
Romani1757.34%
Total2382

In year 2021 was 2382 people by ethnicity 2145 as Slovak, 219 as Not found out, 175 as Romani, 16 as Czech, 11 as Other, 4 as Polish, 3 as Rusyn, 3 as Hungarian, 2 as Russian, 2 as German, 1 as Ukrainian and 1 as Romanian.

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
Evangelical Church103643.49%
Roman Catholic Church82834.76%
None2249.4%
Not found out2209.24%
Total2382

In year 2021 was 2382 people by religion 1036 from Evangelical Church, 828 from Roman Catholic Church, 224 from None, 220 from Not found out, 17 from Other and not ascertained christian church, 15 from Greek Catholic Church, 12 from Jehovah's Witnesses, 6 from Ad hoc movements, 5 from Baptists Church, 3 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 3 from Paganism and natural spirituality, 3 from Other, 2 from Old Catholic Church, 2 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 2 from United Methodist Church, 2 from Buddhism, 1 from Islam and 1 from Seventh-day Adventist Church.