Ilija, Slovakia
Ilija ( Saint Egidien rare German, Hungarian Illés - to 1888 Illia ) is a town in central Slovakia.
It lies at the foot of the mountains Selmec ( Štiavnica Hills ) south of the Štiavnica.
The territory was inhabited in the Neolithic period, the first written record as Ecclesia Sancti Egidii found in 1266, later the place under the Latin name " Sanctus Egidius ", the Hungarian name " Scenthegud " or " Zenth Egyed ," a Hungarian- Slavic variant " Zenthlyen " or the German name " Gilg " or " Gilgen " mentioned. Until the 16th century the site of the castle was Sitno tributary, in the second half of the 16th century the place was haunted by the Turks and temporarily occupied. After that she was in possession of the Balassa family and from 1629 Koháry family. Until 1918 it belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary and was in the county of Hont.
In the village is the Romanesque church Svätého Egídia is ( of 1254 ), the eponymous local patron, German: Saint Giles.