Liptovský Mikuláš
Encyclopedia
Liptovský Mikuláš is a town
in northern Slovakia
, on the Váh
River. It lies in the Liptov
region, in Liptov Basin
near the Low Tatra
and Tatra mountains
. The town, known as Liptovský Svätý Mikuláš (or Liptovský Saint Nicholas) before communist times, is also renowned as a town of guilds and culture.
. The town of Mikuláš (Liptószentmiklós) was first mentioned in the royal deed of King Ladislaus IV in 1286. The first written record mentioning the Church of Saint Nicolaus which was to become the founding element of a larger settlement dates back to 1299. The Church of Saint Nicolaus is the oldest building in the town of Liptovský Mikuláš.
Mikuláš was one of the most important centres of crafts in the Liptov region. The craftsmen formed guilds. The oldest guild was the shoemaker's guild mentioned in 1508. There were also other guilds: the guild of smiths, furriers, tailors, hatters and butchers.
In 1677, Liptovský Mikuláš (Liptószentmiklós) became the seat of the local district, as well as Liptó county. The legendary Slovak "Robin Hood" Juraj Jánošík
was sentenced and executed here in 1713 by being hung by the ribcage on a hook.
Liptovský Mikuláš played an important role for Slovaks
in the 19th century during the period of magyarization
. It was one of the centres of Slovak national movement. The first Slovak theater was founded there in 1830 called "The theater of G. F. Belopotocký". Liptovský Mikuláš was a home to an important Slovak romantic poet and national activist, Janko Kráľ
, who was fighting for the right of self-determination
of Slovak nation in the Hungarian Empire
. Also another national revivalist Michal Miloslav Hodža
lived there. The leader of Slovak national revival, Ľudovít Štúr
, publicly revealed a document called "The demands of Slovak nation" in 1848 in Liptovský Mikuláš as an official appeal to the leaders of Austrian-Hungarian empire to help solve the present existentional problems of Slovak people (unsuccessful).
In the 20th century, many once independent villages were annexed to Liptovský Mikuláš. Thus, what was once the bucolic farmers' hamlet of Vrbica is now simply a street in the middle of the town.
. Folk architecture can also be seen nearby in Vlkolínec
near Ružomberok
, or Pribylina
, a few kilometres east of the town, and for recreation the lake called Liptovská Mara
is available. Since 2004 a new aquapark called Aquapark Tatralandia has been open. The area is also well-known due to its location close to the biggest ski resort in Slovakia, Jasná
. Many modern lifts and recent additions made to its infrastructure have meant it has become a popular ski centre for many western tourists over the last few years.
, the town had 33,007 inhabitants. 94.07% of inhabitants were Slovaks
, 2.30% Roma, 2.10% Czech
and 0.28% Hungarians. The religious make-up was 34.48% Roman Catholics, 32.26% people with no religious affiliation, and 26.85% Lutherans
.
played in the Slovak Extraliga
until 2010, currently playing in the First League.
The nearby Váh
river has the oldest whitewater slalom course in Slovakia. The 2008 Olympic champion in canoe slalom, C-1, Michal Martikán
was born and lives here. Also Elena Kaliská, another Olympic winner, is a member of the town sports club.
Liptovský Mikuláš has been selected as the site of the 2012 FAI World Championship for Space Models, scheduled to take place from 31 August to 9 September.
to Košice
. The closest international airport
is in Poprad
. The town also has its own public transport with 13 lines operating.
, Czech Republic
Kiskőrös
, Hungary
Kalamaria
, Greece
Annecy
, France
Yefremov
, Russia
Dinkelland
, Netherlands
Galanta
, Slovakia
Kemi
, Finland
Slovenske Konjice
, Slovenia
Żywiec
, Poland
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in northern Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, on the Váh
Váh
The Váh is the longest river in entire Slovakia. A left tributary of the Danube river, the Váh is 406 km long, including its Čierny Váh branch...
River. It lies in the Liptov
Liptov
Liptó is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in northern Slovakia.-Geography:...
region, in Liptov Basin
Podtatranská kotlina
The Podtatranská kotlina is a basin in northern Slovakia, part of the Fatra-Tatra Area, which belongs to the Inner Western Carpathians....
near the Low Tatra
Low Tatra
The Low Tatras or Low Tatra is a mountain range of the Inner Western Carpathians in central Slovakia.It is located south of the Tatras proper, from which it is separated by the valleys of the Váh and Poprad rivers . The valley formed by the Hron River is situated south of the Low Tatras range...
and Tatra mountains
Tatra Mountains
The Tatra Mountains, Tatras or Tatra , are a mountain range which forms a natural border between Slovakia and Poland, and are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains...
. The town, known as Liptovský Svätý Mikuláš (or Liptovský Saint Nicholas) before communist times, is also renowned as a town of guilds and culture.
History
From the second half of the 10th century until 1918, it was part of the Kingdom of HungaryKingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
. The town of Mikuláš (Liptószentmiklós) was first mentioned in the royal deed of King Ladislaus IV in 1286. The first written record mentioning the Church of Saint Nicolaus which was to become the founding element of a larger settlement dates back to 1299. The Church of Saint Nicolaus is the oldest building in the town of Liptovský Mikuláš.
Mikuláš was one of the most important centres of crafts in the Liptov region. The craftsmen formed guilds. The oldest guild was the shoemaker's guild mentioned in 1508. There were also other guilds: the guild of smiths, furriers, tailors, hatters and butchers.
In 1677, Liptovský Mikuláš (Liptószentmiklós) became the seat of the local district, as well as Liptó county. The legendary Slovak "Robin Hood" Juraj Jánošík
Juraj Jánošík
Juraj Jánošík was a famous Slovak Carpathian Highwayman....
was sentenced and executed here in 1713 by being hung by the ribcage on a hook.
Liptovský Mikuláš played an important role for Slovaks
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
in the 19th century during the period of magyarization
Magyarization
Magyarization is a kind of assimilation or acculturation, a process by which non-Magyar elements came to adopt Magyar culture and language due to social pressure .Defiance or appeals to the Nationalities Law, met...
. It was one of the centres of Slovak national movement. The first Slovak theater was founded there in 1830 called "The theater of G. F. Belopotocký". Liptovský Mikuláš was a home to an important Slovak romantic poet and national activist, Janko Kráľ
Janko Král
Janko Kráľ Janko Kráľ Janko Kráľ (24 April 1822 in Liptovský Svätý Mikuláš (now Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia) - 23 May 1876 in Zlaté Moravce was one of the most significant and most radical Slovak romantic poets of the Ľudovít Štúr generation and a national activist....
, who was fighting for the right of self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
of Slovak nation in the Hungarian Empire
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
. Also another national revivalist Michal Miloslav Hodža
Michal Miloslav Hodža
Michal Miloslav Hodža was a Slovak national revivalist, Protestant priest, poet, linguist, and representative of the Slovakian national movement in 1840's as a member of "the trinity" Štúr - Hurban - Hodža...
lived there. The leader of Slovak national revival, Ľudovít Štúr
Ludovít Štúr
Ľudovít Štúr , known in his era as Ludevít Velislav Štúr, was the leader of the Slovak national revival in the 19th century, the author of the Slovak language standard eventually leading to the contemporary Slovak literary language...
, publicly revealed a document called "The demands of Slovak nation" in 1848 in Liptovský Mikuláš as an official appeal to the leaders of Austrian-Hungarian empire to help solve the present existentional problems of Slovak people (unsuccessful).
In the 20th century, many once independent villages were annexed to Liptovský Mikuláš. Thus, what was once the bucolic farmers' hamlet of Vrbica is now simply a street in the middle of the town.
Tourism
The town is one of the most famous tourist centres in Slovakia because of its rich cultural life and also because it is a perfect starting point for tourists, from where it is easy to reach the Low Tatras (Demänová valley) with well-known caves such as the Demänová Ice Cave or Demänová Cave of Freedom, or to the Western TatrasWestern Tatras
The Western Tatras are mountains in the Tatras, part of the Carpathian Mountains, located on the Polish-Slovak borders. The mountains border the High Tatras in the east, Podtatranská kotlina in the south, Choč Mountains in the west and Rów Podtatrzański in the north...
. Folk architecture can also be seen nearby in Vlkolínec
Vlkolínec
Vlkolínec, Slovakia, is a picturesque village under the administration of the town of Ružomberok. Historically, however, it was a separate village. The first written mention of the village came from 1376 and after 1882 it became part of Ružomberok. Its name is probably derived from the Slovak word...
near Ružomberok
Ružomberok
Ružomberok is a town in northern Slovakia, in the historical Liptov region. It has a population of around 30,000-Geography:...
, or Pribylina
Pribylina
Pribylina is a village in Liptovský Mikuláš District in the Žilina Region of northern Slovakia, at the foot of Kriváň, Slovakia's symbolic and often considered most beautiful mountain.-Geography:...
, a few kilometres east of the town, and for recreation the lake called Liptovská Mara
Liptovská Mara
Liptovská Mara is a reservoir in northern Slovakia, on the Váh river near Liptovský Mikuláš, in the Liptov region. The dam is named after one of the inundated villages....
is available. Since 2004 a new aquapark called Aquapark Tatralandia has been open. The area is also well-known due to its location close to the biggest ski resort in Slovakia, Jasná
Jasná
Jasná is a small village situated in central Slovakia, in the Low Tatras mountains. It is a part of the municipality Demänovská Dolina.Jasná ski resort has over twenty four lifts on both sides of the Chopok Mountain – including six chair lifts and a cable car...
. Many modern lifts and recent additions made to its infrastructure have meant it has become a popular ski centre for many western tourists over the last few years.
Demographics
According to the 2001 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, the town had 33,007 inhabitants. 94.07% of inhabitants were Slovaks
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
, 2.30% Roma, 2.10% Czech
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
and 0.28% Hungarians. The religious make-up was 34.48% Roman Catholics, 32.26% people with no religious affiliation, and 26.85% Lutherans
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
.
Sport
Ice hockey: MHk 32 Liptovský MikulášMHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš
MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš is a professional ice hockey team in the Slovak Extraliga. Their home town is Liptovský Mikuláš in Slovakia. The team plays their home games at Liptovský Mikuláš Winter Sports Stadium.-Current roster:as of September 18, 2010...
played in the Slovak Extraliga
Slovak Extraliga
Slovak Extraliga is the name of the highest-level ice hockey league in Slovakia. As of 2009, it is ranked by the IIHF as the fifth strongest league in Europe. The name of the league is leased to sponsor and changes frequently. From 1993/94 to 1997/98 season it was called Extraliga, then the name...
until 2010, currently playing in the First League.
The nearby Váh
Váh
The Váh is the longest river in entire Slovakia. A left tributary of the Danube river, the Váh is 406 km long, including its Čierny Váh branch...
river has the oldest whitewater slalom course in Slovakia. The 2008 Olympic champion in canoe slalom, C-1, Michal Martikán
Michal Martikán
Michal Martikán is a Slovak slalom canoeist. In 1996 he became the first athlete to win an Olympic Games gold medal for Slovakia since the country gained independence in 1993. In total he won 4 Olympic medals , which is the most among all slalom paddlers...
was born and lives here. Also Elena Kaliská, another Olympic winner, is a member of the town sports club.
Liptovský Mikuláš has been selected as the site of the 2012 FAI World Championship for Space Models, scheduled to take place from 31 August to 9 September.
Transport
Liptovský Mikuláš is located near the main Slovak D1 motorway, as well as being on the main railroad from BratislavaBratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
to Košice
Košice
Košice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
. The closest international airport
Poprad-Tatry Airport
Poprad-Tatry Airport , is an airport in the Slovak ski resort town of Poprad.Poprad-Tatry Airport is the airport with highest elevation in Central Europe...
is in Poprad
Poprad
Poprad is a city in northern Slovakia at the foot of the High Tatra Mountains famous for its picturesque historic centre and as a holiday resort. It is the biggest town of the Spiš region and the tenth largest city in Slovakia with a population of approximately 55,000.The Poprad-Tatry Airport is...
. The town also has its own public transport with 13 lines operating.
Partner towns
OpavaOpava
Opava is a city in the northern Czech Republic on the river Opava, located to the north-west of Ostrava. The historical capital of Czech Silesia, Opava is now in the Moravian-Silesian Region and has a population of 59,843 as of January 1, 2005....
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
Kiskőrös
Kiskorös
Kiskőrös is a town in Bács-Kiskun, Hungary. It is located at around . Sándor Petőfi was born here.- Geography :Kiskõrös is the sixth biggest city in Bács-Kiskun county by population. It is located in the center of the county, 22 km east from the river Danube and 110 km south of Budapest...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
Kalamaria
Kalamaria
Kalamariá is a municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area, located about 7 km southeast of downtown Thessaloniki. It is the second largest municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area as well as one of the largest in Greece, with a population increase of 8% since the 1991...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Annecy
Annecy
Annecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy , 35 kilometres south of Geneva.-Administration:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Yefremov
Yefremov (town)
Yefremov is a town and the administrative center of Yefremovsky District of Tula Oblast, Russia, located on the Krasivaya Mecha River , south of Tula. Population:...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
Dinkelland
Dinkelland
Dinkelland is a municipality in the eastern Netherlands. For a short time it was known as Denekamp until it was renamed in 2002.-Population centres :...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Galanta
Galanta
Galanta is a small town in Slovakia. It is situated 50 km due east from the Slovak capital Bratislava.-Geography:Galanta lies in the Danubian Lowland , the warm southern part of Slovakia...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
Kemi
Kemi
Kemi is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located very near the city of Tornio. It was founded in 1869 by royal decree, because of its proximity to a deep water harbour....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Slovenske Konjice
Slovenske Konjice
Slovenske Konjice is a town and a municipality in northeastern Slovenia. The area was part of the traditional region of Lower Styria.- Slovenske Konjice municipality :...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
Żywiec
Zywiec
Żywiec is a town in south-central Poland with 32,242 inhabitants . Between 1975 and 1998, it was located within the Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship, but has since become part of the Silesian Voivodeship....
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
People
- Jozef Božetech Klemens (1817), painter
- Janko KráľJanko KrálJanko Kráľ Janko Kráľ Janko Kráľ (24 April 1822 in Liptovský Svätý Mikuláš (now Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia) - 23 May 1876 in Zlaté Moravce was one of the most significant and most radical Slovak romantic poets of the Ľudovít Štúr generation and a national activist....
(1822), poet - Ján Levoslav BellaJán Levoslav BellaJán Levoslav Bella was a Slovak composer, conductor and music teacher, who wrote in the spirit of the Nationalist Romantic movement of the 19th century.- Life :Bella was raised in a Roman Catholic family...
(1843), composer - Aurel StodolaAurel StodolaAurel Boleslav Stodola was an engineer, physicist, and inventor. He was an ethnic Slovak. He was a pioneer in the area of technical thermodynamics and its applications and published his book Die Dampfturbine in 1903...
(1859), physicist - Samuel FischerSamuel von FischerSamuel Fischer, later Samuel von Fischer was a Hungarian-born German publisher, the founder of S. Fischer Verlag....
(1859), publisher - Slavoljub Eduard PenkalaSlavoljub Eduard PenkalaSlavoljub Eduard Penkala was a naturalized Croatian engineer and inventor of Polish-Jewish ethnicity.Eduard Penkala was born in Liptovský Mikuláš , to Franjo Penkala, who was of Polish Jew heritage, and Maria Penkala , who was of Dutch heritage...
(1871), engineer, inventor - Ivan StodolaIvan StodolaIvan Stodola was Slovak dramatist and writer.-Biography:He was born in Liptovský Svätý Mikuláš into a family of professional tanners and teachers. He was educated in his hometown, Prešov and Kežmarok, and later, he studied medicine at college in Budapest and Berlin, earning a degree in 1912...
(1888), poet, dramatist, doctor - Martin RázusMartin RázusMartin Rázus was a Slovak poet, dramatist, writer, politician and evangelical priest -References:...
(1888, Vrbica), author, politician - Janko AlexyJanko AlexyJanko Alexy was a famous painter, writer, and publicist of Slovak origin. He is generally recognized as one of key personalities in the beginning of Modern Slovak Art.He studied at the Academy of Visual Arts in Prague by Vlaho Bukovac, Maximilian Pirner and Max Švabinský...
(1894), painter - Koloman SokolKoloman SokolKoloman Sokol was one of the most prominent Slovak painters, graphic artists and illustrators...
(1902), painter - Ladislav Hanus (1907), philosopher, theologian, author
- Diana DollDiana DollDiana Doll is a Slovakian pornographic actress and model.Doll was previously known as Sue Diamond, but changed her name due to being confused with fellow Slovak porn actress Suzie Diamond.-Awards:...
(1976), pornographic actress, model - Michal MartikánMichal MartikánMichal Martikán is a Slovak slalom canoeist. In 1996 he became the first athlete to win an Olympic Games gold medal for Slovakia since the country gained independence in 1993. In total he won 4 Olympic medals , which is the most among all slalom paddlers...
(1979), sportsman - Peter SejnaPeter SejnaPeter Sejna is a Slovak ice hockey center currently with the HC Davos of the Swiss Nationalliga A. Peter Sejna also won the bronze medal with the Slovak national ice hockey team in the 2003 Ice Hockey World Championship....
(1979), AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
/NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player - Milan JurcinaMilan JurcinaMilan Jurcina is a Slovak ice hockey defenceman currently with the New York Islanders of the NHL.- Playing career :The 6-foot-4 Slovak was drafted by the Boston Bruins 241st overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft...
(1983), NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player - Ivan Laučík (1944), poet, professor