Skalica
Encyclopedia
Skalica is the largest city in Skalica District
in western Slovakia
in the Záhorie
region. Located near the Czech
border, Skalica has a population of 14,963 (as of 2005).
. The first written record of Skalica was made in 1218 as Zaculcza; the name refers to the cliffs the inhabitants built their settlement over. The settlement developed around a triangular plaza
, which was rare during the Middle Ages
. Its town privileges
were conferred in 1372 by King Louis I of Hungary. In 1428 Skalica became a bastion
for the Hussites; during the Hussite Wars
, the majority of its then predominantly German-speaking populace fled or was exiled. Many Habaners (adherents of a sect similar to Anabaptism) settled in Skalica in the 16th century. For eight days in 1918 Skalica was the seat of a Czechoslovak delegation which unsuccessfully tried to negotiate the removal of Hungarian
troops from Upper Hungary
(today Slovakia).
After World War II
, the town tried to take advantage of its position as a district town, and many new works, schools and apartments blocks were built, while successfully preserving its historical city centre. In 1960, Skalica became part of Senica
district. This lasted until 1996, when Skalica became a separate district again.
Didaktik
computers were produced in Skalica during the 1980s. The 2006 Europe
an Table Hockey
Championships were held in the town.
Skalica is the birthplace of a popular rolled pastry called Trdelník
, originating from the Hungarian Kürtőskalács
, now sold all over the Slovak and Czech Republics.
Today, it is economically the strongest town in the Záhorie
region, bypassing its rival town Senica
for this position, and is becoming a tourist destination thanks to its preserved city centre and historical monuments.
Near the remnants of one of Skalica's city walls is one of Slovakia's oldest works of construction, the Romanesque
Rotunda
of St. George. Although its exact date of origin is unknown, it was constructed by the 12th century at the latest. A Baroque
dome was attached to it in the 17th century. The city has several churches, including a Jesuit church and monastery
, the 15th century Parish Church of St. Michael, and the 15th century Franciscan
church and monastery. Other sights are Skalica's Late Renaissance
town hall and the 1905 Cultural House built in the Hungarian Secession
style.
, the town had 15,013 inhabitants. 94.84% of inhabitants were Slovaks
, 3.61% Czechs
and 0.61% Roma. The religious make-up was 70.15% Roman Catholics, 19.92% people with no religious affiliation and 6.67% Lutherans.
, Austria
Freyburg
, Germany
Strážnice, Czech Republic
Skalica District
Skalica District is adistrict inthe Trnava Region of western Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was part of theHungarian countyof Nitra.-Municipalities:*Brodské*Dubovce*Chropov*Gbely*Holíč*Kátov*Kopčany...
in western 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...
in the Záhorie
Záhorie
Záhorie is a region in western Slovakia bordered by the Little Carpathians in the east and the Morava River in the west. Although not an administrative region in its own right, it is one of the 21 official tourism regions in Slovakia...
region. Located near the Czech
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....
border, Skalica has a population of 14,963 (as of 2005).
History
The site has been inhabited since 4000 BC and, according to some historians, was part of the Great Moravian Empire from the 9th century. 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 first written record of Skalica was made in 1218 as Zaculcza; the name refers to the cliffs the inhabitants built their settlement over. The settlement developed around a triangular plaza
Plaza
Plaza is a Spanish word related to "field" which describes an open urban public space, such as a city square. All through Spanish America, the plaza mayor of each center of administration held three closely related institutions: the cathedral, the cabildo or administrative center, which might be...
, which was rare during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Its town privileges
Town privileges
Town privileges or city rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium.Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined its privileges and laws. Common privileges were related to trading...
were conferred in 1372 by King Louis I of Hungary. In 1428 Skalica became a bastion
Bastion
A bastion, or a bulwark, is a structure projecting outward from the main enclosure of a fortification, situated in both corners of a straight wall , facilitating active defence against assaulting troops...
for the Hussites; during the Hussite Wars
Hussite Wars
The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars involved the military actions against and amongst the followers of Jan Hus in Bohemia in the period 1419 to circa 1434. The Hussite Wars were notable for the extensive use of early hand-held gunpowder weapons such as hand cannons...
, the majority of its then predominantly German-speaking populace fled or was exiled. Many Habaners (adherents of a sect similar to Anabaptism) settled in Skalica in the 16th century. For eight days in 1918 Skalica was the seat of a Czechoslovak delegation which unsuccessfully tried to negotiate the removal of Hungarian
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...
troops from Upper Hungary
Upper Hungary
Upper Hungary is the usual English translation for the area that was historically the northern part of the Kingdom of Hungary, now mostly present-day Slovakia...
(today Slovakia).
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the town tried to take advantage of its position as a district town, and many new works, schools and apartments blocks were built, while successfully preserving its historical city centre. In 1960, Skalica became part of Senica
Senica
Senica is a city in Trnava Region, western Slovakia. It is located in the north-eastern part of the Záhorie lowland, close to the Little Carpathians.-History:...
district. This lasted until 1996, when Skalica became a separate district again.
Didaktik
Didaktik
The Didaktik was a series of home computers based on the Intel 8080 and Zilog Z80 processors produced in former Czechoslovakia.-Didaktik Alfa:Didaktik Alfa was produced in 1986, as a "more professional" clone of PMD 85...
computers were produced in Skalica during the 1980s. The 2006 Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Table Hockey
Table hockey
Table hockey can refer to:* Miniature ice hockey games in general, see Table hockey games* The competitive sport organized by the International Table Hockey Federation, see ITHF table hockey* Air hockey...
Championships were held in the town.
Skalica is the birthplace of a popular rolled pastry called Trdelník
Trdelník
Trdelník is a traditional cake and sweet pastry, from the Slovak town of Skalica. It is made from rolled dough, wrapped around a stick then grilled and topped with sugar and walnut mix.- History :Its production has a long tradition in Skalica...
, originating from the Hungarian Kürtőskalács
Kürtoskalács
Kürtőskalács or kürtős kalács is a Hungarian pastry also known as chimney cake, stove cake, or Hungarian wedding cake. It is baked on a tapered cylindrical spit over an open fire. Originally from Transylvania, it is famous as Hungary's oldest pastry...
, now sold all over the Slovak and Czech Republics.
Today, it is economically the strongest town in the Záhorie
Záhorie
Záhorie is a region in western Slovakia bordered by the Little Carpathians in the east and the Morava River in the west. Although not an administrative region in its own right, it is one of the 21 official tourism regions in Slovakia...
region, bypassing its rival town Senica
Senica
Senica is a city in Trnava Region, western Slovakia. It is located in the north-eastern part of the Záhorie lowland, close to the Little Carpathians.-History:...
for this position, and is becoming a tourist destination thanks to its preserved city centre and historical monuments.
Sights
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
Rotunda
Rotunda (architecture)
A rotunda is any building with a circular ground plan, sometimes covered by a dome. It can also refer to a round room within a building . The Pantheon in Rome is a famous rotunda. A Band Rotunda is a circular bandstand, usually with a dome...
of St. George. Although its exact date of origin is unknown, it was constructed by the 12th century at the latest. A Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
dome was attached to it in the 17th century. The city has several churches, including a Jesuit church and monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, the 15th century Parish Church of St. Michael, and the 15th century Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
church and monastery. Other sights are Skalica's Late Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
town hall and the 1905 Cultural House built in the Hungarian Secession
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
style.
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 15,013 inhabitants. 94.84% 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...
, 3.61% Czechs
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 0.61% Roma. The religious make-up was 70.15% Roman Catholics, 19.92% people with no religious affiliation and 6.67% Lutherans.
Famous people
- Ján HollýJán HollýJán Hollý was a Slovak poet and translator. He was the first greater Slovak poet to write exclusively in the newly standardized literary Slovak language. His predecessors mostly wrote in various regional versions of Czech, Slovakized Czech or Latin...
, poet, studied in Skalica - Žigmund PálffyZigmund PalffyŽigmund "Ziggy" Pálffy is a Slovak professional ice hockey player of Hungarian origin, who plays for HK 36 Skalica of the Slovak Extraliga....
, ice hockey player - Marián VargaMarián VargaMarián Varga is a Slovak musician, composer and organ player.-Biography:He has played piano since the age of six. He studied piano and composition at the conservatory in Bratislava. He left the conservatory after three years to become a member of the group Prúdy, and contributed to the legendary...
, musician - Miroslav ZálešákMiroslav ZálešákMiroslav Zálešák is a Slovak ice hockey player who currently plays for the HC Košice of the Slovak Extraliga.Zálešák was drafted 104th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He has played 12 career NHL games, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points. His only NHL goal was...
, ice hockey player - János CsernochJános CsernochJános Csernoch S.T.D. was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of Esztergom and Primate of Hungary....
, primate of Hungary - Béla II of HungaryBéla II of HungaryBéla II the Blind , King of Hungary and Croatia . Still as a child, Béla was blinded by his uncle, King Coloman who wanted to ensure the succession of his own son, the future King Stephen II...
, king - Gyula JuhászGyula JuhászGyula Juhász was a Hungarian poet, who was awarded the Baumgarten Prize.His first poems were published in in 1899. Between 1902 and 1906 he was a student of the University of Budapest, where he met Mihály Babits and Dezső Kosztolányi....
, poet
Partner towns
SchwechatSchwechat
Schwechat is a city south-east of Vienna known for the Vienna International Airport and Schwechater beer. It is also home to the refineries belonging to the Austrian national oil company OMV.- Geography :...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
Freyburg
Freyburg, Germany
Freyburg is a town in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Unstrut, 9 km northwest of Hanseatic Naumburg, 63 km from Leipzig and 231 km from Berlin...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Strážnice, Czech Republic