Rožňava
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Rožňava (Hungarian: Rozsnyó, German: Rosenau, Latin: Rosnavia) is a town in Slovakia, near Košice in the Košice Region, and has a population of 19,690.
The town is an economic and tourist center of the Gemer. Rožňava is now a popular tourist attraction with a beautiful historic town centre. The town is an episcopal seat. It has above all food, textile and remnants of mining industries.
Noteworthy buildings:
- an important Mining Museum
- a completely preserved medieval central town square with burgher houses
- the Cathedral (Gothic, late 13th century) with many precious historic art objects, especially a Renaissance painting of Mestercia showing realistic mining motifs
- the Town Tower (Renaissance, 1654) in the middle of the central town square
- the Jesuit church (Baroque, 1687)
- the Bishop's residence (Baroque-Classical, arose 1778 from older houses) with a plague column in front of the building
- a town hall (Classical, 1711)
- an Evangelic Lutheran church (Classical, 1786)
- a Reformed church (neo-Gothic, 1905)
Archaeological finds show that the region was densely settled by miners as early as around 1200. The first written mention stems from 1291, the royal free town status from 1410. The Roman-Catholic bishopric of Rožňava was founded in 1776.
In the Middle Ages, Rožňava was a prosperous mining town for gold, silver, and iron. Mining activities stagnated from the 16th century (when territories to the south of the town were conquered by Ottoman Turks). Mining - this time mainly of iron ore - was renewed around 1800 and was present in the town throughout the 20th century.
The name of the town probably derives from the German and/or Slovak word for rose (Rose and ruža).
A famous son of the town is Pavel Jozef Šafárik.
Parts:
- Nadabula
- Rožňava (proper)
- Rožňavská baňa (Rožňava Mine)
[edit] External links
- Information on Rožňava and the Gemer region
- Information on tourist sights (with photo of the main square)
- Official site (Slovak only)
| edit | Municipalities of Rožňava District |  |
|---|---|---|
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Dobšiná | Rožňava |
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