Martin, Slovakia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Martin | |
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| Region (kraj) | Žilina Region |
| District (okres) | Martin District |
| Location | |
| Altitude | 398 m |
| Population | 59,449 (as of 2004) |
| Area | 67.74 km² |
| Time Zone • Summer DST |
CET: UTC+1 CEST: UTC+2 |
| Telephone prefix | +421-43 |
| Postal code | 03601 |
| Car registration plate | MT |
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Martin (Slovak: Turčiansky Svätý Martin until 1950, Hungarian: Turócszentmárton, German: Turz-Sankt Martin, Latin: Sanctus Martinus / Martinopolis) is a town in northern Slovakia, situated on the Turiec river, under the Lesser Fatra mountains, near the city of Žilina. The population numbers approximately 60,000, which make it the eighth largest town in Slovakia. It is the center of the Turiec region and the District of Martin.
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[edit] City parts
Martin has 9 city parts: Jahodníky, Košúty, Ľadoveň, Podháj, Priekopa, Sever, Stred, Tomčany, Záturčie
[edit] Climate
Average annual temperature: 7 - 7.5°C Average annual rainfall: 750 - 860 mm
[edit] History
The first recorded reference to Martin in written sources is dated to 1264 under the name of Zenthmarton. The settlement was granted the status of a royal town in 1340.
In the turbulent 15th century, the town suffered from many disasters, for example from the Hussites in 1433, when the town was burned down. Just 10 years later, it was destroyed again by an earthquake and the town started to be slowly degraded from royal town to the privileged town and under direct influence of the Révai family.
Since the 18th century, the town became centre of the Turiec county
The town became the foremost Slovak cultural center in the 19th century. Several cultural institutions (including Slovak Matica and Slovak National Museum) were founded there. Most political activities leading to the Slovak national emancipation in the 19th and early 20th centuries were organized in or from Martin. The town was also industrialized at this time. The first printing works were established in 1869, the furniture factory Tatra nábytok in 1890, and so on.
The town lost its importance after Bratislava became the capital of Slovakia in 1918. Today, it is the seat of the Slovak National Library and Slovak Matica.
[edit] Demographics
Ethnic groups (2001 census):
- Slovaks (94.91%)
- Czechs (1.63%)
- Roma (0.48%)
- Hungarians (0.24%)
[edit] Sights
The oldest building is a Romanesque church dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours (13th century). The Slovak National Museum placed its ethnographic collection to Martin. An open air museum in the suburbs Jahodnícke háje exhibits the traditional rural architecture and folk traditions of the region of Turiec. The Slovak National Cemetery is the official Slovak hall of fame, inspired by the Panthéon in Paris.
The town is surrounded by the Lesser Fatra and Greater Fatra mountain ranges, which in winter offer excellent conditions for skiing and in summer for hiking.
[edit] Education
A school of medicine (part of Comenius University) is also situated in Martin.
[edit] Sport
- Ice hockey: MHC Martin plays in the Slovak Extraliga.
[edit] Transport
Martin is near the main Slovak road from Bratislava to Košice, as well being near the main railway. It is connected directly to Žilina, Turčianske Teplice and Ružomberok.
Public transport is not only in Martin itself, but it also extends to the surrounding town of Vrútky and to three villages (Bystrička, Lipovec, Turčianske Kľačany)
[edit] Partner towns
Gotha, Germany
Hoogeveen, Netherlands
Karviná, Czech Republic- Jičín, Czech Republic
Kalisz, Poland
Bački Petrovac, Serbia
[edit] Famous people
- Janko Alexy, painter
- Miloš Alexander Bazovský, painter
- Martin Benka, painter
- Barbora Bobulová, actress
- Zdeno Cíger, ice hockey player
- Andrej Kmeť, scientist
- Miloslav Schmidt, organizer of fire brigades
- Róbert Švehla, ice hockey player
[edit] External links
| edit | Municipalities of Martin District |  |
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Martin | Vrútky |
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