Devín

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Coordinates: 48°10′26″N 16°59′00″E / 48.17389, 16.983333
Devín
Borough
none
Country Flag of Slovakia Slovakia
Region Bratislava
District Bratislava IV
River Danube, Morava
Elevation 125 m (410 ft)
Coordinates 48°10′26″N 16°59′00″E / 48.17389, 16.983333
Area 13.964 km² (5.392 sq mi)
Population 1,005 (2005)
Density 72 /km² (186 /sq mi)
First mentioned 1237
Postal code 84105
Area code +421-02
Car plate BA
Location of Devín in Slovakia
Location of Devín in Slovakia
Location of Devín in Slovakia
Wikimedia Commons: Devín
Website: www.devin.sk
Source [1]

Devín (German: Theben, Hungarian: Dévény), originally a separate town at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers, is now a borough of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It is an important archaeological site, famous for the ruins of Devín Castle. Devín lies near the Devín Gate, which was viewed as the western gateway to the Kingdom of Hungary

The name stems from the Slovak word deva, which signifies "girl".

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[edit] History

Thanks to its strategic location at the confluence of the rivers Danube and Morava, the nearby cliff was an ideal place for a fort. The site has been settled since the Neolithic and both the Celts and Romans built forts here.

Devín Castle above the Danube
Devín Castle above the Danube

Devín was first mentioned in a document from 1237 under the name Villa Thebyn. Originally, it was a small village, belonging to the Devín Castle, but quickly attained the status of a small town in the 15th century. In 1568, Devín became separated from its former owner. Croats fleeing from the approaching Ottomans in the south settled here in the 16th century. The castle above the village was burned down by Napoleon's troops in 1809. From October 1938 to April 1945, Devín was part of the German Third Reich, being part of the Lower Austria. In 1946, Devín was returned to Czechoslovakia and became part of Bratislava.

[edit] Characteristics

Devín is part of Bratislava, yet differs from the rest of the city due to its rural character. As a popular recreation center, it offers an ancient castle located on a spectacular cliff, hiking trails in the hilly areas around the village, large gardens and vineyards, as well as opportunities for quiet walks along the Danube. Good bus connections with the center of Bratislava are a part of the municipal public transportation system. Most of the people commute to work elsewhere in Bratislava.

Devín is quite commonly flooded by the Morava and Danube rivers, with the strongest flood in recent history being in August 2002.

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[edit] External links