Špania Dolina

Geobox | Settlement
name = Špania Dolina
native_name =
other_name =
category = Village

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image_caption = Špania Dolina from Panský Diel


symbol =
etymology =
official_name =
motto =
nickname =
country = Slovakia
country_

state =
region = Banská Bystrica
district = Banská Bystrica
municipality =
parent =
parent_type =
part =
river =
location =
elevation = 728
lat_d = 48
lat_m = 49
lat_NS = N
long_d = 19
long_m = 08
long_EW = E
coordinates_type = region:SK_type:city
highest =
highest_elevation =
highest_lat_d =
highest_long_d =
lowest =
lowest_elevation =
lowest_lat_d =
lowest_long_d =
area = 12.73
area_round = 2
population = 182
population_date = 31 December 2005
population_density = auto
established = 1254
established_type = First mentioned
mayor = Terézia Štupáková
timezone =
timezone_DST =
postal_code = 974 01
area_code = +421-48
code = BB
code_type = Car plate
free =

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map_background = Slovakia - background map.png map_caption = Location of Špania Dolina in Slovakia
map_locator = Slovakia
map1 = Banská Bystrica Region - outline map.svg
map1_background = Banská Bystrica Region - background map.png map1_caption = Location of Špania Dolina in the Banská Bystrica Region
map1_locator = Banská Bystrica Region
commons =
statistics = [http://www.statistics.sk/mosmis/eng/prvav2.jsp?txtUroven430601&lstObec509035&Okruhzaklad MOŠ/MIS]
website = [http://www.spaniadolina.sk/home.html www.spaniadolina.sk]
footnotes =

Špania Dolina is a village and municipality in central Slovakia, near the city of Banská Bystrica. Although its permanent population does not exceed 200 people, a picturesque historic village, situated 728 m above the sea level and surrounded by the Staré Hory and Veľká Fatra mountains, became a popular recreation center.

Name

The ancient Latin name is "Valis Dominorum" (meaning "Lord’s Valley"). The first part of the Slovak name ("Špania") is derived from another Latin word for "lord": "spanatus". The second part ("Dolina") means "valley" in Slovak. The old German name of the village was "Herrengrundt" and it has been used for centuries by Carpathian Germans living in the area. The Hungarian name of the village is "Úrvölgy".

History

The prehistoric mining tools excavated in the territory of Špania Dolina are dated as early as 2000-1700 BC. Copper from Špania Dolina was also identified in bronze artifacts from the Balkans and the Middle East. It indicates that the local mines were part of an extensive network of trade routes during the Bronze Age. However, the first written reference to the village itself appeared only in 1254. Abundant deposits of copper and silver were exploited first by miners from Banská Bystrica and since 1494 by one of the first multinational corporations, founded by the affluent Fugger and Thurzo families. The rich region attracted many foreign visitors. The House of Fugger funded a laboratory of the famous alchemist Paracelsus there. The prominent French thinker Montesquieu visited and described the copper mines in Špania Dolina upon the encouragement of Isaac Newton. The ancient tradition of making bobbin laces lead to the establishment of a bobbin laces craft school in 1883. The copper mines were closed down in 1888 and the economy of the village is now based on tourism.

Landmarks

Covered stairway leads to a fortified church, built in the Gothic and Renaissance styles. Wooden miners' houses, now reconstructed, were originally built in the 17th and 18th centuries. The so-called "Knocker" from the 16th century served as a special bell tower for miners. Ancient shafts and other technical monuments are scattered in the nearby forests. Špania Dolina is also a hub of hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing trails.

Demographics

Špania Dolina has only 182 residents (as of December 31, 2005). According to the 2001 census, 95.3% of inhabitants were Slovaks and 3% Czechs.cite web | title = Municipal Statistics | publisher = Statistical Office of the Slovak republic | url = http://www.statistics.sk/mosmis/eng/run.html | accessdate = 2007-12-05] The religious makeup was 82.8% Roman Catholics and 10.7% people with no religious affiliation.

References

External links

* [http://www.spaniadolina.sk/home.html Official homepage of Špania Dolina]