Liptovský Mikuláš

Geobox|Settlement
name = Liptovský Mikuláš
category = Town
etymology = church dedicated to St. Nicholas
official_name =
motto =
nickname =

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image_caption = Centre of Liptovský Mikuláš


symbol = Lm erb.jpg
symbol_type =
country = Slovakia
country_

state =
region = Žilina
district = Liptovský Mikuláš
municipality =
parent = Liptov
parent_type = Tourism region
river = Váh
location =
elevation = 577
prominence =
lat_d =49 | lat_m =05 | lat_s =03 | lat_NS =N
long_d =19 | long_m =36 | long_s =08 | long_EW =E
highest =
highest_location = | highest_region = | highest_state =
highest_elevation =
highest_lat_d = | highest_lat_m = | highest_lat_s = | highest_lat_NS =
highest_long_d = | highest_long_m = | highest_long_s = | highest_long_EW =
lowest =
lowest_location = | lowest_region = | lowest_state =
lowest_elevation =
lowest_lat_d = | lowest_lat_m = | lowest_lat_s = | lowest_lat_NS =
lowest_long_d = | lowest_long_m = | lowest_long_s = | lowest_long_EW =
length = | length_orientation =
width = | width_orientation =
area = 70.109
area_land =
area_water =
area_urban =
area_metro =
population =32786 | population_date = 2006-12-31
population_urban =
population_metro =
population_density = auto
population_density_urban =
population_density_metro =
established =1286
established_type = First mentioned
date =
government =
government_location = | government_region = | government_state =
government_elevation =
government_lat_d = | government_lat_m = | government_lat_s = | government_lat_NS =
government_long_d = | government_long_m = | government_long_s = | government_long_EW =
mayor = Ján Blcháč
leader =
timezone =

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map_caption = Location in Slovakia
map_background = Slovakia - background map.png map_locator = Slovakia
map1 = Žilina Region - outline map.svg
map1_caption = Location in the Žilina Region
map1_background = Žilina Region - background map.png map1_locator = Žilina Region
commons = Liptovský Mikuláš
statistics = [http://www.statistics.sk/mosmis/eng/prvav2.jsp?txtUroven430505&lstObec510262&Okruhzaklad MOŠ/MIS]
website = http://www.mikulas.sk/
footnotes =

Liptovský Mikuláš (Audio|Sk-Liptovskymikulas.ogg|pronunciation; until 1952 "Liptovský Svätý Mikuláš", _de. Liptau-Sankt-Nikolaus; _hu. Liptószentmiklós) is a town in northern Slovakia, on the Váh River. It lies in the Liptov region, in Liptov Basin near the Low Tatra and Tatra mountains. Liptovský Mikuláš is also known as town of guilds and culture.

History

The town of Mikuláš was mentioned first in the royal deed of King Ladislaus IV in 1286. The first written record mentioning the Church of Saint Nicolaus which was to become the founding element of a larger settlement dates back to 1299. The Church of Saint Nicolaus is the oldest building in the town of Liptovský Mikuláš.

Mikuláš was one of the most important centre of crafts in the Liptov region. The craftsmen formed guilds. The oldest guild was shoemaker's guild mentioned in 1508. There were also other guilds: the guild of smiths, furriers, tailors, hatters, butchers.

In 1677, Liptovský Mikuláš became seat of the local district, as well as Liptov county. The legendary Slovak "Robin Hood" Juraj Jánošík was sentenced and executed here in 1713. In the 19th century, the town became one of the centres of the Slovak national movement.

In the 20th century, many once independent villages were annexed to Liptovský Mikuláš.

Tourism

The town is one of the most famous tourist centres in Slovakia because of its rich cultural life and also it is perfect starting point for tourists, from where one can go to the Low Tatras (Demänová valley) with well-known caves such as the Demänová Ice Cave or Demänová Cave of Freedom, or to the Western Tatras, for the folk architecture to Vlkolínec near Ružomberok, or Pribylina few kilometres east of the town, and for recreation can be used Liptovská Mara lake and since 2004 a new aquapark called "Aquapark Tatralandia". The area is also famous due to its locality close to the biggest ski resort in Slovakia, Jasná. Many modern lifts and recent additions to its infrastructure have meant it has become over the last few years a popular ski centre for many western tourists.

Demographics

According to the 2001 census, the town had 33,007 inhabitants. 94.07% of inhabitants were Slovaks, 2.30% Roma, 2.10% Czech and 0.28% Hungarians.cite web | title = Municipal Statistics | publisher = Statistical Office of the Slovak republic | url = http://www.statistics.sk/mosmis/eng/run.html | accessdate = 2007-12-28] The religious make-up was 34.48% Roman Catholics, 32.26% people with no religious affiliation, and 26.85% Lutherans.

port

Ice hockey: MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš plays in the Slovak Extraliga.

There is also the oldest water slalom areal in Slovakia.

Transport

Liptovský Mikuláš is located near the main Slovak D1 motorway, as well on the main railroad from Bratislava to Košice. The closest international airport is in Poprad. The town also has its own public transport with 13 lines operating.

Partner towns

* Opava, Czech Republic
* Kiskőrös, Hungary
* Kalamaria, Greece
* Annecy, France
* Dinkelland, Netherlands
* Galanta, Slovakia
* Kemi, Finland
* Slovenske Konjice, Slovenia
* Żywiec, Poland

People

*Jozef Božetech Klemens (1817), painter
*Ján Levoslav Bella (1843), composer
*Samuel Fischer (1859), publisher
*Aurel Stodola (1859), physicist
*Slavoljub Eduard Penkala (1871), engineer, inventor
*Martin Rázus (1888, Vrbica), author, politician
*Ivan Stodola poet, dramatist, doctor
*Janko Kráľ, poet
*Janko Alexy (1894), painter
*Koloman Sokol (1902), painter
*Ladislav Hanus (1907), philosopher, theologian, author
*Michal Martikán (1979), sportsman
*Peter Sejna (1979), AHL/NHL player
*Milan Jurčina (1983), NHL player

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References

External links

* [http://www.mikulas.sk/lm.php?t=2&m=1 Official website]