Skalica

Submitted by editor on Wed, 02/16/2011 - 01:11

Skalica

Skalica
Town
City centre of Skalica
Country Slovakia
Region Trnava
District Skalica
River Morava
Elevation 186 m (610 ft)
Coordinates 48°50′32″N 17°13′36″E / 48.84222°N 17.22667°E / 48.84222; 17.22667
Area 60.007 km² (23 sq mi)
Population 14,963 (31 December 2005)
Density 249 / km² (645 / sq mi)
First mentioned 1217
Mayor Stanislav Chovanec
Timezone CET (UTC+1)
 - summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 909 01
Phone prefix 421-34
Car plate SI
Location of Skalica in Slovakia
Location of Skalica in Slovakia
Location of Skalica in the Trnava Region
Location of Skalica in the Trnava Region
Wikimedia Commons: Skalica
Statistics: MOŠ/MIS
Website: http://www.skalica.sk

Skalica (German: Skalitz, Hungarian: Szakolca, Latin: Sakolcium) is the largest city in Skalica District in western Slovakia in the Záhorie region. Located near the Czech border, Skalica has a population of 14,963 (as of 2005).

Contents

History

The site has been inhabited since 4000 BC and, according to some historians, was part of the Great Moravian Empire from the 9th century. From the second half of the 10th century until 1918, it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary. The first written record of Skalica was made in 1218 as Zaculcza; the name refers to the cliffs the inhabitants built their settlement over. The settlement developed around a triangular plaza, which was rare during the Middle Ages. Its town privileges were conferred in 1372 by King Louis I of Hungary. In 1428 Skalica became a bastion for the Hussites; during the Hussite Wars, the majority of its then predominantly German-speaking populace fled or was exiled. Many Habaners (adherents of a sect similar to Anabaptism) settled in Skalica in the 16th century. For eight days in 1918 Skalica was the seat of a Czechoslovak delegation which unsuccessfully tried to negotiate the removal of Hungarian troops from Upper Hungary (today Slovakia).

After World War II, the town tried to take advantage of its position as a district town, and many new works, schools and apartments blocks were built, while successfully preserving its historical city centre. In 1960, Skalica became part of Senica district. This lasted until 1996, when Skalica became a separate district again.

Didaktik computers were produced in Skalica during the 1980s. The 2006 European Table Hockey Championships were held in the town.

Skalica is the birthplace of a popular rolled pastry called Trdelník, originating from the Hungarian Kürtőskalács, now sold all over the Slovak and Czech Republics.

Today, it is economically the strongest town in the Záhorie region, bypassing its rival town Senica for this position, and is becoming a tourist destination thanks to its preserved city centre and historical monuments.

Sights

The Romanesque St. George rotunda is the oldest building in the town

Near the remnants of one of Skalica's city walls is one of Slovakia's oldest works of construction, the Romanesque Rotunda of St. George. Although its exact date of origin is unknown, it was constructed by the 12th century at the latest. A Baroque dome was attached to it in the 17th century. The city has several churches, including a Jesuit church and monastery, the 15th century Parish Church of St. Michael, and the 15th century Franciscan church and monastery. Other sights are Skalica's Late Renaissance town hall and the 1905 Cultural House built in the Hungarian Secession style.

Demographics

According to the 2001 census, the town had 15,013 inhabitants. 94.84% of inhabitants were Slovaks, 3.61% Czechs and 0.61% Roma. The religious make-up was 70.15% Roman Catholics, 19.92% people with no religious affiliation and 6.67% Lutherans.

Sports

  • HK 36 Skalica, ice hockey club from the town

Famous people

  • Ján Hollý, poet, studied in Skalica
  • Žigmund Pálffy, ice hockey player
  • Marián Varga, musician
  • Miroslav Zálešák, ice hockey player
  • János Csernoch, primate of Hungary
  • Béla II of Hungary, king
  • Gyula Juhász, poet

Partner towns

Gallery

  • Culture house

  • Main square

  • City walls

  • Calvary

  • Jesuite church

  • Lutheran church

  • Pauline monastery

  • Trinity church

  • Franciscan monastery

  • Romanesque rotunda

  • Rotunda at night

  • Garden in Skalica

  1. ^ a b "Municipal Statistics". Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Archived from the original on 2007-11-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20071116010355/http://www.statistics.sk/mosmis/eng/run.html. Retrieved 2007-12-09. 
  2. ^ "Felvidek Ma" (in Hungarian). Szövetség a Közös Célokért. 2008. http://www.felvidek.ma/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1100&Itemid=75. Retrieved 8 April 2008. 
  3. ^ "Kulturális enciklopédia" (in Hungarian). Osztovits Szabolcs. 2008. http://enciklopedia.fazekas.hu/palyakep/magyar/Juhasz.htm. Retrieved 8 April 2008. 
Municipalities of Skalica District

Gbely · Holíč · Skalica
Brodské · Dubovce · Chropov · Kátov · Kopčany · Koválovec · Letničie · Lopašov · Mokrý Háj · Oreské · Petrova Ves · Popudinské Močidľany · Prietržka · Radimov · Radošovce · Trnovec · Unín · Vrádište

 Slovakia
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