Špania Dolina (Hungarian: Úrvölgy) is a village and municipality in central Slovakia, near the city of Banská Bystrica.[5] Although its permanent population does not exceed 200 people, it is a picturesque historic village situated 728 m above sea level and is surrounded by the Staré Hory and Veľká Fatra mountains. It has become a popular tourist recreation centre.
The ancient Latin name of the village 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.
Historyedit
Catholic church and covered stairway leading to itA minershouseBastion, a part of the former defense system around the settlement, built in 1644
Prehistoric mining tools excavated in the territory of Špania Dolina have been dated from as early as 2000-1700 BC. Copper from Špania Dolina has also been 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 only appeared in 1254. Abundant deposits of copper and silver were exploited first by miners from Banská Bystrica and after 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 alchemistParacelsus there. In 1696, Edward Browne gave description of the mine of Herrengrund (Browne used the German name of the settlement), belonged that time to the Hungarian Kingdom, in his book: Brief account of some travels in Hungaria, Servia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Thessaly, Austria, Styria, Carinthia, and Friuli. He mentions the very rich ore, „in an hundred ponds of Ore they ordinarily find twenty ponds of Copper”.[6] Browne sent some ore to the prominent English naturalist, John Woodward, these are now in his collection in Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, Cambridge.[7] 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 lace led to the establishment of a bobbin lace craft school in 1883. The copper mines were closed down in 1888 and the economy of the village is now based primarily on tourism.
Landmarksedit
A 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 calling the miners to work in the morning. 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.
Demographicsedit
Špania Dolina has only 192 residents (as of December 31, 2013). According to the 2001 census, 95.3% of inhabitants were Slovaks and 3% Czechs.[8] The religious makeup was 82.8% Roman Catholics and 10.7% people with no religious affiliation.[8]
Referencesedit
^"Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne)". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
^ ab"Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_ukaz: Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
^ abcd"Základná charakteristika". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
^ ab"Hustota obyvateľstva - obce". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
^"Špania Dolina - Okres Banská Bystrica - E-OBCE.sk". www.e-obce.sk. Retrieved Sep 29, 2020.
^Browne, Edward (1696). Brief account of some travels in Hungaria, Servia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Thessaly, Austria, Styria, Carinthia, and Friuli. pp. 106–107. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
^Kázmér, Miklós; Papp, Gábor (January 2017). "KÁRPÁTI ÁSVÁNYOK EGY TIZENNYOLCADIK SZÁZADI ANGLIAI GYŰJTEMÉNYBEN" (PDF). Magyar Tudomány (in Hungarian): 68–69. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
^ ab. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Archived from the original on 2007-11-16. Retrieved 2007-12-05.
External linksedit
Media related to Špania Dolina at Wikimedia Commons
Official website
December 04, 2023
Špania, dolina, hungarian, Úrvölgy, village, municipality, central, slovakia, near, city, banská, bystrica, although, permanent, population, does, exceed, people, picturesque, historic, village, situated, above, level, surrounded, staré, hory, veľká, fatra, mo. Spania Dolina Hungarian Urvolgy is a village and municipality in central Slovakia near the city of Banska Bystrica 5 Although its permanent population does not exceed 200 people it is a picturesque historic village situated 728 m above sea level and is surrounded by the Stare Hory and Veľka Fatra mountains It has become a popular tourist recreation centre Spania DolinaVillageSpania Dolina from Pansky DielCoat of armsSpania DolinaLocation of Spania Dolina in the Banska Bystrica RegionShow map of Banska Bystrica RegionSpania DolinaSpania Dolina Slovakia Show map of SlovakiaCoordinates 48 49 N 19 08 E 48 817 N 19 133 E 48 817 19 133CountrySlovakiaRegionBanska BystricaDistrictBanska BystricaFirst mentioned1254Government MayorMartina WilhelmerovaArea Total12 72 2 km2 4 91 2 sq mi Elevation711 3 m 2 333 3 ft Population 2021 Total222 1 Postal code974 15 3 Area code 421 48 3 Car plateBBWebsitewww spaniadolina sk Contents 1 Name 2 History 3 Landmarks 4 Demographics 5 References 6 External linksName editThe ancient Latin name of the village is Valis Dominorum meaning Lord s Valley The first part of the Slovak name Spania 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 Urvolgy History edit nbsp Catholic church and covered stairway leading to it nbsp A minershouse nbsp Bastion a part of the former defense system around the settlement built in 1644Prehistoric mining tools excavated in the territory of Spania Dolina have been dated from as early as 2000 1700 BC Copper from Spania Dolina has also been 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 only appeared in 1254 Abundant deposits of copper and silver were exploited first by miners from Banska Bystrica and after 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 In 1696 Edward Browne gave description of the mine of Herrengrund Browne used the German name of the settlement belonged that time to the Hungarian Kingdom in his book Brief account of some travels in Hungaria Servia Bulgaria Macedonia Thessaly Austria Styria Carinthia and Friuli He mentions the very rich ore in an hundred ponds of Ore they ordinarily find twenty ponds of Copper 6 Browne sent some ore to the prominent English naturalist John Woodward these are now in his collection in Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences Cambridge 7 The prominent French thinker Montesquieu visited and described the copper mines in Spania Dolina upon the encouragement of Isaac Newton The ancient tradition of making bobbin lace led to the establishment of a bobbin lace craft school in 1883 The copper mines were closed down in 1888 and the economy of the village is now based primarily on tourism Landmarks editA 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 calling the miners to work in the morning Ancient shafts and other technical monuments are scattered in the nearby forests Spania Dolina is also a hub of hiking mountain biking and cross country skiing trails Demographics editSpania Dolina has only 192 residents as of December 31 2013 According to the 2001 census 95 3 of inhabitants were Slovaks and 3 Czechs 8 The religious makeup was 82 8 Roman Catholics and 10 7 people with no religious affiliation 8 References edit Pocet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia obce rocne www statistics sk in Slovak Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic 2022 03 31 Retrieved 2022 03 31 a b Hustota obyvateľstva obce om7014rr ukaz Rozloha Stvorcovy meter www statistics sk in Slovak Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic 2022 03 31 Retrieved 2022 03 31 a b c d Zakladna charakteristika www statistics sk in Slovak Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic 2015 04 17 Retrieved 2022 03 31 a b Hustota obyvateľstva obce www statistics sk in Slovak Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic 2022 03 31 Retrieved 2022 03 31 Spania Dolina Okres Banska Bystrica E OBCE sk www e obce sk Retrieved Sep 29 2020 Browne Edward 1696 Brief account of some travels in Hungaria Servia Bulgaria Macedonia Thessaly Austria Styria Carinthia and Friuli pp 106 107 Retrieved 2020 08 11 Kazmer Miklos Papp Gabor January 2017 KARPATI ASVANYOK EGY TIZENNYOLCADIK SZAZADI ANGLIAI GYUJTEMENYBEN PDF Magyar Tudomany in Hungarian 68 69 Retrieved 2020 08 12 a b Municipal Statistics Statistical Office of the Slovak republic Archived from the original on 2007 11 16 Retrieved 2007 12 05 External links edit nbsp Media related to Spania Dolina at Wikimedia Commons Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spania Dolina amp oldid 1184614355, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
