Position: (577m above sea level)
Town is situated in the middle of the Liptovská hollow and is surrounded by slopes
of the Low and West Tatras and the Chočské hills. It is spread mainly on the northern bank of
the Váh river, northwest of the town there is a water dam called Liptovská Mara.
Thanks to nature beauties, carst occurence, abundance of mineral springs, amount of
cultural-historical monuments, monuments of folk archirecture, active folklor Liptov
became one of the most sought centres of summer and winter tourism.
History: Town had been settled during the Bronz Age.
The Slaw habitation was very important. The first written mention originates from 1286.
In the 14th century city was awarded the right of market. In 1677 Liptovský Mikuláš
became seat of the country and permanent place for meetings of the Country assembly and
court.
In 1713 Juraj Jánošík was tried here. In the 18th century town was flourishing and number
of handicrafts was enlarged. In the 19th century town became centre of cultural, national
and political life. The first public library was founded here (1829), then the first
amateur theatre (1830), a cultural society Tatrín (1844) and the first political program
of the Slovaks - The Requests of the Slovak Nation (1848).
The end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries are connected with an
organised movement of workers. May 1, 1918 is a red-letter day, when tanners striked
against the War and for formation of joint state of the Czechs and the Slovaks.
World War II marked destinies of many citizens, mainly the Jews transported out of the
town. After World War II town has developed and Liptovský Mikuláš has become
administrative, economical, cultural and tourist centre of Central Liptov.
Points of interest, remarkables and rarities
Monuments of town: The Church of St Nicolaus, the
Museum of J. Kráľ, a torture chamber, the Synagogue, Tatrín and the Requests of the
Slovak Nation, the native house of the Rázus, the Gallery of P. M. Bohúň, the Slovak
Museum of nature and cave protection.
Items of interest: Demänovské caves, Važecká cave,
thermal swimming pools in Bešeňová and Liptovský Ján, the Church in Svätý Kríž, the
Museum of Liptov village in Pribylina, a reserve of folk architecture in Vlkolínec,
water-mills in Oblazy, the Celtic habitation in Havránok.
Sports opportunities: tourism, cycle-tourism, water
sports, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, alpine skiing, not so
traditional sports: rafting, paragliding, mountaineering, public visit of inaccesable
caves, horseback riding.
Translation: Hošková
