Púchov
Encyclopedia
Púchov is an industrial town
in the centre of Púchov District
in Slovakia
, with a population close to 20,000.
and Košice
. It is half way between Trenčín
and Žilina
, two major Slovak cities, approximately 30 minutes train from both cities.
The Váh
river crosses Púchov, and there is a small dam open to public crossing.
The health resort Nimnica
(until 1990 part of Púchov) is situated in the vicinity and is a starting point for tours to Javorníky
and White Carpathians
mountains.
Parts:
, La Tène period, Roman period) and the extensive La Tène and Roman period settlements gave name to the archaeological Púchov culture
, which also extends to Moravia
and Poland. The first written reference dates back to 1243, the town status stems from 1471. Many Czech and Moravian refugees (Moravian Brethren) settled in the town after the Battle of White Mountain
and in the 17th century. The Brethren became famous throughout the Kingdom of Hungary for the production of soft drapery.
, the town had 18,833 inhabitants. 97.4% of inhabitants were Slovaks
, 1.3% Czechs
and 0.2% Roma. The religious make-up was 71.4% Roman Catholics, 13.8% Lutherans, and 11.3% people with no religious affiliation.
and Continental plants, producers of tyres, and Makyta, a producer of fashion clothes. Matador
is a 20 minute walk from the train station in Púchov, while the city center is a 10 minute walk in the other direction.
had several successful seasons in the Slovak highest league, but currently is only in the Slovak second league. Among other sports, there has been a long tradition of swimming. Several of the best swimmers made it to the European championship.
Some other sport clubs worth mentioning are the volleyball and handball one.
The local ice hockey team is actually the Slovak National Ice Hockey Team under 20. The team named "Slovakia 20" is a permanent member of the highest Ice Hockey league. This was done as an experiment to help the young players to get more tough matches and increase their motivation.
.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the centre of Púchov District
Púchov District
Púchov District is adistrict inthe Trenčín Region of western Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was part of theHungarian countyof Trenčín...
in Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, with a population close to 20,000.
Geography
It is located on the main train line between BratislavaBratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
and Košice
Košice
Košice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
. It is half way between Trenčín
Trencín
Trenčín is a city in western Slovakia of the central Váh River valley near the Czech border, around from Bratislava. It has a population of more than 56,000, which makes it the ninth largest municipality of the country and is the seat of the Trenčín Region and the Trenčín District...
and Žilina
Žilina
Žilina is a city in north-western Slovakia, around from the capital Bratislava, close to both the Czech and Polish borders. It is the fourth largest city of Slovakia with a population of approximately 85,000, an important industrial center, the largest city on the Váh river, and the seat of a...
, two major Slovak cities, approximately 30 minutes train from both cities.
The Váh
Váh
The Váh is the longest river in entire Slovakia. A left tributary of the Danube river, the Váh is 406 km long, including its Čierny Váh branch...
river crosses Púchov, and there is a small dam open to public crossing.
The health resort Nimnica
Nimnica
Nimnica is a spa village and municipality in Púchov District in the Trenčín Region of north-western Slovakia. It is located between the towns of Púchov and Považská Bystrica.-Geography:...
(until 1990 part of Púchov) is situated in the vicinity and is a starting point for tours to Javorníky
Javorníky
Maple Mountains is a mountain range of the Slovak-Moravian Carpathians that forms part of the border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia....
and White Carpathians
White Carpathians
The White Carpathians is the westernmost mountain range of the Carpathian Mountains.They are part of the Slovak-Moravian Carpathians, stretching from the Váh river and the Little Carpathians in the south along the border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the Morava and the Javorníky range...
mountains.
Parts:
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History
Historically, the town was settled since time immemorial (finds from the Palaeolithic, Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
, La Tène period, Roman period) and the extensive La Tène and Roman period settlements gave name to the archaeological Púchov culture
Púchov culture
The Púchov culture was an archaeological culture named after site of Púchov-Skalka in Slovakia. Its probable bearer was the Celt Cotini tribe. It existed in northern and central Slovakia between the 2nd century BCE and the 1st century CE...
, which also extends to Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
and Poland. The first written reference dates back to 1243, the town status stems from 1471. Many Czech and Moravian refugees (Moravian Brethren) settled in the town after the Battle of White Mountain
Battle of White Mountain
The Battle of White Mountain, 8 November 1620 was an early battle in the Thirty Years' War in which an army of 30,000 Bohemians and mercenaries under Christian of Anhalt were routed by 27,000 men of the combined armies of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor under Charles Bonaventure de Longueval,...
and in the 17th century. The Brethren became famous throughout the Kingdom of Hungary for the production of soft drapery.
Demographics
According to the 2001 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, the town had 18,833 inhabitants. 97.4% of inhabitants were Slovaks
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
, 1.3% Czechs
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
and 0.2% Roma. The religious make-up was 71.4% Roman Catholics, 13.8% Lutherans, and 11.3% people with no religious affiliation.
Economy
It is a strong industry base - home to MatadorMatador (company)
Matador, a.s. is a multinational car tire producer based in Púchov, Slovakia, as well as the corresponding group of companies. It is one of the most successful domestic companies of Slovakia and one of major global tire producers....
and Continental plants, producers of tyres, and Makyta, a producer of fashion clothes. Matador
Matador (disambiguation)
A matador is the central bullfighter who must kill the bull.Matador may also refer to:-Film and TV:* Matador a 1986 film directed by Pedro Almodóvar* Matador , a Danish TV series...
is a 20 minute walk from the train station in Púchov, while the city center is a 10 minute walk in the other direction.
Sport
The sport number one in the town is soccer. The local team FK Matador PúchovFK Matador Púchov
FK Púchov is a Slovak football club, playing in the town of Púchov.In July 2006, the club lost its main sponsor, Matador a.s., and was renamed FK Púchov.- Historical names :* 1920 - Športový klub Puchov* 1945 - ŠK Rolný Púchov...
had several successful seasons in the Slovak highest league, but currently is only in the Slovak second league. Among other sports, there has been a long tradition of swimming. Several of the best swimmers made it to the European championship.
Some other sport clubs worth mentioning are the volleyball and handball one.
The local ice hockey team is actually the Slovak National Ice Hockey Team under 20. The team named "Slovakia 20" is a permanent member of the highest Ice Hockey league. This was done as an experiment to help the young players to get more tough matches and increase their motivation.
Culture and education
The town has several high schools and a branch of the Slovak University of TechnologySlovak University of Technology in Bratislava
Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava is the most significant university of technology in Slovakia.- University structure :* Faculty of Civil Engineering* Faculty of Mechanical Engineering...
.
External links
- http://www.puchov.sk - official website (in Slovak)
- http://www.matador.sk
- http://www.makyta.sk