Detva became a town only later, although it kept its rural character also during the first years after the First World War.
The central Slovak town of Detva was officially founded rather recently in the 17th century. Other towns of importance had already been functioning for 400 years by then, connected especially to mining.
Detva, on the other hand, is closely connected with the settlement of the countryside by shepherds, who had been arriving here continually since the 14th century. They created a vast settlement of hilly hamlets which naturally built up a centre – and this is how Detva came into existence. It became a town only later, although it kept its rural character also during the first years after the First World War, as can be seen in this postcard, dating to this period.
However, these places were settled long before Detva appeared. The nearby rock formation of Kaľamárka, today a popular site for both hikers and climbers, has been a settled place since at least late Bronze Age, by Celt tribes.
Long ago, in prehistoric times, nature played here and created a columnar andesite ledge with a plateau on top. This is protected from three sides by vertical rock walls, eight to 25 metres in height. Thus, Kaľamárka offered exceptional protection to its inhabitants.
During the time of Great Moravia (833 - 907 BC) up until after the Mediaeval Ages, a fortified settlement here used to guard the mountain pass until the pass was no longer so strategically important.
This article was originally published by The Slovak Spectator on November 3, 2014. It has been updated to be relevant today.
