History talks, page 8
Learn about Slovak history through stories of interesting people and places.
Composer Franz Liszt had roots going back to Rusovce
THE GRANDPARENTS of famous pianist and composer Franz Liszt came from the current Slovak-Hungarian border region, as the entry in the parish registry of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Maria Magdalena in Rusovce proves.
Bathing with the enemy?
LOOKING at the picture of a neat and prosperous spa in Vyhne, one would be saddened to learn that it no longer exists.
WWI fatalities remembered at Bratislava Military Cemetery
A COMMEMORATION ceremony for soldiers who fought and died in the First World War was held at the military cemetery in the Bratislava borough of Petržalka on November 1, attended by representatives of Bratislava City Hall, foreign embassies, military attaches and the public.
Štúr’s 200th anniversary celebrated in his hometown
THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY of important Slovak political, cultural and revivalist activist Ľudovít Štúr (1815-56) was celebrated on October 24-25 in his hometown of Uhrovec (Trenčín Region), as a culmination of year-long festivities, exhibitions and events commemorating him.
Pride of the Great Hungary
THIS postcard was sent from Liptovský Hrádok in 1900. The publisher, Edgar Schmidt, chose this view, although the town in central-northern Slovakia offers much more picturesque and interesting scenery.
Canadian author recounts parents' experience with the Holocaust in Slovakia
THOUGH she was born in Toronto, Kathy Kacer regularly returns to Slovakia -- the place where her parents survived the Holocaust. Much more than that though, Kacer has turned their life stories into a series of books for children and taken to traveling the world debate the topics with young readers.
The experiment was successful – but no rice cultivated in Slovakia now
DID you know that Slovakia may have been a big player in rice growing? Indeed, beginning in the 1950s the farmers from the Agricultural Co-operative (JRD) Mýtne Ludany harvested a record crop of rice. The best rice grower in the region, Štefan Béres, had an incredible yield of 79.5 quintals per hectare.
The Swimmer Saviour
THE ARTIST Pinggera made a series of paintings of old Bratislava beginning in the 20th century, several of which were published also as period postcards. Pinggera managed to discover the magic of the city’s coves and recesses – which can be seen in this picture.
Unique items from ancient times found in Rusovce
SEVERAL precious items have been discovered by archaeologists during the construction of a sewage system in Rusovce, a suburb of Bratislava. A unique belt made of pure silver dating back to the 2nd-4th centuries AD is of unique value with a historical value beyond measure, said Archaeological Agency general director František Žák Matyasowszky.
Bells resounded again at Krásna Hôrka
THE CASTLE chapel at the Krásna Hôrka Castle regained three bells after the original ones were destroyed by the 2012 fire.
World War II ammunition seems to still be buried in Slovakia
IN SLOVAKIA, reports of arms and ammunition from World War II, mostly still functional, occur quite often even 70 years after the end of the war.
Night of Castles and Ruins helped present ruins of Katarínka monastery
THE EFFORT to present to the public the ruins of St Catherine of Alexandria’s Monastery, called familiarly Katarínka, led volunteers from the eponymous project to organise a cultural programme evening within the Night of Castles and Ruins.
Ťatliak’s lost mountain chalet
THE WESTERN Tatras began welcoming hikers and tourists later than the neighbouring High Tatras. This was mainly due to the mountain range’s remote nature and more difficult accessibility.
Slovak man's story part of Titanic exhibition in Bratislava
THE GLOBAL exhibition displaying the legendary ship Titanic as well as the time when it was built can be seen in Bratislava’s Incheba complex until the beginning of December. Comprising 17 rooms and almost 3,000 square meters, it takes visitors on board the most famous and luxurious ship of its time, and also describes the fates of passengers, both survivors and victims.
Memorial march culminates with international seminar exploring Holocaust
THE VRBA-WETZLER memorial march that follows in the footsteps of the famous Auschwitz refugees who informed the world about the Jewish genocide during World War II will end in Žilina, where experts on holocaust history and intellectuals from Slovakia and the Czech Republic will meet at an international conference and seminar on August 26.
More “Stolpersteine” have been placed into pavements in Banská Bystrica, Bratislava
THE INTERNATIONAL “Stolperstein” (Stumbling Block) project featuring the placing of commemorative stones into pavements before erstwhile homes of victims of Nazi persecution came to Banská Bystrica for the fourth time on August 8.
Memorial march will commemorate the feat of Vrba and Wetzler
IN ONE WEEK'S TIME, the first anniversary of the Vrba-Wetzler Memorial March will commemorate Walter Rosenberg (aka Rudolf Vrba) and Alfred Wetzler, the two Slovaks who brought clear evidence about the Nazi atrocities at Auschwitz to the outside world.
Horse wagon parade should be inscribed on UNESCO intangible-heritage list
THE HORSE wagon parade, the representative event of international folklore festival Jánošíkove dni / Jánošík’s Days, should be included on the list of intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO.
14th century sword found at Pustý Castle
A PERFECTLY preserved 14th century single-edged sword with a wooden handle has been found in a medieval cistern during an archaeological dig at Pustý (meaning Deserted) Castle near Zvolen in Banská Bystrica region.
Slovak hunting history
A CONSIDERABLE part of the territory of today’s Slovakia belonged to the so-called Royal Forests, vast complexes meant primarily for hunting. These reserved hunting grounds were used mostly by the Hungarian emperor and his entourage – this is how the Middle Ages looked when these huge forested areas were used only by the elites of the monarchy.
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