Liptovský Mikuláš

Liptovský Mikuláš is a town in northern Slovakia which is the capital of Liptovský Mikuláš district. The town's population is about 32,000 persons and it is located on the right bank of Váh river, in the centre of Liptov Basin surrounded by the Low Tatra (Nízke Tatry) mountain range, the Western Tatras (Západné Tatry) and the Choč Mountains (Chočské vrchy).

The large Slovak settlement existed there before the XIIIth century. Liptovský Mikuláš was first mentioned in the document in 1286. In the first half of the XIVth century the town was given the right of free trade and later the landlord Pongrác ordered to build defensive walls to protect the town around the city. The XVIIth century signified the intensive economic growth in Liptovský Mikuláš. At that time the great role was played by the craft unions of tailors, blacksmiths, furriers and millers.

There also formed a large Jewish community engaged in trading of wood, leather and alcohol. In the XIXth century the town became a centre of social and political life of Slovakia. Here was established the first Slovak public library (1829), the first amateur theatre (1830) and Tatrin cultural association (1840) which was the predecessor of famous "Matica slovenská". Here was also revealed a document called "The demands of Slovak nation" (1848) which was the first political plan of Slovaks.

Nowadays Liptovský Mikuláš is a significant administrative, cultural and tourist centre. In winter here come lots of winter sports lovers, in summer — water lovers and fishermen. Here you can find one of the biggest and most interesting aquaparks in Europe — Tatralandia.