Kremnica

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Kremnica
coat of arms map
Kremnica coat of arms
Kremnica (Slovakia)
Kremnica
Kremnica
Basic data
State : Slovakia
Kraj : Banskobystrický kraj
Okres : Žiar nad Hronom
Region : Pohrony
Area : 43.136 km²
Residents : 5,258 (Dec 31, 2019)
Population density : 122 inhabitants per km²
Height : 550  m nm
Postal code : 967 01
Telephone code : 0 45
Geographic location : 48 ° 42 '  N , 18 ° 55'  E Coordinates: 48 ° 42 '16 "  N , 18 ° 55' 6"  E
License plate : ZH
Kód obce : 516970
structure
Community type : city
Administration (as of November 2018)
Mayor : Alexander Ferenčík
Address: Mestský úrad Kremnica
Štefánikovo nám. 1/1
96701 Kremnica
Website: www.kremnica.sk
Statistics information on statistics.sk

Kremnica , German 'Kremnitz' , Hungarian Körmöcbánya , is a town and former mountain town in central Slovakia . It has 5258 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019) and an area of ​​43.136 km². The history of the town of Kremnica is closely related to gold mining. In the Middle Ages and in modern times it was one of the most important mining towns in the world ("Golden Kremnitz").

geography

location

The city center of Kremnica

Kremnica lies at an altitude of 564  m nm and the area of ​​the municipality covers 43,136 km². The city is located in the Kremnitzer Mountains (Slovak Kremnické vrchy ) on the Kremnický potok (German Kremnitzer Bach ), which is a tributary to the Gran (Slovak Hron ). The place is about 20 km west of Banská Bystrica (Neusohl), 45 km south of Martin and 175 km east of Bratislava .

City view in winter

City structure

The town consists of the districts Grobňa , Mláky , Peklo , Revolta , Srnia lúka , Šachta Ludovika ( Ludwigschacht ), Šachta Michal ( Michaelsschacht ), Šibeničný vrch ( Galgenberg ), Šturc ( Sturz ) and Veterník ( Legendel , 1808–1888 and since 1924 incorporated). The municipality Horná Ves (German Windischdorf ) was part of Kremnica 1808–1888, 1952–1957 and 1980–1997, the communities Krahule (German Blaufuß ), Kremnické Bane (German Johannesberg ) and Lúčky (German Honneshau ) 1980–1992.

population

The decline in population around 1900 can be explained by the fact that the municipality had previously been reduced by several villages. In 1900 these had 5043 inhabitants (including 4185 Germans, 771 Slovaks, 85 Hungarians).

Ethnic structure
year Residents Slovaks German Hungary Others
1880 8,550 1,846 6.178 268 258
1890 9,179 2.118 6,485 527 49
1900 4,306 1,485 1,950 858 13
1910 4,515 1,482 1,514 1,501 18th
1921 4,805 3,222 886 402 -
1930 5,389 4,270 715 136 -
1991 7.130 6,748 148 36 -
2001 5,822 5,575 69 - -
2011 5,601 4,903 45 - -

Ethnic composition (2001)

Religious affiliation

history

Plague column
View of the city and castle (1729)

Although direct evidence of settlement is scarce, it is assumed that the oldest tunnels and shafts date from the 8th and 9th centuries. The first documentary mention under the name Cremnychbana comes from the year 1328. With this document the Hungarian King Charles I Robert gives the place Cremnychbana the rights and obligations of a royal free town . Among other things, the new city was given the right to elect a judge and the city council, to exercise the mining business freely, and to receive all land and forests within a 2 mile radius. At the same time, the mint was founded (see below), which began operations as early as 1329. In addition to the already resident Slavic and German population, there were also other settlers, some from the surrounding mountain towns, some from abroad (Italy, Bavaria, Austria, Silesia, Bohemia and Flanders). The first coin minters were invited from the Bohemian Kuttenberg . In a short time, the city became the seat of the royal mining and minting chamber as well as the chamber count (up to the 16th century), who administered mining and mints in 12 counties .

In addition to mining and the mint, other economic areas were also important: According to a tax register from the years 1442-43, 135 craftsmen were active in the city, who later joined together in guilds (first mentioned in 1465). At that time, around 3500 people lived in the city. Together with other mining towns of Schemnitz , Neusohl, Königsberg , Pukanz , Dilln and Libethen , Kremnitz was one of the seven Lower Hungarian mining towns.

In the 16th and 17th centuries there was a decline in gold mining, partly due to technical difficulties (deep mining, flooded shafts) and partly due to political events (Turkish wars, anti-Habsburg uprisings). At the same time, the mining and minting chamber lost its importance and was subordinated to the Habsburg court chamber in Vienna from the 17th century, while the chambergrave moved his seat to Schemnitz. Thanks to the rapid development of mining technology, there was an upswing in the 18th century, but Kremnitz could no longer achieve the leading role and after the end of the 18th century there was a renewed decline. However, deep mining was not stopped until 1970.

In the 19th century, 6100 mostly German residents lived in the mountain town, which was world-famous for its gold and silver mines. In 1876 the free town of Kremnitz in the Hungarian Bars county received a magistrate.

In 2017, Kremnica was awarded the honorary title of “ Reformation City of Europe ” by the Community of Evangelical Churches in Europe .

Mint

The right of a coin also dates from 1328 . In this mint, the Mincovňa Kremnica , so-called floras were initially minted according to the pattern of the coins of the city of Florence . However, they were soon renamed ducats . Over the centuries, the mint developed into one of the largest mints in Austria-Hungary and is now one of the oldest still operating companies of this type worldwide ( mint mark : MK in a circle).

In addition to the coins for Czechoslovakia , the Slovak crowns were also minted, as were the euro coins . In 2008, 500 million coins were issued for the euro changeover. In addition, coins are minted for almost 60 other countries. These coins are exhibited in a building from 1430 that has been used as a museum.

Attractions

In the fortified city center there is a castle and a Gothic castle church of St. Anna from the 13th century, the St. Elisabeth church (14th century) and the house of Queen Maria . There is also a Franciscan monastery built in 1634.

Economy and Infrastructure

traffic

The main road 65 from Žiar nad Hronom to Martin leads through the village. Kremnica station is on the railway line (Salgótarján–) Zvolen – Vrútky (Hatvan-Rutka).

Established businesses

In addition to the state mint ( Mincovňa Kremnica ) there are the Elba and Elka companies and the Kremnica mines.

education

In the city there are 1 high school, 2 elementary schools, the art school J. L. Bel and a kindergarten.

sons and daughters of the town

Twin cities

literature

  • Eduard Windakiewicz: Gold and silver mining in Kremnitz in Hungary. In: Yearbook of the Imperial Geological Institute. Born 16. Vienna 1866, pp. 217–268 ( opac.geologie.ac.at [PDF; 3.6 MB]).

Web links

Commons : Kremnica  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Municipal Statistics. (No longer available online.) Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, archived from the original on November 25, 2005 ; accessed on January 19, 2008 (English): "As of December 31, 2005 [sic!]" .
  2. ↑ Gábor Máté, Az alsó-magyarországi bányavárosok Etnikai Kepenek Történeti és Földrajzi vizsgálata in: Földrajzi Értesítő 2007. LVI. évf. 3-4, p. 191
  3. ↑ O Kremnici. In: kremnica.sk, accessed on January 26, 2012 (Slovak).
  4. ^ Reformation city Kremnica. Slovakia. Lateral thinkers and orthodox. In: reformation-cities.org/cities, accessed on September 8, 2017 (city portrait on the history of the Reformation in Kremnica).
  5. ^ Museum of Coins and Medals in Kremnica. In: kremnica.sk, accessed on October 25, 2010 (Slovak, English).