Martin

Martin (Slovak: Turčiansky Svätý Martin until 1950, Hungarian: Turócszentmárton, German: Turz-Sankt Martin, Latin: Sanctus Martinus / Martinopolis) is a city in northern Slovakia, situated on the Turiec river, under the Malá Fatra mountains, near the city of Žilina. The population numbers approximately 61,000, which makes it the eighth largest city in Slovakia. It is the center of the Turiec region and the District of Martin.

History

The first recorded reference to Martin in written sources is dated to 1264 under the name of Zenthmarton. The settlement was granted the status of a royal town in 1340.

In the turbulent 15th century, Martin suffered from many disasters, for example from the attack of the Hussites in 1433, when the town was burned down. Just 10 years later, it was destroyed again by an earthquake and the Martin started to be slowly degraded from royal town to the privileged town and under direct influence of the Révay family.

Since the 18th century, Martin became centre of the Turiec county

The town became the foremost Slovak cultural center in the 19th century. Several cultural institutions (including Slovak Matica and Slovak National Museum) were founded there. Most political activities leading to the Slovak national emancipation in the 19th and early 20th centuries were organized in or from Martin. The town was also industrialized at this time. The first printing works were established in 1869, the furniture factory Tatra nábytok in 1890, and so on.

The town lost its importance after Bratislava became the capital of Slovakia in 1918. Today, it is the seat of the Slovak National Library and Slovak Matica.

National Council of the Slovak Republic solemnly declared the City of Martin the center of national culture of the Slovaks on August 24, 1994.