Smižany (Hungarian: Szepessümeg, German: Schmögen) is a large village and municipality in the Spišská Nová Ves District in the Košice Region of central-eastern Slovakia.

Smižany
Village
Flag of Smižany
Coat of arms of Smižany
Smižany is located in Slovakia
Smižany
Smižany
Location of Smižany in Slovakia
Coordinates: 48°57′20″N 20°31′45″E / 48.95556°N 20.52917°E / 48.95556; 20.52917
CountrySlovakia
RegionKošice
DistrictSpišská Nová Ves
Area
 • Total
45.70[2] km2 (17.64[2] sq mi)
Elevation
479[3] m (1,572[3] ft)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
8,796[1]
Postal code
053 11[3]
Area code+421 53[3]
Car plateSN
Websitewww.smizany.sk

With a population of over 8,500 people as of 2021, Smižany is the largest village in Slovakia (a village being defined as a municipality that does not have town status). Smižany is situated directly adjacent to the town of Spišská Nová Ves and the two municipalities form a contiguous urban area, one of the main population centers in Eastern Slovakia.

History

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Excavations in Čingov, just south of the village, have found traces of Stone Age settlement. The village was settled by German settlers in 1242. There is a Romanesque church of the 13th century.

Geography

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The village lies at an altitude of 485 metres and covers an area of 45.704 km². In 2011 had a population of 8698 inhabitants and is the largest municipality without a town status in Slovakia.

Cultural attractions

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  • Čingov castle, an archaeological site that encompasses a set of Slavic forts from the 9th century. Monuments found in the castle confirm the settlement was founded during the Stone Age. The name The castle was composed of an acropolis on the cliff and a smaller fort on the western and northeastern parts. During the examination of the main area under the castle, the northern rampart and 90 m of the western rampart were almost completely exposed. Archaeological excavations continue to be performed at this location.[5]

Twin towns — sister cities

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Smižany is twinned with:[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne)". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  2. ^ a b "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_ukaz: Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  3. ^ a b c d "Základná charakteristika". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  4. ^ a b "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  5. ^ "SLOVENSKÝ RAJ - internetový portál o Slovenskom raji". 2020-08-12. Archived from the original on 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  6. ^ "Základné údaje". smizany.sk (in Slovak). Obec Smižany. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
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