Smižany

48°57′20″N 20°31′45″E / 48.95556°N 20.52917°E / 48.95556; 20.52917CountrySlovakiaRegionKošiceDistrictSpišská Nová VesArea • Total45.70^[2] km² (17.64^[2] sq mi)Elevation479^[3] m (1,572^[3] ft)Population • Total8,796^[1]Postal codeArea code+421 53^[3]Car plateSNWebsitewww.smizany.sk

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.

History

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

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

• 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

Smižany is twinned with:^[6]

• Borsodnádasd, Hungary
• Kamienica, Poland
• Komorniki, Poland

References

External links

• Municipal website (in Slovak)
• [1]