Jump to content

Stará Bystrica

Coordinates: 49°21′N 18°57′E / 49.35°N 18.95°E / 49.35; 18.95
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stará Bystrica
Stará Bystrica astronomical clock
Stará Bystrica astronomical clock
Flag of Stará Bystrica
Stará Bystrica is located in Žilina Region
Stará Bystrica
Stará Bystrica
Location of Stará Bystrica in the Žilina Region
Stará Bystrica is located in Slovakia
Stará Bystrica
Stará Bystrica
Location of Stará Bystrica in Slovakia
Coordinates: 49°21′N 18°57′E / 49.35°N 18.95°E / 49.35; 18.95
Country Slovakia
Region Žilina Region
DistrictČadca District
First mentioned1662
Area
 • Total
36.91 km2 (14.25 sq mi)
Elevation487 m (1,598 ft)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total
2,801
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
230 4[2]
Area code+421 41[2]
Car plateCA
Websitewww.starabystrica.sk/sk/

Stará Bystrica (Hungarian: Óbeszterce) is a village and municipality in Čadca District in the Žilina Region of Northern Slovakia. It is the home to one of the world's youngest astronomical clocks, completed in 2009.[4][5]

History

[edit]

In historical records, the village was first mentioned in 1417.

Geography

[edit]

The municipality lies at an altitude of 484 metres and covers an area of 36.909 km². As of 2004, its population was 2,679.

Astronomical clock

[edit]

During the reconstruction of the town square, an astronomical clock was built in the municipality; it was completed in 2009.

The astronomical clock has the shape of a stylized form of Our Lady of Sorrows, patron of Slovakia; it has been described as the largest wooden statue of Slovakia. Its exterior is decorated by statues of important figures from Slovakia's history: Prince Pribina, King Svatopluk, Anton Bernolák, Ľudovít Štúr, Milan Rastislav Štefánik, Andrej Hlinka. Each hour, statuettes of saints connected with Slovakia appear: Cyril, Methodius, Andrew-Zorard, Benedict, Gorazd, Bystrík and Adalbert. The bells of the clock carry the names Sv. Juraj (St. George) and Riečnická Madona (Our Lady of Riečnica); the first is rung to indicate the time, the second accompanies the saints.

The astronomical part of the clock consists of an astrolabe displaying the astrological signs, positions of the Sun and Moon, and the lunar phases. The clock is controlled by computer using DCF77 signals.[4][6]

Notes and references

[edit]
  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ a b c "Základná charakteristika". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  3. ^ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne)". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  4. ^ a b Slovenský orloj v Starej Bystrici Archived 2013-12-10 at the Wayback Machine, municipality official website (in Slovak)
  5. ^ The Youngest and Most Accurate Astronomical Clock Is in Slovakia
  6. ^ Pražský orloj - Orloje v zahraničí (Prague Astronomical Clock - Foreign clocks, in Czech)
  • Stará Bystrica a okolie by Oskár Dubovický and Ján Podmanický. Published by Print-Servis Bratislava 1998. (in Slovak) ISBN 80-88755-81-6.

References

[edit]