Považská Bystrica and its surroundings

Area: total (including local parts) 463 sq km
Population: 43 249
Density of population: 142 people/sq km
Altitude: 288 m a. s. l.
Annual average temperature: 8,2 °C
Total annual rain fall: 780 mm
The highest point: Veľký Javorník (1 071 m a. s. l.), Strážov 1213 m a. s. l. The lowest point: cadastre of Udiča village (280 m a. s. l.)
Number of municipalities: 28

Introduction

The district of Považská Bystrica is situated in north-west Slovakia and is the northest district of Trenčín region. It neighbours with district of Púchov and Bytča. Northern border of the district is also boundary with Czech Republic. The centre of the district is made up by Podmanín hilly country, surrounded from the north-west by Javorníky and from the south-east by Súľovské and Strážovské hills. The biggest river here is the River Váh that is emptied here by 3 tributories – Papradnianka, Domanižanka and Mariková Creek. One water dam of Váh Cascade is in Nimnica – The Dam of Youth.
Považská Bystrica is the only district without boundary crossing. The motorway from Bratislava ends just in front of Považská Bystrica and it´s being built.

History

The first written document about the village is dated on 13th July 1330 but it was inhabited before. Many archeological findings recently discovered tribe of Lužická and Púchovská cultures. The Slavonic Nation of Great Moravia formed part of the town´s territory. History of Považská Bystrica is linked to its castle, which was built in 13th century on a hill near Považská Bystrica. The town was burned down by Hussite soldiers in 1432 and all village´s documents were destroyed. Therefore the King Žigmund restored town´s privileges on 23rd April 1435. The King Matej Korvín gave the town and castle to Ladislava Podmanický in 1458. Since then Podmanický Family reigned in Bystrica castle for 100 years. Ladislav´s son Ján had a gothic church built in the town. On 2nd January 1506 he published the first official document „articuli Podmanickyani“ which was written in Slovak language. In this document butchers, weaves, black smiths and shoe makers were mentioned. Považská Bystrica was (along with Varín) the only town in Slovakia where the guild´s masters spoke exclusively Slovak language. The town began to develop at the ind of 19th century. A tin factory, a destillery, some mills and other smaller factories were built.

The town´s development reached a peak in 1928 when a subsidiary of weapon´s factory in Brno was set up.





Industry and agriculture

Development of employment rate and structure of economy in the town and district was considerably influenced by liquidation of special production and agriculture cooperations in 1989. Suppress of production in Považské Engineering Works, which predominated in sphere of economic, social and cultural development of the town in 1989, subsequently effected system that was dependent on this factory. This stimulated rise of enterprising in various spheres. A few agriculture cooperations are situated in nearby villages.
Považská Bystrica is centre of many institutions of state administretion, social organizations and 7 banks. There are 10 basic schools, 2 vocational schools, one grammar school and 4 special schools.
There are about 60 retail shops, 6 supermarkets and 1 hypermarket, next one is being built.

Historical monuments

Architectonic curiosity is absence of historical centre of the town. This is the result of complete city betterment which started in 1966 and therefore the building of Považská library, built in 1900 remained the oldest worldly building in the town.

Bystrický castle
It was built in 13th century. Now we can see only ruins. The renowned owner were plundering knights – brothers Ján and Rafael Podmanickí. The castle is well accessable from nearby village. It offers us a beautiful view on surroundings.

Mansion House in Orlové
Rises of history of the manor house are linked with Bystrický castle. Son of Andrej Balaša, Žigmund had the building built in renaissance style in 1612. It burned down in 1616 and in 1733 rebuilt in baroque style. Arcade yard was supplemented with central fountain with baroque elements. One part of interior is the chapel of St. Ján Nepomucký and messes take place here till now. The mansion was opened for public on 1st May 1984. Downstairs the Ethnographic museum is situated, upstairs there are representative halls and rooms. The mansion house is surrounded by a nice park where a mini ZOO used to be.
The Ethnographic Museum – has botanical, zoological and ethnographical collections. That makes 20 000 objects. Archeological exposition documents development of inhabitation in the region. It documents history of Považské Engineering Works as well.

Roman Catholic church „Visitation of Virgin Mary“
The church was built in 14th century on order of Ján Podmanický – the master of Bystrický castle. Originally the curch of Gothic style was single-nave. In the 17th century it was reconstructed in Renaissance style. In 1940 another modern shaped belltower was erected together with another two naves.

Epitaphs of Rafael Podmanický (1558), Žigmund Balaša and his wife are situated in the lobby of the church. St. Helen Chapel
We can find this baroque sacral building on a hill in the height of 391 m a. s. l. in a modern quarter. The capel is surrounded with limes, one of them is 250 years old.



Folk architecture
Over millennia the streams of Javorníky, have modelled deep valleys: we can get to two of them from PB: Papradno and Mariková Valleys. They had been marked by Wallachian colonisation in 16th – 17th century. Even today we can admire the beauties of wooden architecture in villages or solitary homesteads dispersed on sunlit meadows or in the shadow of forests.

Natural beauties

Protected areas
2 Conservation scenic areas: Kysuce, Strážovské hills
4 National nature reserves: Manínska Narrow Gorge, Podskalský Roháč, Strážov, Súľovské hills
3 Natural reserves: Čertov, Klapy, Kostolecká Narrow Gorge
3 Natural objects: Bosmany, Briestené, Prečínska rock

Manínska Narrow Gorge
In close vicinity of the town between Veľký and Malý Manín mountains the well-kown Manínska Narrow Gorge is situated. The place has been frequently sought for by tourists and natural-history scientists for a long time. The karst gorge has become a popular destination for climbers because of its attractions. The first professional mountain climbers visited this area in 1944. In September 1950 the Local moutain climbers organised the 1st Climbing Day. Kostolecká Narrow Gorge
Also other rock formations in the valley of Manín Brook are worth seeing – Kostolecká Narrow Gorge with the biggest cliff overhang in Slovakia called The Roof of Slovakia (the 1st Nation – wide Rock-Climbing Contest was held here in 1974) together with Bosmany above Kostolec village.

Súľovské hills
Variously formed rocks into towers, walls, windows and needles created a rocky town. Our hitch hike can lead us to Súľov castle, Gothic gate and Hlbocký waterfall. It´s a famous area of climbers a nature lovers.

Nosická Water Dam and Nimnica Spas
The water dam was built in1949-1953 as one of the pieces of Váh Cascade. It´s 8 km long and 1 km wide with area of 5,7 sq km – very good conditions for water sports. Building the water dam a spa of alkaline water was revealed. In 1959 the youngest spas in Slovakia were established for curing respiratory diseases, indigestion and other. Sport facilities

1 sport hall, 1 winter stadium, 1 football stadium.

1 outdoor and 1 indoor swimming pool, 4 fitness centres, 1 sport shooting area, 6 skiing areas, cross country cycling, tennis courts, yachting, horse riding, paragliding, fishing...

Accommodation and catering
3 hotels, 7 boarding houses, 1 camping, 2 recreation centres with cottages, 7 restaurants, 3 pizzerias, 3 night clubs, 2 cafés and about 20 pubs.