Zvolen

Zvolen (Zólyom; Altsohl) is a city in central Slovakia, situated on the confluence of Hron and Slatina rivers. It is famous for several historical and cultural attractions. It is surrounded by Poľana mountain from the East, by Kremnické vrchy from the West and by Javorie and Štiavnické vrchy from the South.

The population numbers approximately 40,000, which makes it the twelfth-largest city in Slovakia by population, thirteenth by size. It is the center of the Podpoľanie historical region and the seat of a county (Zvolen District). It is also an important transportation hub in Slovakia, being one of the four central train stations in Slovakia (others are Bratislava, Košice and Žilina).

Etymology
The name is of Slovak (Slavic) origin meaning "the chosen one, splendid, excellent". The Hungarian Zólyom and the German Sohl were derived from the Latinized form Zolium (earliest mention 1135). An adjective "Old" (Altsohl, Starý Zvolen, Antiquum or Vetus Solium) distinguish Zvolen from Banská Bystrica (Neusohl meaning New Zvolen).

History
Zvolen has been inhabited since the Paleolithic. In the ninth century, a Slavic settlement (today the Môťová neighborhood) became a regional center of what is now central Slovakia. Zvolen remained the capital of Zólyom County until the 1760s. In the 11th and 12th centuries, one of the largest medieval castles in Europe, Pustý hrad, was constructed. The town, originally built under the castle, lay on an important trade route (Via Magna) from Buda to Kraków. Zvolen was granted town privileges by King Béla IV in the 1230s - as one of the first towns in the Kingdom of Hungary. The privileges were confirmed on 28 December 1243, after the original document was destroyed in war. Later, King Louis I the Great built a new castle, which became a popular hunting resort of the Hungarian kings. The future queen regnant Mary of Hungary and emperor Sigismund celebrated their wedding there in 1385.

In the Rákóczi's War of Independence the Kuruc army in the battle of Zvolen defeated the enemy forces from Austria, Denmark, Vojvodina and Hungary.

In 1848–49, Ľudovít Štúr was a member of the Diet, with Zvolen as his constituency. In 1871–1872, two new railways were built and Zvolen became an important railroad hub and important industrial center. Zvolen played an important role during the Slovak National Uprising. Two of its armored trains, which were made in the local railway manufactory, Hurban and Štefánik can be seen near the Zvolen castle.

Zvolen is an important railroad, an important road hub and has a large timber factory and a technical university, the Technická univerzita vo Zvolene. An airport in nearby Sliač used to offer direct flights to Prague, but has been used exclusively by the military since 2021.

The town square was modernized in 2002 and local businesses are popular with tourists. In wintertime an ice rink is constructed in the center and festive celebrations run throughout December.

Demographics
Zvolen currently has a population of 39 453. For comparison, in 2005, Zvoled had a population of 43,147. According to the 2001 census, 95.9% of inhabitants were Slovaks and 1.2% Czechs. The religious make-up was 52.5% Roman Catholics, 26.4% people with no religious affiliation, and 15% Lutherans.

Castles
Zvolen's paramount landmark, the Zvolenský zámok Castle, stands as a significant symbol of the city's historical and cultural heritage. Within its venerable walls, the Slovak National Gallery curates a distinguished collection spanning Gothic to modern art, offering visitors an immersive experience in artistic evolution. Notably, since its establishment in 1974, the castle's courtyard has been the esteemed venue for the Zámocké hry zvolenské, an annual outdoor professional theatre festival of great renown. This cultural tradition underscores the castle's pivotal role as a nexus of artistic expression and community engagement in the region.

The oldest castle in Zvolen is Pustý hrad Castle. Covering an area of over four hectares, it ranks among the most extensive castle ruins not only in Slovakia but also in Central Europe. Due to the largely concealed state of the preserved ruins from the city of Zvolen, a portion of the hill of Horný hrad was cleared of trees. Currently, it is possible not only to observe the castle walls' remnants from Zvolen but also to enjoy the panoramic view of the Zvolenská kotlina basin and the surrounding mountain ranges from Pustý hrad.

Churches
The dominant feature of the main town square in the city center is the isolated building of Roman-Catholic parish Church of St. Elizabeth from the 14th century. The building was later modified in the late Gothic style around the year 1500, and subsequently in the 16th century and the 18th century in the Baroque style.

Another important church is the Lutheran St. Trinity Church. A single-nave originally late Baroque building with a polygonally terminated chancel and a protruding tower from the year 1784. In the years 1856-1857, a tower was built according to the project of František Mikša.

Theatre
The Professional Theatre in central Zvolen commenced operations in 1949 under the name Stredoslovenské divadlo. It was reportedly chosen as one of the region's established institutions due to its contributions during the Slovak National Uprising and to bolster the cultural and industrial fabric of the city. Since 1954, the institution has been known as the Jozef Gregor Theatre.

Trains
The dominating feature of the eastern part of the town centre is the model of the Hurban armoured train as a memorial to the Slovak National Uprising which is situated in the park between the Castle and the main Zvolen osobná railway station. It was manufactured in 1944 in the railway workshops of Zvolen.

The Historic Technology Club at Zvolen's Locomotive Depot is a non-profit organization founded in 1998. It's dedicated to preserving railway history and showcasing historic vehicles through events like nostalgic rides and exhibitions. The club has restored various locomotives and expanded the museum vehicle park. It also co-organizes the annual Grand Prix steam locomotive races in Zvolen.

Ice Hockey
The ice hockey club HKM Zvolen is the third most successful hockey club in Slovakia. It plays in Slovakia's highest league, the Slovak Extraliga, and has won three titles in 2001, 2012 and 2021. Another noteworthy achievement is winning the IIHF Continental Cup in 2005. Since 1965, their home is the Zvolen Ice Stadium which has a capacity of 5,345 spectators.

The Slovak Women's Ice Hockey Extraliga is played by the local club ŽHKm Zvolen, which is a female alternative of the HKM Zvolen.

Football
The football club MFK Zvolen is a Slovak football team, based in the town of Zvolen. The club was established in 1902. The club plays home matches at MFK Zvolen Stadium in Zvolen which has a capacity of 1 870 spectators. As of the 2022/2023 season it competes in the Slovak Third League (West), the third-tier of Slovak football.

Technická univerzita vo Zvolene
The higher degree college was founded in 1952 and initially named the College of Forestry and Wood Technology. In 1991, it attained university status and underwent a name change to become the Technical University in Zvolen. It is a member of the European Forest Institute.

In the field of education, it fulfills its mission in study programs such as forestry, wood processing, ecology, and environmental studies, production engineering, as well as in related artistic, economic, natural science, and technical fields, with an emphasis on the representation of second and third-degree study programs, accreditation, and the implementation of programs in foreign languages.

The university has the following faculties:
 * Faculty of Forestry
 * Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences
 * Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology
 * Faculty of Environmental and Manufacturing Technology

Transport
The largest town in central Pohronie, Zvolen, boasts a highly advantageous transportation location. Situated at the intersection of key national roadways (R1, R2) and significant railway routes of nationwide importance, it also enjoys proximity to the international Sliač Airport. This strategic positioning enhances its accessibility and connectivity, making it a pivotal hub for transportation and commerce within the region.

The Zvolen Railway Junction is one of the four main establishment stations (Bratislava, Košice, Žilina, Zvolen) in the network of Slovak Railways (ŽSR). It comprises multiple stations and stops (Zvolen osobná railway station, Zvolen City Station, Zvolen Freight Station). The main station is a dual-aisle building inspired by ancient temples, featuring a colonnade and a large basilica-style glazing.

Notable people

 * Bálint Balassi (1554–1594), poet and nobleman
 * Karol Beck (born 1982), tennis player
 * Michal Chovan (born 1987), ice hockey player
 * Jozef Cíger-Hronský (1896–1960), writer
 * Dalibor Dvorský (born 2005), ice hockey player
 * Rebeka Jančová (born 2003), alpine skier
 * Elena Kaliská (born 1972), slalom canoeist
 * Milan Lasica, (1940–2021), actor
 * Ján Lašák (born 1979), ice hockey player
 * Vladimír Mečiar (born 1942), politician, PM (1990-1991, 1992-1994, 1994-1998)
 * Ľudovít Štúr (1815–1856), politician, linguist, writer
 * František Velecký (1936–2003), actor
 * Peter Zuzin (1990), ice hockey player

Twin towns — sister cities
Zvolen is a member of the Douzelage, a town twinning association of towns across the European Union. This active town twinning began in 1991 and there are regular events, such as a produce market from each of the other countries and festivals. As of 2019, its members are:


 * 🇨🇾 Agros, Cyprus
 * Altea, Spain
 * 🇫🇮 Asikkala, Finland
 * 🇩🇪 Bad Kötzting, Germany
 * 🇮🇹 Bellagio, Italy
 * 🇮🇪 Bundoran, Ireland
 * 🇵🇱 Chojna, Poland
 * 🇫🇷 Granville, France
 * Holstebro, Denmark
 * 🇧🇪 Houffalize, Belgium
 * 🇦🇹 Judenburg, Austria
 * 🇭🇺 Kőszeg, Hungary
 * 🇲🇹 Marsaskala, Malta
 * Meerssen, Netherlands
 * 🇱🇺 Niederanven, Luxembourg
 * 🇸🇪 Oxelösund, Sweden
 * 🇬🇷 Preveza, Greece
 * Rokiškis, Lithuania
 * Rovinj, Croatia
 * Sesimbra, Portugal
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Sherborne, England, United Kingdom
 * Sigulda, Latvia
 * Siret, Romania
 * Škofja Loka, Slovenia
 * 🇨🇿 Sušice, Czech Republic
 * 🇧🇬 Tryavna, Bulgaria
 * 🇪🇪 Türi, Estonia


 * Other twinnings


 * 🇫🇮 Imatra, Finland
 * 🇵🇱 Zwoleń, Poland
 * 🇨🇿 Prachatice, Czech Republic
 * 🇭🇺 Tótkomlós, Hungary
 * 🇺🇦 Rivne, Ukraine