Slovenska Bistrica

Slovenska Bistrica
Town

Liberty Square, the central square in Slovenska Bistrica
Slovenska Bistrica

Location of the town of Slovenska Bistrica in Slovenia

Coordinates: 46°24′N 15°34′E / 46.400°N 15.567°E / 46.400; 15.567Coordinates: 46°24′N 15°34′E / 46.400°N 15.567°E / 46.400; 15.567
Country  Slovenia
Area
 • Total 8.0 km2 (3.1 sq mi)
Population (2012)[1]
 • Total 7,573
 • Density 951/km2 (2,460/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+01)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+02)
Climate Cfb

Slovenska Bistrica (pronounced [slɔˈʋeːnska ˈbiːstɾitsa]; German: Windisch-Feistritz) is a town south of Maribor in eastern Slovenia. It is centre of the Municipality of Slovenska Bistrica, one of the largest municipalities in Slovenia. Traditionally the area was part of the Styria region. The town is included in the Drava Statistical Region.

History

The town was established in the 13th century on the trade road between Maribor and Celje. It was granted market rights in 1313. It was originally called just Bistrica. The present name of Slovenska Bistrica (German: Windisch-Feistritz) first appears in records dating from 1565.[2]

Before 1918, the town had a German-speaking majority (in the last Austrian census of 1910, 57.7% of the inhabitants declared German as their language of daily communication), while the surroundings were almost exclusively Slovene-speaking.[3]

Demographics

The town now has over 6,500 inhabitants and increasing. Many locals commute to Maribor for work, less than an hour's drive away.

Landmarks

The town offers several interesting sights, including Bistrica Castle, churches, a Roman road, Ančnik fort (an Ancient Roman fort) and more. It is also a good starting point for people wishing to hike on Mount Boč, a nearby mountain peak and park.

Parish church

The parish church in the settlement is dedicated to Saint Bartholomew (Slovene: sveti Jernej) and belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Maribor. It is first mentioned in written documents dating to 1240, but was greatly rebuilt and extended in the Baroque style in the 18th century. The belfry dates to the 19th century.[4] Two other larger churches in the town are dedicated to Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows and Saint Joseph. They date to the 15th and 18th centuries.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Slovenska Bistrica". Place Names. Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "Uradna spletna stran Občine Slovenska Bistrica". Slovenska-bistrica.si. 2013-12-04. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  3. ↑
  4. 1 2 Archived July 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
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