Blatnica, Slovakia

Blatnica
Municipality
Blatnica on the foot of the Greater Fatra Range
Blatnica on the foot of the Greater Fatra Range
Flag of Blatnica
Blatnica is located in Žilina Region
Blatnica
Blatnica
Location of Blatnica in the Žilina Region
Blatnica is located in Slovakia
Blatnica
Blatnica
Location of Blatnica in Slovakia
Coordinates: 48°56′13″N 18°55′36″E / 48.93694°N 18.92667°E / 48.93694; 18.92667
Country Slovakia
Region Žilina Region
DistrictMartin District
First mentioned1120
Area
 • Total
86.18 km2 (33.27 sq mi)
Elevation495 m (1,624 ft)
Population
 (2025)[2]
 • Total
1,065
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
381 5[3]
Area code+421 43[3]
Vehicle registration plate (until 2022)MT
Websitewww.blatnica.sk

Blatnica (1927–1946 Turčianska Blatnica, Hungarian: Blatnica) is a village and municipality in the Turiec region of Slovakia. Administratively it is a part of the Martin District in the Žilina Region. The village is situated under the Greater Fatra Range, at the opening of the spectacular karst Gader and Blatnica valleys. The ruins of the Blatnica Castle lie on a low ridge over the village.

Etymology

The name means "a muddy place" (Slovak: blato - mud).[4]

Geography

The municipality lies at an altitude of 495 metres (1,624 ft)[3] and covers an area of 86.18 km2 (33.27 sq mi) (2025).[5]

History

Blatnica is an important archaeological site, where Slavic tumuli with many precious artifacts (such as the famous Blatnica Sword) from the 8th and 9th centuries have been found. The site gave name to the so-called "Blatnica-Mikulčice" archaeological horizon. The first written mention stems from 1230, however, the castle was built at the end of the 13th century. Before the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918, it was part of Turóc County within the Kingdom of Hungary. From 1939 to 1945, it was part of the Slovak Republic.

Blatnica sword
Great Moravian sword from Blatnica, unearthed in the 19th century, originally interpreted as a burial equipment from a "ducal" mound

Culture

The first Slovak female botanist Izabela Textorisová lived in Blatnica and her rich herbarium contains plants of the nearby Tlstá mountain. Both Textorisová's house and a museum dedicated to the ethnographer, filmmaker, and photographer Karol Plicka are open to the public. Other places of interest include two manor houses from the 18th century, a classicist Lutheran church and many well-preserved rural houses.

Population

Population statistic (10 years)[6]
Year1995200520152025
Count8488819101065
Difference +3.89% +3.29% +17.03%
Population statistic[6]
Year20242025
Count10741065
Difference−0.83%

It has a population of 1065 people (31 December 2025).[7]

Ethnicity

Census 2021 (1+ %)[8][9]
EthnicityNumberFraction
Slovak99297.15%
Not found out151.46%
Total1021

In year 2021 was 1021 people by ethnicity 992 as Slovak, 15 as Not found out, 8 as Czech, 6 as Other, 3 as Hungarian, 2 as Rusyn, 2 as Romanian, 2 as German, 1 as Ukrainian and 1 as English.

Note on population: The difference values of population numbers in the table "Population statistic" and in the sections "Ethnicity" & "Religion" is caused by the use of various statistical methods.

Religion

Census 2021 (1+ %)[10]
ReligionNumberFraction
Evangelical Church40439.57%
None31330.66%
Roman Catholic Church26425.86%
Not found out282.74%
Total1021

In year 2021 was 1021 people by religion 404 from Evangelical Church, 313 from None, 264 from Roman Catholic Church, 28 from Not found out, 3 from Greek Catholic Church, 2 from Ad hoc movements, 1 from Jewish community, 1 from Other and not ascertained christian church, 1 from Islam, 1 from Other, 1 from Hinduism, 1 from United Methodist Church and 1 from Buddhism.

According to the 2001 census, 99% of inhabitants were Slovaks.[11] Blatnica is one of few villages with a Lutheran absolute majority (58.6%) in the predominantly Roman Catholic Slovakia.

See also

  • List of municipalities and towns in Slovakia

References

  1. ^ "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_obc=AREAS_SK, v_om7014rr_ukaz=Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  2. ^ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  3. ^ a b c d "Základná charakteristika". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  4. ^ Krajčovič, Rudolf (2007). "Z lexiky stredovekej slovenčiny s výkladmi názvov obcí a miest (3)". Kultúra slova (in Slovak) (3). Martin: Vydavateľstvo Matice slovenskej: 154.
  5. ^ "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_obc=AREAS_SK, v_om7014rr_ukaz=Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  6. ^ a b "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  7. ^ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  8. ^ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  9. ^ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  10. ^ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  11. ^ "Municipal Statistics". Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Archived from the original on 2007-11-16. Retrieved 2007-12-08.

Genealogical resources

The records for genealogical research are available at the state archive "Statny Archiv in Bytca, Slovakia"

  • Roman Catholic church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1777-1949 (parish B)
  • Lutheran church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1785-1929 (parish A)