Šaštín-Stráže
Encyclopedia
Šaštín-Stráže is a town
in the Senica District
, Trnava Region
in western Slovakia
. Originally two separate villages, now it is one of the youngest towns in Slovakia, having received town privileges
on 1 September 2001.
Lowland, around 18 km (11 mi) from Senica
and 65 km (40 mi) from Bratislava
. The Myjava River
flows through the town, separating its two parts.
border defense of the Hungarian Kingdom. Therefore the village has historical connections with the Székely
ethnic group. Although the town's two parts, Šaštín and Stráže nad Myjavou were for long two separate villages, their history is closely connected to each other. The villages merged in 1961 under name Šaštínske Stráže, changed in 1971 to the current name.
, the town had 5,005 inhabitants. 95.44% of inhabitants were Slovaks
, 2.06% Roma and 1.50% Czechs
. The religious makeup was 88.45% Roman Catholics, 7.31% people with no religious affiliation, and 1.34% Lutherans.
and Our Lady of Sorrows
Day (September 15).
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the Senica District
Senica District
Senica District is adistrict inthe Trnava Region of western Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was mostly part of theHungarian countyof Nitra, with a small portionforming part of the county of Pressburg.-Municipalities:...
, Trnava Region
Trnava Region
The Trnava Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions.-Geography:It is located in the middlewest part of Slovakia and forms a territorial band between the Bratislava Region and the rest of Slovakia, between Austrian and Czech borders in the north and Hungarian border in the south...
in western Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. Originally two separate villages, now it is one of the youngest towns in Slovakia, having received town privileges
Town privileges
Town privileges or city rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium.Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined its privileges and laws. Common privileges were related to trading...
on 1 September 2001.
Geography
The town lies in the ZáhorieZáhorie
Záhorie is a region in western Slovakia bordered by the Little Carpathians in the east and the Morava River in the west. Although not an administrative region in its own right, it is one of the 21 official tourism regions in Slovakia...
Lowland, around 18 km (11 mi) from Senica
Senica
Senica is a city in Trnava Region, western Slovakia. It is located in the north-eastern part of the Záhorie lowland, close to the Little Carpathians.-History:...
and 65 km (40 mi) from Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
. The Myjava River
Myjava River
The Myjava River is a river in western Slovakia and for a small part in the Czech Republic and left tributary of the Morava River.It rises in the White Carpathians near the village of Nová Lhota in Moravia, but crosses the Czech-Slovak border shortly afterwards and flows in a southern direction...
flows through the town, separating its two parts.
History
The first written mention about Šaštín-Stráže was in 1218. In the Middle Ages this settlement was part of the SzékelySzékely
The Székelys or Székely , sometimes also referred to as Szeklers , are a subgroup of the Hungarian people living mostly in the Székely Land, an ethno-cultural region in eastern Transylvania, Romania...
border defense of the Hungarian Kingdom. Therefore the village has historical connections with the Székely
Székely
The Székelys or Székely , sometimes also referred to as Szeklers , are a subgroup of the Hungarian people living mostly in the Székely Land, an ethno-cultural region in eastern Transylvania, Romania...
ethnic group. Although the town's two parts, Šaštín and Stráže nad Myjavou were for long two separate villages, their history is closely connected to each other. The villages merged in 1961 under name Šaštínske Stráže, changed in 1971 to the current name.
Demographics
According to the 2001 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, the town had 5,005 inhabitants. 95.44% of inhabitants were Slovaks
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
, 2.06% Roma and 1.50% Czechs
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
. The religious makeup was 88.45% Roman Catholics, 7.31% people with no religious affiliation, and 1.34% Lutherans.
Importance
Šaštín-Stráže is one of the most important Marian shrines in Slovakia. Several pilgrimages are held there annually, especially on PentecostPentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
and Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows , the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows , and Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolours are names by which the Blessed Virgin Mary is referred to in relation to sorrows in her life...
Day (September 15).