Slovenská Ľupča
| Slovenská Ľupča | |
| Village | |
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| Country | Slovakia |
|---|---|
| Region | Banská Bystrica |
| District | Banská Bystrica |
| Elevation | 378 m (1,240 ft) |
| Coordinates | 48°44′39″N 19°14′47″E / 48.74417°N 19.24639°ECoordinates: 48°44′39″N 19°14′47″E / 48.74417°N 19.24639°E |
| Area | 32.32 km2 (12.48 sq mi) |
| Population | 3,221 (31 December 2013) |
| Density | 100/km2 (259/sq mi) |
| First mentioned | 1250 |
| Postal code | 976 13 |
| Area code | +421-48 |
| Car plate | BB |
   Location of Slovenská Ľupča in Slovakia
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  Location of Slovenská Ľupča in the Banská Bystrica Region
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| Statistics: MOŠ/MIS | |
| Website: slovenskalupca.sk | |
Slovenská Ľupča is the largest village in the Banská Bystrica District of central Slovakia.
The altitude of Slovenská Ľupča ranges from 370 to 699 metres, with the centre of the village lying at 378 metres. The municipality covers an area of 33.325 km². It is situated about 10 km east of Banská Bystrica, in the Hron river valley. Slovenská Ľupča is part of two administrative units, the Banská Bystrica District and the Banská Bystrica Region.
In historical records the village was first mentioned in 1250. It was founded on an ancient trade route Via Magna connecting Buda to Kraków. The settlement was built around two important political and social centers: a castle and a monastery. A favorite residence of the influential noble Magister Donč, Slovenská Ľupča was elevated to a town by Charles I in 1340. Slovenská Ľupča lost its town charter in the 19th century. The development of the village in the 20th century was connected with the large pharmaceutical factory Biotika built in 1953.
Ľupča Castle (Slovak: Ľupčiansky hrad) was built in the Middle Ages to protect an important trade route along the Hron river. It was a favorite hunting resort of King Béla IV, who signed the royal town privileges of Banská Bystrica in the castle in 1255. Other monarchs who frequently resided in the castle were King Charles I, King Louis the Great, Emperor Sigismund, and King Matthias Corvinus. The castle hosted an orphanage from 1873 to 1938.
Kláštorisko is an open-air museum with ruins of a medieval monastery. We do not know when the monastery was founded, but it certainly existed by 1263. Its great supporter Magister Donč was interred there in the 14th century. The monastery was abandoned in the 17th century.
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Wikipedia