Slovakia
Slovakia facts and
history in brief
Slovakia a central European republic, formerly
part of Czechoslovakia.
Occupies an area of 49,035 sq km and is bounded by Poland,
Ukraine, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic and
dominated by the Carpathian mountains, with the the
Gerlach Shield at a height of 2,655 m.
For more information on Slovakia
Slovakia facts and history in brief
Lucenec (Losonce in Hungarian) is a city with
a population of about 30,000 is in the Novohrad district,
and a thriving trading centre on the crossroads of old
trading routes connecting Sahy (Ipolyság) with
Rimavská Sobota (Rimaszombat) and Filakovo (Fülek)
with Zvolen (Zolyom).
Some Neolithic period archaeological find were discovered
locally.
The first written reference dates back to King Béla
IV in 1247.
The town was owned by an old Hungarian noble family
of Lossoncy, hence the Hungarian name Losonc.
In 1451 at the battle of Losonc the Hussite Ján
Jiskra's soldiers beat János Hunyadi's Hungarian
soldiers and the town was burned to the ground.
During the Turkish occupation the township was destroyed
and abandoned.
During the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries the town was
devastated a number of times by uprisings, fires and
epidemics.
In the later part of the 20th C. Lucenec experienced
some significant economic and population development.
I've spent a considerable time in and around Balassagyarmat,
Szécsény and Salgótarján,
all being on or near the Slovak border and close to
Lucenec.
In those years many people on either side of the border
had relations, friend across the other side.
Certain things were more abundant and cheaper in Slovakia
than, then in Hungary.
One of the sought after items were watches, that you
could see through and could see the mechanism working
inside. For years I was fascinated by them and tried
to get one.
In 2003, Hui Chin and I visited Losonc twice.
First while we were driving around around Slovakia and
we spent a couple days exploring the city.
Right in the centre of the city is a new, mini skyscraper
hotel painted in a bright colour.
The more I looked at it the more I wanted to stay there,
but we've already booked into another Penzio.
I couldn't resist and went in inquiring about the rates,
as it happened I misheard the 19,000 Kronens for 9,000,
which sounded affordable, although we've only paid 5,000
for the other place.
After returning to Hungary and returning the car I still
couldn't get that hotel out of my mind and still thinking
it was only 9,000 Kronen, we returned to Losonc before
our departure for New Zealand.
The day we returned was raining cats and dogs and learned
the 'real' rate, I was very disappointed, but couldn't
afford it.
We booked in another hotel and watched the rain soaked
streets till next morning to catch a train back to Budapest.
Absolutely disappointing and expensive, wet exercise.
You know! The train tickets, wet clothes, extra hotel
costs and time wasted, that we could have spent in beautiful
Budapest.
You can click on
these photos for an enlargement.
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