Žilina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Žilina
City
Top: Žilina Holy Trinity Cathedral, Mariánske námestie with burgher heritage houses in Mariánske Square, Middle: An inside view of Žilina St.Stephen Church, A heritage of Žilina Town Hall, St.Paul the Apostle and Jesuit Church, Bottom: Budatín Castle, Mirage Commerce Complex Center (all item from left to right)
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Komix City, Pearl of Vah
Motto(s):  Žilina ,the City with face
Žilina Location in Žilina Region Show map of Žilina Region Žilina Location in Slovakia Show map of Slovakia
Country	Slovakia
Region	Žilina
District	Žilina
First mentioned	1208
Area
• City	80.04 km2 (30.90 sq mi)
	(2022)
Elevation	378 m (1,240 ft)
Population  (2022)
• City	81,219
• Rank	4th
• Density	1,014.73/km2 (2,628.14/sq mi)
• Urban	108,000
• Metro	160,000
Demonym(s)	Žilinian Žilinčan (masculine) Žilinčanka (feminine)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	010 01
Area code(s)	+421 41
Car plate	ZA
Website	www.zilina.sk

Žilina is a city in north-western Slovakia. It is about 170 kilometers (105 miles) from the capital city, Bratislava. Žilina is also close to the borders of both the Czech Republic and Poland.

It is the fourth largest city in Slovakia. About 80,000 people live there. Žilina is an important industrial center and the biggest city on the Váh river. It is also the main city for the Žilina Region and Žilina District.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Žilina

The name Žilina comes from the Slavic/Slovak word žila. This word means a "(river) vein." So, Žilina means "a place with many watercourses" or "a place with many rivers."

Another idea is that the name comes from the Žilinka river. It could also be from the name of the people who lived there, called Žilín or Žiliňane.

A Look Back: The History of Žilina

Panorama of the historic center

People lived in the area of Žilina as early as the late Stone Age, around 20,000 BC. Around the 5th century, Slavs started to settle here.

The first time Žilina was written about was in 1208. It was called terra de Selinan then. From the late 900s until 1918, Žilina was part of the Kingdom of Hungary.

Around 1300, the city began to grow. By 1312, it was already known as a town. In 1321, King Charles I made Žilina a "free royal town." This meant it had special rights and could govern itself more.

In 1381, King Louis I issued a special rule called Privilegium pro Slavis. This rule made sure that Slavic people living in the town had equal rights with the Germans. Half of the city council seats were given to Slavs. In 1431, the town was burned by the Hussites.

During the 1600s, Žilina became a center for making things, trading, and learning. Many monasteries and churches were built. The Budatín Castle was also built during this time.

In the mid-1800s, Žilina grew a lot. New railway lines were built, connecting it to other big cities. Factories also started to appear, like a cloth factory in 1891 and a chemical factory in 1892.

Žilina was one of the first towns to sign the Martin Declaration in 1918. This declaration helped create the country of Czechoslovakia. Until March 1919, Žilina was even the seat of the Slovak government. In 1938, Slovakia declared its independence within Czechoslovakia in Žilina.

During the Holocaust in Slovakia, many Jewish people were sadly deported from Žilina. On April 30, 1945, Žilina was captured by Czechoslovak and Soviet troops. After this, it became part of Czechoslovakia again.

After World War II, the city kept growing. Many new factories, schools, and homes were built. Žilina has been the main city of the Žilina Region since 1996.

Today, Žilina is the fourth largest city in Slovakia. It is also a major industrial center and home to the University of Žilina. Since 1990, the old part of the city has been restored. The city also built trolleybus lines for public transport.

Exploring Žilina's Location and Environment

Žilina is located about 342 meters (1,122 feet) above sea level. It covers an area of about 80 square kilometers (30.9 square miles). The city is in the Upper Váh region, where three rivers meet: the Váh, the Kysuca, and the Rajčanka. This meeting point of rivers is called a confluence.

Mountains surround Žilina, including the Malá Fatra, Súľovské vrchy, Javorníky, and Kysucká vrchovina. There are also protected natural areas nearby, like the Strážov Mountains Protected Landscape Area. Two hydroelectric dams are on the Váh river near Žilina.

Žilina's Climate: Seasons and Weather

Žilina has a continental climate with four clear seasons. This means it has hot summers and cold, snowy winters.

• The average temperature in July is 18°C (64°F).
• In January, the average temperature is -4°C (25°F).
• The city gets about 600 to 700 millimeters (23 to 27 inches) of rain each year.
• Most of the rain falls in June and early July.
• Snow usually covers the ground for 60 to 80 days a year.

Žilina's Special Symbol: The Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of Žilina is very old and special. It shows a golden double-cross, also known as a cross of Lorraine. This cross has roots at the bottom and two golden stars. All of this is on an olive-green background.

The double-cross comes from a style used in the Byzantine Empire. It is linked to the tradition of Saints Cyril and Methodius. This coat of arms has been used as the city's symbol since 1378. It is one of the oldest city symbols in both Slovakia and Europe!

Who Lives in Žilina? Demographics

Žilina has a population of about 82,664 people (as of September 2020). The larger urban area has about 108,114 people. The even wider metro area has about 159,729 people.

According to a 2001 census:

• Most people (96.9%) were Slovaks.
• Some people (1.6%) were Czechs.
• A small number were Romani, Hungarians, or Moravians.

When it comes to religion:

• 74.9% were Roman Catholics.
• 16.7% said they had no religious affiliation.
• 3.7% were Lutherans.

Working in Žilina: The Economy

Žilina is a major industrial center in its region. Its economy is growing fast. It is a business hub for north-west Slovakia, with many shops and construction projects.

The biggest employer in Žilina is the Korean car maker Kia Motors. By 2009, their factory made 300,000 cars a year and had 3,000 employees. Kia Motors has invested over 1.5 billion US dollars in this factory. The Žilina plant makes Kia Cee'd, Kia Sportage, and Hyundai ix35 car models. Kia is also building facilities to make engines for its sister company, Hyundai, in the Czech Republic.

Žilina is also home to Vahostav, a big Slovak construction and transportation engineering company. The chemical industry is present with companies like Považské chemické závody and Tento, a paper mill company. Siemens Mobility also has an engineering center in Žilina.

Must-See Places: Main Sights of Žilina

Mariánske námestie with burgher houses

Budatín Castle

Frescoes inside the church of St Stephen the King

The old part of Žilina was restored in the early 1990s. It is now a protected city monument area. This area centers around Mariánske námestie and Andrej Hlinka squares.

Mariánske námestie square has 106 arched walkways and 44 old burgher houses. The square is dominated by the Church of St. Paul the Apostle. You can also see the old city council building and a beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary.

Nearby is the Church of the Holy Trinity. This church was built around 1400. Since 2008, it has been the main church (cathedral) for the Diocese of Žilina.

The Church of Saint Stephen the King is the oldest building in Žilina. It is about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) southwest of the city center. Experts believe it is one of the first Romanesque churches in Slovakia, built between 1200 and 1250. A legend says that the Hungarian King István I himself ordered it to be built. Inside, you can see valuable wall paintings from around 1260. These were discovered and restored in 1950. Today, it's a popular place for weddings.

Other interesting places to visit in and around Žilina include:

• Budatín Castle: This castle houses the Považie Museum. It has a special exhibit about the tinker trade, which was a traditional craft.
• The wooden Roman Catholic church of St. George in the Trnové section. This is a rare type of church in this part of Slovakia.
• The Orthodox synagogue: This building now holds the Museum of Jewish culture.
• The New Synagogue: This building is now a cultural center.

Žilina is also a great starting point for exploring western and eastern Slovakia. You can find hiking trails in the Lesser Fatra and Greater Fatra mountains. Other nearby places of interest include Bojnice Castle, Strečno, the Orava region, and the villages of Čičmany and Vlkolínec.

Arts and Entertainment: Culture in Žilina

Žilina is hoping to be named the European Capital of Culture 2026.

The city has many cultural places:

• Mestské divadlo Žilina (Žilina City Theater)
• Rosenfeld Palace (Žilina city cultural center)
• Považská galéria umenia v Žiline (Považie gallery of contemporary art)
• Považské múzeum (Považie museum): This museum is in Budatín Castle. It also manages Strečno Castle, a palace in Bytča, the open-air museum in Čičmany, and a manor house in Divinka.
• Bábkové divadlo Žilina (Žilina Puppet Theatre)
• Múzeum židovskej kultúry (Museum of Jewish culture)
• Štátny komorný orchester Žilina (Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina)
• Krajská knižnica v Žiline (Regional Library in Žilina)
• Stanica Žilina-Záriečie (Cultural Center Stanica)
• Nová synagóga Žilina (New Synagogue Žilina)

Žilina also has two 3D digital movie theaters: Ster Century Cinemas in Mirage Shopping Centre and Cinemax MAX in Max Shopping Centre OC Max Solinky.

The city hosts several cultural events throughout the year:

• Žilina Cultural Summer
• Fest Anca - Animated film festival
• Žilina Literary festival
• KIOSK – festival of new Slovak theater
• Allegretto Žilina – International music Festival
• Puppet Žilina
• Jánošik's Days

Getting Active: Sports in Žilina

Štadión pod Dubňom

The football (soccer) club MŠK Žilina plays in Slovakia's top league, the Fortuna liga. They are one of the most successful teams in recent years. Between 2001 and 2010, they won five national titles and were runners-up three times. The team's colors are yellow and green, just like the city's flag. Their home games are played at the Stadium Pod Dubňom, which is near the city center. In the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League, they played in the group stage for the first time ever.

The ice hockey club MsHK Žilina plays in the Slovak Extraliga. They have won one national title.

Peter Sagan, a famous Slovak professional road bicycle racer, was born in Žilina in 1990. He is a three-time world champion and is considered one of cycling's best talents. He won the points classification in the Tour de France five times in a row (2012-2016). He was also the first Slovak cyclist to win the UCI Road World Championships in 2015.

Learning in Žilina: Education

former building of Žilina University - Faculty of Nature Science

Memorial dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius, with Holy Trinity Church in the background

Žilina is home to the University of Žilina. It has seven different faculties (departments) and 12,402 students, including 625 students studying for their doctoral degrees.

For younger students, there are 18 public primary schools, one private primary school, and three church primary schools. About 7,484 students attend these schools.

For secondary education (middle and high schools), Žilina has:

• Eight gymnasia (academic high schools) with 3,514 students.
• Ten specialized high schools with 3,696 students.
• Nine vocational schools (schools that teach specific job skills) with 4,870 students.

Getting Around: Transport in Žilina

Žilina is an important place for roads and railways. The Žilina railway station is a major train hub.

Roads and railways connect Žilina to other cities like Bratislava and Prievidza in the south, Čadca in the north, and Martin in the east. New motorways, the D1 and D3, are being built to improve connections to Žilina.

The city also has an international airport, Žilina Airport, which is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the city center.

Public transport within Žilina is run by DPMZ. It uses buses (since 1949) and trolleybuses (since 1994).

Night bus services started in Žilina in 1970. There is one main night bus route, number 50. It runs from 10:55 PM to 4:22 AM. Route 50 goes through all the main residential areas and stops at the main train station, Železničná stanica.

Images for kids

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  Trolleybus transport

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  Aerial view of Žilina

Famous Faces: Notable People from Žilina

Many interesting people were born in or are connected to Žilina. Here are a few:

• AYA (band) - A music band.
• Peter Cehlárik (born 1995) - A Slovak hockey player.
• Martin Dúbravka - A footballer.
• Ľubomír Feldek (born 1936) - A Slovak poet.
• Ladislav Hecht (1909–2004) - A tennis player.
• Juraj Jánošík - A Slovak national hero (known for being like Robin Hood).
• Nela Lopušanová (born 2008) - A young ice hockey player.
• Marek Mintál (born 1977) - A football player.
• Peter Sagan - A famous cyclist and world champion.
• Radoslav Židek - A snowboarder who won Slovakia's first medal at the Winter Olympic Games.

Friends Around the World: Twin Towns

Žilina has "twin towns" or "sister cities" in different countries. This means they have special friendly relationships and often exchange visitors or ideas.

See also

In Spanish: Žilina para niños