Medzev

Medzev ( German Metzenseifen, Hungarian Meczenzéf - to 1902 Mecenzéf ) is a city in eastern Slovakia with 4276 inhabitants ( 31 December 2011).

Geography

The city is located 36 km west of Košice, in the southeastern part of the Slovak Ore Mountains between the mountain parts Volovské Hills and Slovak Karst. Through the town flows the upper Bodva. The streams Šugovský creek and Zlatná dine smaller ponds that served the water supply of the former forges earlier. The area is deforested in part, partially covered by beech forest. The city center lies at an altitude of 313 m nm

Neighboring communities of Medzev are Mníšek nad Hnilcom in the north, Jasov in the east, Turňa Bodvou in the south, southwest, and Štós Hacava in the west.

History

The village was founded in 1960 by the merger of the places Nižný Medzev ( German sub Metzenseifen; Hungarian Alsómeczenzéf ) and Vyšný Medzev (Upper Metzenseifen, the latter is independent since 1999 ). These places were founded in the 13th century ( 1359 Mechenseuph ), probably there were already German and Slovak miners. After the Mongol invasions, there was a strong influx of ethnic German families, which the ownership were strongly determined by the monastery Jasov.

From the 14th century, the craft was more determinant, along with mining. From the 15th century the places Nižný and Vyšný Medzev were distinguished. During the Reformation, the monastery was closed, so that the place no longer fell into his reign. However, the dispute over the dominion flared during the Counter Reformation and the re-establishment of the monastery on again; only under Maria Theresa ended this dispute.

In the course of industrialization, the town was a commercial center ( the location of numerous forges [ 100 ], which mainly agricultural equipment manufactured ). This led in the 1930s to tensions between the German - and Slovak -speaking workers. By the end of the Second World War, the Germans formed the largest population group; today over 20 % of the population speak German. In the 2000s, the number of Germans increased by approximately 0.75%.

Today is spoken by the older population, the limited on this site manta ish dialect, a special kind of German language, which has formed from the dialects of the time in the immigrant from the 14th to the 18th century Germans, the so-called Saxons. The vocabulary of Mantaken how users of this endangered dialect are called, is being held at manta ish dictionary in writing and sound.

Population

Results according to the census 2001 (3.667 inhabitants):

After Ethnicity:

• 75.43 % Slovaks
• 13.55% German
• 6.65% Roma
• 1.55% Hungary

After Confession:

• 77.58 % Roman Catholic
• 12.95% religious affiliation
• 4.36 % no answer
• 2.18% Greek Catholic

Attractions

• Catholic Church: originally Gothic building from the early 15th century, from 1732 to 1735 completely rebuilt and restored in 1891