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NITRA
Nitra's ancient origin and historically symbolic significance and present development earned for the town two attributes. It is called "mother of Slovak towns" and "Mecca of Slovak agriculture." It is beautifully located in the north of the Danube Lowland with fertile soils, right on the slope of Mount Zobor. Natural scenery includes the river Nitra and hills bearing evidences of medieval fortifications and settlements. Archeological excavations date the first settlements 30,000 year ago. The first written evidence of Nitra's existence is from the year 830 when the reign of Pribina, the Slavonic prince was mentioned. In the 9th century Nitra was one of the centers of the Great Moravian Empire and an historical, religious center of the territory, inseparably connected with the mission of two Christian priests, Saints Cyril and Methodius, who brought Christianity and the first writing (Cyrillic) to the Slavonic nations living in Nitra's territory. In the following centuries, Nitra held an important position as the residence of the country's dukes and later, the country's administrators. The symbolic value of Christian martyrdom and the victory of traditional values played a later significant role in the Slovak national revival and the survival of the Slovak language and learning, because, for one thousand years, the country had been dominated by the Hungarian kingdom. In the new age, Nitra became a center of the Slovak Agricultural University, the seat of many agricultural research institutes, pedagogical faculty, and colleges. It also is famous for its yearly agriculture fair, AGROKOMPLEX. Many agribusinesses and farms are located in Nitra and its surroundings. The town has been developed as the important agroindustrial center of Slovakia. |
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