Turčianske Teplice

Turčianske Teplice (Former names: from 1927 to 1946: Štubnianske Teplice; before 1927: Štubňanské Teplice, Bad Stuben; Stubnyafürdő) is a town in Turčianske Teplice District, Žilina Region of northern Slovakia. The town was the historic center of the Upper Turiec subregion within the Turiec region (comitatus), and now enjoys the status of a capital of the Turčianske Teplice District.

History
The town is one of the oldest spa towns in Europe, and was originally known as Štubnianske Teplice. It was first mentioned in text dating from 1281 when King Ladislaus IV of Hungary granted the lands surrounding the springs to a Count Peter. The spa became popular with royalty, including King Sigismund of Hungary and Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico. The recuperative abilities of the spa were first studied by the University of Halle medical student Jan Lisschoviny.

Štubnianske Teplice was renamed Turčianske Teplice in 1946. In 1951 the town merged with the community of Vieska.

Geography
Turčianske Teplice lies at an altitude of 520 m above sea level and covers an area of 33.483 km2. It lies in the Turiec Basin and is surrounded in proximity by the Greater Fatra, Kremnica, Žiar and Lesser Fatra mountain ranges.

The divisions of the town include:
 * Diviaky (1951-1955 and 1971)
 * Dolná Štubňa (incorporated in 1971)
 * Turčiansky Michal (incorporated in 1971)
 * Turčianske Teplice

Demographics
According to the 2001 census, the town had 7,031 inhabitants. 97.98% of inhabitants were Slovaks, 0.67% Czech and 0.37% Germans. The religious make-up was 48.09% Roman Catholics, 30.56% Lutherans, and 17.24% people with no religious affiliation.

Twin towns — Sister cities
Turčianske Teplice is twinned with:


 * 🇨🇿 Holešov, Czech Republic
 * 🇨🇿 Havířov, Czech Republic
 * 🇵🇱 Skawina, Poland
 * 🇵🇱 Wisła, Poland
 * 🇷🇸 Aranđelovac, Serbia

People
One of the famous personalities born in Turčianske Teplice is Mikuláš Galanda, a modern painter, graphic designer and illustrator.