Veličná


Veličná is a village and municipality in Dolný Kubín District in the Žilina Region of northern Slovakia.

Name

Veličná was first mentioned under the Latin name Magna Villa in a decree of Ladislaus IV of Hungary from 1272. In the middle ages, the town was known also under the name Welkeg Wsy and the Hungarized forms Nag Flaw and Naghffalva.

History

The settlement aroused in a relatively sparsely populated borderland area on an important trade route to Poland. In 1454 Veličná was already a smaller town. The town acquired several royal privileges that positively influenced its economic development. In 1520, the town became the seat of Orava County. In the 16th century, the region suffered several uprisings, therefore George Thurzo granted citizens additional privileges to improve the economic situation. In 1683, the town was burned by the Lithuanian troops led by Jan Kazimierz Sapieha the Younger moving to Battle of Vienna. The troops destroyed also the town and county archive. The seat of the county was moved to Dolný Kubín, Veličná was burned again in 1686 and never fully recover. The population was reduced during the plague epidemies. In 1871, the town lost its status and became a village.

Geography

The municipality lies at an altitude of 462 metres and covers an area of 29.302 km². It has a population of about 870 people. The neighboring village is called Revišné.