The oldiest towns

ORIGIN OF THE OLDIEST TOWNS

First town privileges were given by Belo IV. already before the invasion of Mongols; in the year 1238 in Trnava, in 1240 in the old village of Zvolen and in new-founded Krupina. It isn't sure if Trnava

before the invasion the first privileges were obtained by Kosice and mining groups with the centre in Banska Stiavnica. So alredy before the invasion of Mongols 3 types of Slovak towns were created : towns under the castles, mining towns influenced by the situation of deposits and towns advantageously situated for the developpement of trade and population. Zvolen

Trnava gained the statute of town after the marriage of Czech king Premysl Otakar I. and aunt of Belo IV. what was followed by a new toll rules which said that Trnava is situated on the Czech trading route from Holic to Budin. The new statute had to cause rising of the number of population by new immigrants. Another important economical centre - Zvolen - was founded in the middle the forest areas of the central Slovakia. Commercial settlement was created above the confluence of the rivers of Slatina and Hron near the ford, where the trading route from Budin to the Poland. The ruler was interested in the developpement of the trade and crafts, so he gave to this new town the settlements of royal smiths and fishermen. After the invasions of Mongols he helped this town by decreasing the taxes and he gave it an authority to have the new guests. One of the most important centre of mining and elaboration of ores couldn't stay without a town statute of course.