History of Demänová and Bodice
Historically, Demänová is one of the
first Liptov's villages and was already mentioned in 1269 when King
Stephen V. presented the area to Poznan. In 1280 King Ladislaus IV.
confirmed the ownership of the area to Poznan and his son Damian, after
whom the village was named. A settlement of Lusatian culture from the
early Bronze Age was found in the area. Iron ores were mined in Demänovská
valley in 17th and 18th century and later lime was produced. The
inhabitants practised other crafts, too, tanning and production of linen
for example.A neighbouring village of Bodice was
mentioned in 1314 for the first time and the most famous of its owners is
the Bodicky family. The dominant part of the village is St Ladislaus's
Church which was built between years 1360-1380. In front of the church
there are protected lime-trees, which are the oldest in whole Liptov
region. In the surrounding area of the village there is Bodicky pond.
Nowadays, inhabitants of both villages are mainly engaged in tourism
because Demänovská valley became one of the best known
centers of tourism and winter sports in Slovakia.
Significant people:
Igor Rumanský (1946-2006) - painter, Zoltán Palugyay (1898-1935) - painter, Ján Gregorec (1914-1982) - university teacher, co-originator of History of Slovak literature. Demänovská Ice Cave have
been known for a very long time. The openings to Demänovská Caves were
mentioned for the first time in a document of Ostrihom kapitula published
in 1299. The Demänovská Ice Cave was for the first time mentioned in 1672
by J.P.Hain, who was interested in skeletons of cave bears which he
thought were skeletons of dragons. In 1719 G. Buchholtz jr. had explored
the cave and sent a description of it along with a drawing of the cave to
M. Bela who published these facts in 1723. In 1751 an emperor's commitee
took a look on the cave. There are many inscriptions on the walls of the
cave and a great amount of books which testify that scientists and also
people of those times took interest in the cave. There are signatures of
many important persons of Slovak history (M.M. Hodža, S. Chalupka, G.
Fejérpataky-Belopotocký, etc.).
Demänovská Cave of Freedom
was discovered by A. Král with the help of A. Mišura in 1921. In 1923
temporary electric lighting was installed in the cave. In 1924 a part of
the cave, from Mramorové riečisko to Zlaté jazierko, was opened to public.
In 1925 'Družstvo Demänovských jaskýň' was created. It was an
organization, which had a job of taking care of both caves. An expedition,
led by A. Král, discovered four other parts of the cave - Jánošíkov dóm,
Panenská chodba, Chodba utrpenia and Červená galéria - in 1926. In 1928 a
new opening to the cave was built and was used since 1930. In 1931
permanent electric lighting was installed and J. Zelinka discovered
Medvedia chodba. In 1933 he built a new opening from there and hence
changed the tour route. In 1986/1987 the connection with Demänovská Cave
Of Peace was achieved. Speleologists from SSS Demänovská dolina achieved a
connection of the cave with Cave under a Cliff and Lower Cave in 1989, and
a connection with Cave of Debris in 1992.
Speleologists from SSS local group
Demänovská valley had interconnected the Demänovská Cave of Freedom with
the Cave Under Cliff and Vale Cave in 1989 and with Cave of Slag in 1992
as well.
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