LIPTOVSKÝ MIKULÁŠ sightseeing tour_ARTISTS OF LIPTOVSKÝ MIKULÁŠ

MILITARY CEMETERY AT HÁJ-NICOVÔCesta hrdinov, Liptovský MikulášImpressive sculptures and reliefs of the Monu-ment to fallen soldiers who tried to liberate the town of Liptovský Mikuláš during WWII were crea-ted by local sculptors Alfonz Groma and Miroslav Ksandr. The monument is part of the largest mili-tary cemetery in former Czechoslovakia. It is loca-ted on a knoll called Háj Nicovô, which is a popular observation spot as it o� ers beautiful views of the town, surrounding mountains and the dam of Lip-tovská Mara. Works of Alfonz Groma can be also found in va-rious public spaces – the sculpture “A girl with a dove” at the Secondary Grammar School of M. M. Hodža, a sculpture group at the fountain on the

BIRTH HOUSE OF THE RÁZUS SIBLINGSVrbická ulica 312, Liptovský Mikuláš, www.mjk.skPhone no.: +421/44/552 27 49, open all year: Tue and Fri: 8:00 - 15:00In memory of an eminent family of Vrbica: MARTIN RÁZUS – a priest, politician, poet and writer, MÁ-RIA RÁZUSOVÁ MARTÁKOVÁ – a teacher, transla-tor, editor but mainly author of poetry and prose for children, MICHAL and MATEJ RÁZUS – signi� -cant book printers of Liptovský Mikuláš. The ex-position reminds us also of the history of Vrbica, a village that doesn´t exist anymore, as well as other well-known personalities that were born here. A park with a monument dedicated to Martin Rá-zus is located in front of the Municipal O� ce in Štúrova Street.

PaP PETRÁŠ GALLERYMalý Rím 16, Liptovský MikulášPhone no.: +421/905 346 699, www.gallery-petras.szm.com. Entries booked in advance onlyThe Petráš painters – father and son are drawing their inspiration from the countryside of the Lip-tov region. Pavel Petráš, the father, makes monu-mental stone mosaics (e.g. entrance of the Muni-cipal O� ce) and wooden sculptures. One of them can be found on the square Námestie mieru. His son, Pavel Petráš, paints portraits. His cycle of per-sonalities of the Slovak nation is really impressive. Both artists can be seen working in their private gallery in the town quarter called Palúdzka.

DUŠAN PÁLKA (1909 Liptovský Mikuláš - 1998 Prague)The author of the � rst Slovak tango (“Nepovedz, dievčatko, nikomu“ = Don´t tell anybody, girl) grew up in a villa in Hodžova Street, opposite the post o� ce (private property today). His composi-tions were sung by well-known singers such as F. Kryštof-Veselý, Karol Duchoň, Hana Hegerová, Jana Kocianová or Marcela Leiferová. The most popular songs include “Ešte raz ku tebe prídem” (I will come to you again), “Prečo sa máme rozísť”

RUMANSKÝ ART CENTRE Ulica E. Martinčekovej- Šimerovej 4506/4, Liptovský Mikuláš, Phone no.: +421/903 510 072, open all year: Tue - Fri: 13:00 - 17:00, www.rumanskyartcentre.skUnique works of academic painters – brothers Ivan and Igor Rumanskí are exhibited in an ele-gant and modern interior of their personal gallery.

IVAN RUMANSKÝ(1944 Liptovský Mikuláš - 1990 Liptovský Mikuláš)

A sensitive painter, a big idealist, seeking beauty and truth. His work was a� ected by his illness that developed at the end of his college studies. Pain-ting, nature, study and book reading helped him cure it.

IGOR RUMANSKÝ(1946 Liptovský Mikuláš - 2006 Bratislava)

He was working at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava for more than 25 years, was a graphic artist, illustrator, designed stamps and ex libris. He illustrated about 150 books, including 12 collections of his friend – poet Milan Rúfus.

MUSEUM OF JANKO KRÁĽNámestie osloboditeľov 30, Liptovský MikulášPhone no.: +421/44/552 25 54, www.mjk.sk1. 7. - 31. 8.: Mon: closed, Tue, � u, Fri, Sat, Sun: 10:00 - 17:00, Wed: 10:00 - 18:00, 1.9. - 30.6.: Mon, Tue, � u, Fri: 9:00 - 16:00, Wed: 9:00 - 18:00, Sat: closed, Sun: 10:00 - 17:00 The museum of Janko Kráľ is named after an emi-nent romantic poet known in all Europe. Besides the life and work of Janko Kráľ, the museum do-cuments the history of Liptovský Mikuláš as well. Opposite the museum, there is the house where Janko Kráľ was born, with a plaque and relief con-taining his imaginary portrait. A life-size statue of the poet is placed at the Church of St. Nicholas.

CENTRE OF KOLOMAN SOKOLNámestie osloboditeľov 28, Liptovský Mikuláš, Phone no.: +421/44/562 00 35, www.galerialm.sk, open all year: Tue - Sat: 10:00 - 17:00The gallery of one of the most signi� cant Slovak painters and founder of Slovak and Mexican mo-dern graphic art, Koloman Sokol, is proud of the biggest collection of his paintings. It introduces 48 masterpieces he gifted to his hometown. The collection also includes several personal items of him, letters and photographs. There is a granite plaque with a bust of Koloman Sokol on the faca-de of the gallery.

MIKULÁŠ

KOLOMAN SOKOL(1902 Liptovský Mikuláš - 2003 Tuscon, USA)He was studying and working in Prague, Paris, Me-xico and the United States of America since 1940s. Having a lot of personal experience and knowing di� cult life conditions of ordinary people, he would often use social themes and depict hun-ger, poverty, beggary, emigration or animals. His works are usually black and white, livened up by colours only afterwards, and have clear black con-tours. He lived humbly and in seclusion, focused on his work only, not interested in fame or praise he was receiving.

Liptovský Mikuláš, There are so many renowned names related to it, so many exceptional perso-nalities – including various artists who were born here, so many personalities came here along their life journeys. Whole generations were developing spiritu-al values of this town and passing them down like the most precious thing they could share. It may have been the magical nature or its inhabitants who were able to focus on their aims that helped the art develop in all directions here. The past and present of this town is full of painters, sculptors, photographers, the-atre makers, musicians or writers whose works were admired and appreciated not only in Slovakia but also far beyond its borders. Let us introduce the most signi� cant ones so that you can discover their works yourselves. Enjoy a com-pletely di� erent experience – take a town guide and wander along alleys of the historical centre where the artists are still remembered.

BIRTH HOUSE OF JÁN LEVOSLAV BELLABelopotockého ulica 1, Liptovský MikulášJÁN LEVOSLAV BELLA (1843 Liptovský Mikuláš - 1936 Bratislava)

The composer and founder of Slovak national music was born in the building of an old Catholic school, present Catholic House. He wrote chambercompositions, religious music and is the author of the opera “Wieland the Blacksmith”. His composi-tion called “Bergglocke”, which he wrote after the death of his youngest daughter and which was considered lost for a long time, can now be found in the Museum of Janko Kráľ. Today, this emi-nent personality of music history is remembered thanks to a plaque made by Alfonz Groma.

JANKO KRÁĽ(1822 Liptovský Mikuláš - 1876 Zlaté Moravce) Poetry of the big poet – rebel is very emotional and full of revolutionary ideas. Despite being a loner, he would often roam among Slovak peo-ple. He was interested in their di� cult lives and sympathised with them very much. He got even arrested for provoking the nation and spreading revolutionary ideas. He was working a petty civil servant, getting isolated from public life more and more and died as almost forgotten. It is still un-known where his remains lie.

square Námestie mieru, or the “Sculpture of a Mother with a Child” at the Symbolic cemetery in Demänovská dolina (valley).

ALFONZ GROMA (1924 Trstené - 1993 Liptovský Mikuláš)

He focused on chamber and monumental sculp-tures and was a talented portraitist and medal designer.

MIROSLAV KSANDR (1931 Liptovský Mikuláš – 2003 Liptovský Mikuláš)

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Alfonz Groma Miroslav Ksandr

Alfonz Groma:A Man with a Sack, 1955

Miroslav Ksandr:Ploughman II., 1969Monument and cemetery at Háj-Nicovô

Dušan Pálka

Martin Rázus

Mária Rázusová--Martáková

Birth house of the Rázus siblings

Museum of Janko Kráľ Sculpture of Janko Kráľ

Koloman Sokol

Centreof Koloman Sokol

Koloman Sokol: Mexico, 1979, 1983 Ján Levoslav Bella

Koloman Sokol: Muse, 1968, 1976

A sculptor who changed from observant realist and

for information about current events please visit | www.mikulas.travel

Ivan Rumanský: Portrait, 1973

Igor Rumanský: Backyard (Demänová),

1977

(Why should we break up), “So slzami v očiach” (With tears in my eyes), “V Tatrách” (In the Tatras) or “Nauč sa to odo mňa“ (Learn it from me).

monumentalist art to sensitive poetic works in the background of culture and history of the Liptov region. Watercolour painting formed a significant part of his work.

Exterior of the PaP Petráš gallery

G.F.BELOPOTOCKÝ LIPTOV LIBRARYŠtúrova ulica 56, Liptovský MikulášPhone no.: +421/44/552 62 16, www.kniznicag fb.sk The � rst public library in Slovakia has 96,600 books to lend, organises authorial discussions and readings, works with children and youngs-ters, runs a literary club, organises a contest for beginning writers - “Wings of Ivan Laučík” and a contest called “Book of the Liptov Region” every year. One can lend here also books written by wri-ters related to the town of Liptovský Mikuláš. The-re are quite many of them: poet Janko Kráľ, poet and prose writer Martin Rázus, his sister Mária Rázusová-Martáková – author of children´s books, playwright Ivan Stodola, prose writer Janko Alexy, poet and essayist Pavol Strauss, poet Ivan Laučík or poets Anna Ondrejková and Margita Dobrovi-čová.

METAMORPHOSIS FOUNTAIN with the work “Tribute to Creative Thinking”Námestie osloboditeľovNames of seventy notable natives are inscribed in black granite at the fountain – scientists, inven-tors, doctors, priests, writers, artists or publicists who introduced new ideas and artistic values to the world. Upper rotary prisms of the fountain symbolise continuous movement, change, � ow of time...

LIPTOV GALLERY OF P. M. BOHÚŇ Tranovského ulica 3, Liptovský MikulášPhone no.: +421/44/552 27 58, www.galerialm.skopen all year: Tue - Sat: 10:00 - 17:00The gallery has been introducing � ne arts to the wide public for sixty years – there are four per-manent exhibitions now, with works of Slovak authors from 1800 to the 2nd half of the 20th century. The biggest Slovak exhibition hall always o� ers attractive expositions. The building was ori-ginally used as an evangelical school where Peter Michal Bohúň himself was active as a teacher be-tween 1854 and 1865.

ESTER MARTINČEKOVÁ-ŠIMEROVÁ (1909 Bratislava - 2005 Liptovský Mikuláš)

First lady of Slovak painting.

OUR MOTHER The sculpture, which is registered at the Lou-vre museum in Paris as one of the most � awless sculptures in the world, is placed at the entrance of the Liptov Gallery of P. M. Bohúň. Its photogra-phy used to be sold in the USA on Mother´s Day for many years. The sculpture was made by Alojz Štróbl.

ČIERNY OROL G. F. Belopotocký Liptov Library, Ulica 1. mája 28/196, Liptovský Mikuláš, Phone no.: +421/44/552 36 09, www.kniznicag fb.sk Liptov Cultural Centre, Ulica 1. mája 28/196, Liptovský Mikuláš, Phone no.: +421/44/552 29 81, www.lks.skČierny orol used to be a touring inn in the past. Once a theatre stage was built inside in the 19th century, it became a cultural and social centre of the town. Today, one can � nd various cultural insti-tutions inside – Liptov Museum, G. F. Belopotocký Liptov Library – section of non-� ction, regional literature and documents for the blind and pur-blind; and Liptov Cultural Centre. It also supports amateur artists of the Liptov region. In 1830, the � rst Slovak theatre had the � rst perfor-mance here – the famous comedy by Ján Chalup-ka: Kocúrkovo. The institution was founded by G. F. Belopotocký, who was aware of the fact that not many people could read and write at that time but everybody understood their mother tongue on stage. Amateur theatre became an integral part of town´s life and has had a long tradition here ever since. It´s not only amateur actors of Liptov who have been meeting here at a festival of ama-teur theatre called “Belopotocký´s Mikuláš” for 40 years.

GAŠPAR FEJÉRPATAKY-BELOPOTOCKÝ (1794 Paludza - 1874 Liptovský Mikuláš)A bookbinder, publisher and bookseller, who was deciphering Slovak and Czech books, magazines and calendars in the whole Slovak-speaking terri-tory of the Hungarian Empire. In 1829, he founded the � rst public library in Liptovský Mikuláš, was writing school books, translating, was active in the � eld of literature, founded a Sunday school where he himself was teaching and was sending talented boys to Prague to study and learn crafts, among others also the painter P. M. Bohúň. The outstan-ding personality of Belopotocký is now remem-bered thanks to his sculpture at the Church of St. Nicholas in the town centre and a plaque placed at the building of the local library which is named after him.

JOZEF PIŤO (around 1800 Tekovské Lužany - 1886 Liptov-ský Mikuláš)Respectable, talented, with � awless musical me-mory and unique skills of interpreting Slovak folk songs, a patriot – that´s how the famous gypsy � rst violin is described in many literary works. He used to play in the building of Čierny orol and his

BIRTH HOUSE OF VLADIMÍR KRIVOŠUlica 1. mája 17, Liptovský MikulášVLADIMÍR KRIVOŠ(1865 Liptovský Mikuláš - 1942 Ufa, Ural)The house of birth with a plaque of this eminent shorthand typist, writer and one of the best de-scipherologists in the world is located opposite the building of Čierny orol. His diplomatic and lan-guage skills (he spoke 40 foreign languages) brou-ght him even to the tsarist court, where he was working as a secret counsellor of Tsar Nicholas II.

MARTIN MARTINČEK (1913 Liptovský Peter - 2004 Liptovský Mikuláš)

CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS Námestie osloboditeľov 27, Liptovský Mikuláš, Phone no.: +421/44/552 21 42, www.faralm.sk, available during holy masses: Mon - Fri: 6:15, 18:15*, Sat: 7:00, 18:15*, Sun: 6:15, 8:00, 9:15, 10:45, 18:15*after summer time changes to winter time, the evening holy mass starts at 17:00 It is majestic with all works of art inside. A lot of e� ort to renovate the church was made by Janko Alexy, a painter and writer. During the reconstruc-tion of 1941 – 43, he painted the church choir and graphics in side chapels; and designed stained glass windows together with painters Ján Želibský and Fero Kráľ. The altars were reconstructed by Pe-ter Július Kern, a famous painter, who was one of a few professional trained restorers at that time. The portal over the main entrance was formed by the already mentioned Fero Kráľ and carved into stone by František Šustek in 1945.

ALOJZ ŠTRÓBL (1856 Kráľova Lehota - 1926 Budapešť)There are more than 600 sculptural and painting works of him registered, the most admired ones include a 12-metre-high sculptural group called “Dwell of King Mathew” at the Buda Castle in Budapest. He was the � rst sculptor of the Hun-garian Empire, who had even the emperor model for his works. Štróbl was a spontaneous and ra-ther eccentric artist, who liked surprising people around him. Once he even went to Rome dressed up in a Slovak folk costume to copy Michelange-lo´s sculpture of Moses.

Discover the town with a town guide

ARTISTS OF LIPTOVSKÝ MIKULÁŠ

Step by step, you will learn tempting life stories of artists, their fortunes full of bravery, inner stren-gth and beauty re� ected in their works. The guide will tell you various interesting facts about their works and take you to an exposition with pain-tings of P.M.Bohúň, an exceptional painter, in a gallery named after him.

July - August: free town tours every Friday be-ginning at 16:00 in front of the Information Centre. Any other times and dates of guide services must be booked. There are � ve other sightseeing rou-tes, each with a tempting 1-hour commentary and several stops in the historical centre.

PETER MICHAL BOHÚŇ (1822 Veličná - 1879 Bielsko-Biala)His life was full of struggles and strokes of fate but also continuous artistic work. He painted portraits of national patriots and townspeople mainly, and also altar paintings, landscapes. He created cycles of � gures dressed in folk costumes, did photogra-phy as well. Thirty-two paintings are exhibited at the gallery named after this notable painter.

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3. For more information and reservations please contact:Information Centre of the town of Liptovský Mikuláš, Námestie mieru 1, Liptovský Mikuláš

Phone no.: +421/44 16 186, 552 24 18www.mikulas.travel

1.7. - 14.9.: Mon - Fri: 9:00 - 18:00, Sat - Sun: 9:00 - 17:0015.9. - 30.6.: Mon - Fri: 9.00 - 17.00, Sat: 9.00 - 13.00, Sun: closed

foreign language 2 €/ person (minimum 32 €)

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G. F. Belopotocký Liptov Library

Metarmorphosis fountain

The photographer and the painter met in Bratisla-va shortly after WWII. The events of the war hurt both of them quite deeply – her husband was exe-cuted by the Gestapo, he lost his wife, sons and father. Martinček was holding high o� ce at the Slovak National Council. He was imprisoned after the Communist Coup and they both had to leave Bratislava after he had been released from prison. So they settled down in Liptovský Mikuláš. Here the doctor of law was assigned manual work at a brick plant and his wife, a professional painter, who had studied painting at two academies in France, re-mained isolated in the large region of Liptov. They would � nd solace and beauty in the countryside of the Liptov region and its common people. Mar-tinček created impressive cycles about nature and human lives, his wife was inspired by nature and was painting tree trunks, � owers, brooks, stones. Their works are exhibited at the Liptov Gallery of P. M. Bohúň, Ester Martinčeková is also the author of stained glass windows at the building of the former Regional House or stage curtains in the House of Culture.

Martin Martinček:

A Guest Came at Dawn,

From the Liptov cycle, 1964

Liptov gallery of Peter Michal Bohúň

Martin Martinček: Mountain Man, From the

Liptov cycle, 1963-1972Ester M. Šimerová: Braqua Study III., 1967

Peter M. Bohúň: Portrait of Jozefína

� uranská, 1849

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renowned 12 to 14-member band couldn´t be mi-ssing at any signi� cant event of the town of Lip-tovský Mikuláš.

Alojz Štróbl: Our Mother, 1896

P. M. Bohúň: Piťo, 1862

Čierny orol

Vladimír Krivoš

Gašpar Fejérpataky-Belopotocký

Church of St. Nicholas

JANKO ALEXY(1894 Liptovský Mikuláš – 1970 Bratislava)

The founder of Slovak modernism in � ne arts draw inspiration from everyday life of village people, painted the Slovak countryside and monuments, scenes of folk myths and legends. He devoted a lot of energy to saving historic-cultural monu-ments. It was thanks to his sustained e� ort that the Castle of Bratislava rose from ruins and was opened to the wide public after an extensive re-construction of 1968. He also helped found the Regional (Liptov) Gallery of P. M. Bohúň.

Published by: Information Centre of the town of Liptovský Mikuláš, Municipal O� ce Liptovský Mi-kuláš, Tourism Organisation of the Liptov region (OOCR Liptov), 2014Texts: Information Centre of the townGraphic design: Eva DudzíkováPhotos: Archive of the Information Centre of the town, Museum of Janko Kráľ, Liptov Gallery of P. M.Bohúň

Guided sightseeing tour

Church of St. Nicholas