SLOVENSKO	SLOVAKIA
Banskobystrický kraj	Banská Bystrica region
okres: Zvolen

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• de: Altsohl • hu: Zólyom • lv: Zvolena • lt: Zvolenas • pl: Zwoleń
• el: Ζβόλεν
• be, bg, mk, ru, uk: Зволен • sr: Звољен

Zvolen (German: Altsohl, Hungarian: Zólyom), one of the oldest towns in Slovakia, is situated at an elevation of 293 m on the river Hron (Hungarian: Garam, German: Gran) in central Slovakia, about 18 km south of the regional capital Banská Bystrica and about 157 km northeast of Slovakia's capital, Bratislava. The municipality has a population of about 39,200 (2024).

The town was first mentioned in 1135 and is one of the oldest prehistoric settlements in Slovakia, as important trade routes have met at this strategically advantageous location since ancient times. Only ruins remain of the town's original guard castle on the opposite bank of the river. Zvolen was granted city rights in 1243, and in 1274 received further extensive privileges. In 1370–1382, under King Ladislaus IV of Hungary, a mighty hunting lodge (Zvolen castle) was built as a summer residence. In the 17th century, the expanded and connected fortifications of the castle-like palace and the town withstood repeated Turkish attacks but were captured by the insurgents during the uprising of Ferenc (Francis) II Rákóczi (the Estates Revolt, c. 1700). Until the 18th century, the town was the seat of the Zólyom (Sohl) County. The industrial development of the 19th century was boosted by the opening in 1871/1872 of the Hungarian Northern Railway line from Pest (today Budapest) to Zvolen and Vrútky with an branch line to Banská Bystrica. The city played a significant role during the Slovak National Uprising of 1944. In 1950, the Zvolen University of Technology was founded, transforming Zvolen into a university city.

Zvolen castle was built between 1370 and 1382 in Gothic style, inspired by Italian castles of the 14th century. The external fortifications were built around 1500. Italian masons also contributed to a Renaissance reconstruction in 1548. The last major reconstruction occurred in 1784, when the chapel was rebuilt into the Baroque style. Today, Zvolen Castle hosts a regional branch of the Slovak National Gallery.

The church St. Elisabeth [centre background] was built in 1281–1290. Around 1500 it was rebuilt in Gothic style. During the Baroque period, the interior decorations and the tower were remodelled.

The protestant church [left] in Neo-Gothic style was built in 1921–1923 in place of an older, wooden church.

The central square of Zvolen (today named Square of the Slovak National Uprising) [foreground] is the largest square in Central Europe, covering an area of 52.588 m² with a length of 610 m.

[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zvolen; https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahnstrecke_Salg%C3%B3tarj%C3%A1n%E2%80%93Vr%C3%BAtky; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zvolen_Castle]