Sitovien

Sitovien is a small municipality located in the western part of Slovakia, within the Žilina Region, approximately 4 kilometres south of the town of Liptovský Mikuláš. The settlement occupies an area of about 12 square kilometres and sits at an elevation of 460 metres above sea level. According to the 2021 census, the population was 1,238 residents, the vast majority of whom are ethnic Slovaks, with a small Czech minority and a handful of Roma families.

The earliest written record of Sitovien dates to 1248, when it was mentioned in a royal charter issued by King Béla IV of Hungary. Throughout the Middle Ages the village remained a modest agricultural community, primarily engaged in crop cultivation and animal husbandry. The 18th and 19th centuries saw gradual population growth as the surrounding forests were cleared and new villages were established. The village church, dedicated to Saint Wenceslas, was reconstructed in 1767 after a fire; the building is now a protected heritage site and serves as the main religious centre for the local community.

Sitovien’s economy is largely based on small‑scale farming, forestry and increasingly on tourism related to the nearby Liptovská Mara reservoir and winter sports facilities. The municipality maintains a primary school, a community centre, and a volunteer fire department. Public transport links include a local bus service that connects Sitovien with Liptovský Mikuláš and further to the regional capital, Žilina. In recent years, the village has promoted eco‑tourism through the development of hiking trails along the Little Carpathians, attracting visitors from neighbouring countries.

Notable individuals from Sitovien include the 19th‑century Slovak writer Ján Kocián and the contemporary folk musician, Petra Štefanová, both of whom have contributed to the region’s cultural heritage.