Municipality of Bitarová

The settlement of the Lusatian and Púchov cultures from the Late Bronze Age and a Slovak burial mound from the time of the Great Moravian Empire are the first signs of habitation in the area of Bitarová.

The village was first mentioned as Bitarová in 1393, but it is presumed to be much older, with its origins dating back to the early 13th century. It was part of the Lietava estate. The name Bitarová is said to originate from the name Bitter. Bitter lived in the 13th century and, for his services, was granted the right by a feudal lord to establish a settlement.

During the early feudal period, the village belonged to the Province of Váh, and its territory, along with the entire surrounding area, was annexed to the Kingdom of Hungary at the end of the 11th century.

According to a land registry from 1417, a village mayor was appointed by the Lietava estate. On February 6, 1623, Countess Elizabeth from the Csobor family, the countess of Orava from the Orava district of Lietava, granted lifelong mayoral rights to Mr. Labuda for his loyalty to the Lietava estate. He and his descendants were also granted land ownership for life.

Economic Activities

From the earliest feudal settlements, the inhabitants of Bitarová were primarily engaged in agriculture. This is evident from land ownership records from 1604, urbarium documents from 1623, and other records. In addition to farming, the residents also worked in forestry, beekeeping, and sheep farming.

During the 17th century, fishing was also an important activity in Bitarová due to the presence of fishponds for carp breeding. Bitarová was a clustered village with irregular features. Older houses were log structures, spatially arranged and covered with straw roofs. Granaries were also made of logs, with freely placed roofs. In the early 20th century, these were replaced with brick houses with three-room layouts.

According to the urbarium from 1539, Bitarová had:

7 peasants
5 farming homesteads
6 houses without land
1 mayor’s house

From this period, household farming was also common, as evidenced by natural obligations such as:

1 culubus of wheat
1 culubus of barley and oats
2 bundles of hops

Annual dues of 4 hens, 2 geese, and various provisions for the noble kitchen

Interestingly, hops cultivation was already present in Bitarová at the time. However, hops are no longer grown today.

In 1589, on the Lietava estate, there were houses for servants, farm buildings, orchards, hop plantations, arable land, livestock, and poultry. Carp were raised in the fishponds. This period also saw the establishment of a manor estate in Bitarová.

By 1604, lands were being leased to local residents for certain fees, dues, and services to the castle administration. Payments included wheat, barley, oats, flour, hops, hens, geese, butter, and goose skins.

The estate manager was a Schultheiß (soltys), appointed by the feudal lord. He had judicial and administrative power over the serfs. In 1626, Bitarová had a mayor named Juraj Labuda, who was required to supply the Lietava estate with carp, salt, grain, and sheep products.

Notable Residents

Peasants (Sedliaci):

Jurit Klimo, Juro Drdák, Kubo Smieško

Tenant Farmers (Hoferi):

Jurit Skypala, Matej Gašperec, Jurit Hlovolit, Jano Kada, Michal Klimo, Gašper Klimo

Historical Turmoil

1487-1540 (Zápolya rule): The village declined economically and was devastated.
1243 (Tatar invasion): The area was severely damaged.
16th century (Ottoman threat): Every homestead was required to:
Provide one man for 6-12 days of labor annually to maintain castle fortifications.
Provide one cart for military supply transport.
1526 (Military conscription law): Every able-bodied serf was required to fight.
Early church contributions: Villagers were obligated to help fund the construction of a church.

Church Records & Plague

The first parish records from Lietava date back to 1725.
The first recorded citizen of Bitarová was Sutana Katyanska (January 19, 1725).
In 1831-1836, a cholera outbreak killed 58 people.

Village Seal & Administrative Changes

The village seal, used between 1855 and 1870, depicted a branch with six wide leaves and the inscription “Sigiel – Bittarova.” The seal measured 24 x 30 mm.

Under the rule of Joseph II (1780-1790), Bitarová belonged to the Trenčín County and was part of the Nitra district. During the First Czechoslovak Republic (1918-1938), Bitarová was under Žilina County and the Bánovce notary district.

This historical overview highlights the village’s rich past, economic activities, and administrative development, providing a glimpse into the lives of its inhabitants over the centuries.

Find out more information

Basic Information

The cadastral area of the village of Bitarová is located in the western part of the Žilina Basin, in the valley of the Bitarovský stream. The almost deforested hilly terrain of the municipality, with marshy valleys and flat ridges, consists of Tertiary sediments on clayey soils. It has brown forest soils. Small forested areas are found in the southwest and northeast of the village. The altitude of the village center is 380 meters, while the surrounding area ranges between 670 and 506 meters above sea level.

Bitarová has a moderately warm and humid climate. The average annual temperature is around 8°C, with January temperatures ranging from -3°C to -4°C, and July temperatures averaging around 18°C. The frost-free period lasts about 200 days, while the period with average daily temperatures below 0°C lasts approximately 60 days. The average annual precipitation is between 700 and 800 mm. Climatically, the area is characterized by higher average temperatures, dry conditions, and cold winters.

The region around Bitarová is not particularly rich in wildlife. Among the wild species present are the common lizard, the agile frog, the roe deer, and various species of beetles. In spring and autumn, a bird migration route passes through Bitarová.

As of August 31, 2010, the village had a population of 667.

Bitarová was first mentioned as a village in 1393, but it is believed to be much older, possibly dating back to the early 13th century. It was part of the Lietava estate. The name Bitarová is said to originate from the name Bitter, a man who lived in the 13th century and was granted the right to establish a settlement as a reward for his services to the local lord.