Martin is a town situated between Mala and Velka Fatra and is a good starting point for hiking in these mountains. In the 19th century, its surroundings became one of the main centers of the Slovak revival and there is a National Cemetery called the Slovak Pantheon.
The city has existed since the Middle Ages and for centuries was an important point on the trade route leading towards Poland. In the 19th century, after the events of the Spring of Nations, it became the center of the Slovak national movement. The modern Slovak language has been codified on the basis of the dialect from its vicinity. The Macierz Słowacka, an organization dedicated to raising national awareness, was also established in Martin, and in 1918 the Martin Declaration was issued here, which expressed the will to create one state with the Czech nation.
The historic center of Martin is centered around the market square. There is a historic church of St. Martin, the Evangelical church and the Saltworks House from the 18th century. The town also houses a branch of the national Slovak Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and the open-air museum of the Slovak Village Museum. The local National Cemetery, where national activists, writers and people of culture were buried, is connected with the period of the Slovak revival in the 19th century.
Due to its location between Mala and Velka Fatra, Martin is a town eagerly visited by lovers of active holidays. There are many hiking trails in the area, and Martin's winter attraction is the Martinky Ski Resort.
