Rajec

{{For|the village in Slovenia|Rajec, Brežice}} {{For|the municipality and village in the Czech Republic|Rájec}} {{Infobox Slovak place | name = Rajec | other_name = | settlement_type = Municipality  | image_skyline = Rajec-namestie SNP.jpg | image_caption = SNP Square, Rajec | image_flag = Rajec-zilina-flag.svg | image_shield = Coat of Arms of Rajec.svg  | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Žilina Region}} | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Žilina District  | pushpin_map = Slovakia Žilina Region#Slovakia | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Rajec in the Žilina Region##Location of Rajec in Slovakia | coordinates = {{coord|49.09|N|18.63|E|region:SK|display=inline,title}}  | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Milan Hanus | leader_party =  | established_title = First mentioned | established_date = 1193  | elevation_footnotes = <ref name="base_info">{{Cite web |url=http://datacube.statistics.sk/#!/view/sk/VBD_SK_WIN/om5001rr/v_om5001rr_00_00_00_sk |title=Základná charakteristika |language=sk |date=2015-04-17 |website=www.statistics.sk |publisher= Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic|access-date=2022-03-31}}</ref> | elevation_m = 448  | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 150 1<ref name="base_info"/> | area_code = +421 41<ref name="base_info"/> |registration_plate = ZA  | website = {{URL|https://www.rajec.sk/}} }}

'''Rajec''' ({{Audio|Rajec (Slovak pronunciation).ogg|pronunciation}}; {{langx|hu|Rajec}}; {{langx|de|Rajetz}}) is a town in the Žilina District, Žilina Region in northern Slovakia.

==Etymology== Rajec, Rajčianka, Rajčanka are derived from Proto-Slavic appellative ''*rajь'' – a wet, muddy place (modern Slovak ''raj'' – a paradise, "a place with rich vegetation").<ref>{{cite book | first = Jaromír | last = Krško | title = Hydronymia horného povodia Váhu | trans-title = Hydronymy of the Upper Váh Basin | publisher = Univerzita Mateja Bela | location = Banská Bystrica | year = 2011 | page = 125 | language = Slovak}}</ref>

==History== The first written record about Rajec was in 1193, as ''Raich'', in a document issued by King Béla III. The first mention of the town comes from 1397.

==Geography== {{Slovak municipality/geo|448|<ref name="base_info"/>}} It is situated between Strážovské vrchy, and Malá Fatra mountains, in the Rajčanka river valley, around {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=on}} south-south-west of Žilina.

== Population == {{Slovak municipality|pop}}

It has a population of {{Slovak municipality|p}} people (31 December {{Slovak municipality|y}}).{{Slovak municipality|P}}

=== Ethnicity === {{Slovak municipality|etno}}

=== Religion === {{Slovak municipality|relig}}

According to the 2001 census, the town had 6,074 inhabitants. 98.86% of inhabitants were Slovaks and 0.68% were Czechs.<ref name="statistics">{{cite web | title = Municipal Statistics | publisher = Statistical Office of the Slovak republic | url = http://www.statistics.sk/mosmis/eng/run.html | accessdate = 2008-01-31 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080111223415/http://www.statistics.sk/mosmis/eng/run.html  |archivedate = 2008-01-11}}</ref> The religious make-up was 92.79% Roman Catholics, 3.42% people with no religious affiliation, and 1.89% Lutherans.<ref name="statistics"/>

==Sightseeings==

* '''Town Hall''', a Renaissance one-floor building available from all sides. Open arcades served as a market. On the second floor, there were administrative rooms of the town council. After the newest reconstruction in 1992, the arcades are full glassed and the town hall serve as wedding, concert and exhibition room. ([http://www.gsvm.maves.sk/index_en.html 3D Model]) * '''Town museum''', former brewery residence

==Culture== The Rajec Marathon, an annual road race, was established in the town in 1984.<ref name="maraton">{{cite journal |title=1. Ročník Rajeckého maratónu (11.8.) |journal=Maratón |date=November 1984 |volume=21 |issue=11 |page=2 |url=https://www.iscarexpohar.cz/download/maraton/maraton_1984_11.pdf |access-date=2025-09-01 |language=sk}}</ref>

==Twin towns — sister cities== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Slovakia}}

Rajec is twinned with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Partnerské kraje a mestá|url=http://www.rajec.info/section/default/745|website=rajec.info|publisher=Rajec|language=sk|accessdate=2019-09-09}}</ref> *{{flagicon|POL}} Czechowice-Dziedzice, Poland *{{flagicon|POL}} Kęty, Poland *{{flagicon|CZE}} Krnov, Czech Republic *{{flagicon|CZE}} Rýmařov, Czech Republic

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Rajec}} * [http://www.rajec.sk/index.php?newlang=english Town website]

{{Authority control}} Category:Cities and towns in Slovakia