# Podkonice

Podkonice (Hungarian: Padkóc) is a village and municipality in Banská Bystrica District in the Banská Bystrica Region of central Slovakia.

## Etymology

Slovak konica (archaic) - a stable or a shelter for shoeing horses. Podkonica - a nearby location. Koknicze 1340, Podkonicze 1441, Potkonycz 1528, Potkonicz 1773, Podkonice 1920.

## History

In historical records the village was first mentioned in the charter of King Karol Robert in the year 1340, where it is mentioned as "possessio Connyce". The village was possibly created on, or closeby the remains of an older settlement before 1250 as a vassal village while Ľupča Castle was being built.
In the beginning, Ľupča Castle did not only have a defensive function, but also served as accommodation for the king and his party during hunting trips in the large parts of the Zvolenské forest (encroaching on the farmstead areas of the present-day villages of Slovenská Ľupča, Podkonice, Priechod and Moštenica).
The inhabitants of Konice at the time were forced to move for some unknown reason. It is assumed that the relocation of the village from where it once stood, to today's area took place at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, specifically in the first quarter to the first third of the 14th century at the latest. The old name of the village was still used for some time, or was used alongside the new name currently used today, Podkonice, signifying its close by proximity to the new area.

## Geography

The municipality lies at an altitude of 529 metres and covers an area of 28.476 km$^2$. It has a population of about 877 people.
Podkonice is part of a group of mountainous type villages in the Banská Bystrica region. The village is located at the foot of the southern slopes of the Low Tatras at an altitude of 520 meters above sea level. It belongs to the Banská Bystrica District and is also part of the Central Slovak mountain region of folk culture. In March 2000, the village became a member of the "Microregion pod Panský dielom". The bordering municipalities of Baláže, Kynceľová, Nemce, Podkonice, Priechod, Selce, Slovenská Ľupča, and Špania Dolina are the other members of the microregion. The total area of this microregion is 110 km2, it lies in the altitude range of 360 - 1250 m above sea level, and its member villages are home to approximately 8250 inhabitants. The common goal of the microregion's municipalities is partnership and cooperation in the field of tourism, solving issues of employment, and civic amenities, solving environmental problems and preserving folk and local traditions.

## Sport
### Soccer

FK Podkonice - football club currently competing in 3rd league - group west (3. Liga (Slovakia))

## Notable Places

Slovak Ski Museum (Slovak:Slovenské lyžiarske múzeum) The Ski Museum documents the history of skiing over the past 130 years. It contains 650 exhibits of skis, ski poles and also 85 pieces of ski boots. There is also a photo gallery and text documentation from the history of Slovak skiing and important skiing events. Important trophies and cups from skiing events are also displayed here.
Church of Saint Martin (Slovak:Kostol sv. Martina) a single-nave church with a polygonal presbytery, classically oriented to the east, originally built in Podkonice sometime in the second half of the 14th century.
Ski Resort - Pleše (Slovak:Lyžiarske stredisko Pleše) located 2.5 km from Podkonice at an altitude of 800 to 987 m, on the southeastern side of the Low Tatras.