BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA

Banska Stiavnica is the most important mining town in Slovakia. The first written notes of it are coming back to 1217. There are many historical places of interest in the centre of the town: Town castle from the 13th century, building of mining and forest academy, town hall form the 14th century, late Gothic St. Katharine Church from the 15th century, Renaissance mansions, collection of Baroque sacral buildings. Dominant points of the town are New Castle from the 16th century, Renaissance-baroque building of Klopacka from the 16th century, Romanesque basilica of Virgin Mary from the 13th century and collection of sacral buildings Kalvaria from the 17th century – one of the biggest in Central Europe.

he town played an important role in Europe as early as in the 13th century. It became one the most significant centres of gold and silver mining as well as the most important centre of mining science, technology and education. Fast flowering and fame of the free royal town of Banska Stiavnica were directly connected with rich ore vein. The actual evidence of the town importance is shown by its size already in Roman period as well as its architecture exemplarity. Representative city centre completed within the 16th century is characterised by spacious Gothic-Renaissance citizens' houses, the town hall and late Gothic St. Catharine Church. At the same time the fortification system was built. Its Piarska Gate has survived till today.

Book your accommodation in Banska Stiavnica, where you can find hotels, guesthouses and apartments.

Thanks to Mining Academy Banska Stiavnica reached its worldwide importance. The academy was operating from 1762 till 1919 and it was founded as the first of its kind by the sovereign Maria Theresa. An essential part of the city sites are large complexes of technical pieces of work related to mining and processing poly-metallic ores - various shafts, roads, mining derricks, water-economic system of channels, etc. Banska Stiavnica is listed in the UNESCO Heritage together with technical sights surrounding the town. You can experience some powerful moments visiting 76-metre-long mining road under the ground or sightseeing tour of mining museum with its original exhibits situated outdoors.

Banská Štiavnica was formerly one of the most significant centres of precious metal mining, mining science, technology and education in Europe. It was awarded the official status of a town and mining rights as early as 1238, but the extraction and processing of metals, principally gold and silver, dates back to the Bronze Age. In mediaeval times, many German mining specialists came to Banska Stiavnica, bringing with them their new and progressive expertise in ore extraction. The world’s first technical university, devoted to mining, mineralogy, physics and chemistry, was established here in 1735 by a decree of the empress Maria Thereza, inspiring the establishment of the later polytechnic institute in Paris.

www.banskastiavnica.sk, www.cestaunesco.sk