Calvary of Banská Štiavnica

Calvaries were built throughout Europe in the Middle Ages to commemorate the sufferings of Jesus.
The Calvary in Banská Štiavnica was built by the Jesuits on the eastern side of the town, on the slope of Scharfenberg – Calvary Hill, facing the town. It consists of three churches and many small chapels. The upper church was called the German church, the middle one the Hungarian, and the lower one the Slovak, as masses during pilgrimages were celebrated in these languages.

The Calvary of Banská Štiavnica is renowned not only for its picturesque location but also because, instead of the traditional 12 stations, only 7 depict Christ’s sufferings, while the other 7 represent the sorrows of Mary.