Banská Štiavnica

Banská Štiavnica essentials

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Banská Štiavnica is defined by its rich mining history and unique architectural landscape. This selection includes the medieval Old Castle and the Renaissance New Castle, once part of the city's anti-Ottoman defenses. The Baroque Calvary offers religious significance and panoramic views, while the Open-Air Mining Museum and Glanzenberg tunnel reveal the town's underground heritage. Surrounding the center are 'tajchy,' 18th-century artificial reservoirs like Počúvadlo and Klinger, originally built to power mining machinery.

Banská Štiavnica Essentials — Map

Ladislav Luppa / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Old Castle

Old Castle's history begins in the 13th century with a basilica and a cemetery being built on its grounds.

Pudelek / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

New castle

Nový zámok is a castle in Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia. The castle is located on a hill south of the city center at an altitude of 630m above…

Ladislav Luppa / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

The Calvary

The Calvary is a complex of sacral buildings all built in baroque style including several churches and chapels.

Marián Hubinský / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Open-Air Mining Museum

Banska Stiavnica was and is famous for its mining industry and history and what better place to learn about it than an Open-Air Mining…

Jan Starec / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Počúvadlianske jazero

Pocuvadlo, the biggest 'tajch' which is one of many articially created water reservoirs to supply the mines in the area in the 18th century.

Ladislav Luppa / CC BY-SA 4.0

F

Horná Botanická záhrada

Established in the mid-19th century for the Academy of Mining and Forestry, this garden contains over 200 species of trees, including giant sequoias and Lebanon cedars.

Halina Smetaniuk / CC BY-SA 4.0

G

Banskoštiavnicky betlehem

A large moving wooden nativity scene depicting the town’s mining history and daily life through hundreds of carved figures and miniature architectural landmarks.

H

Piargská brána

Built in 1554, this Renaissance gate is the only preserved entrance of the town's original fortification system, later remodeled in the Baroque style.

I

Štôlňa Glanzenberg

A historic heritage mine shaft accessible from the town center. It is known for its royal visitors, including Emperor Francis Stephen of Lorraine in 1751.

Karin Autratová / CC BY 3.0

J

Jazero Klinger

Klinger, a 'tajch', is one of the artificial water reservoirs built to supply energy to Banska Stiavnica's mines in the 18th century.

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