Popular Cities Banská Štiavnica

The oldest mining town in Slovakia is called Banská Štiavnica (German: Schemnitz). It is located between Košice and Bratislava, making this spot a wonderful opportunity to connect the two largest cities in Slovakia during your trip. Banská Štiavnica was already named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Attractions

Below, we would like to present the unique attractions of the idyllic mining town that await you after a winding drive to Banská Štiavnica. Admire the historic old town and the wonderful view thanks to the special location of Banská Štiavnica.

Historic Old Town

The historic old town is without question the landmark of the mining town and houses many different buildings from long-gone eras. These include the Old Castle and New Castle, the Kammerhof, the town hall including the town hall square, Trinity Square, the Church of St. Catherine, the Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary, the Piarg Gate, and the Knocking Tower.

Old Castle

Today's Old Castle is made up of various former buildings. The oldest part is the former Parish Church of the Virgin Mary. This was built together with the Cemetery Chapel of St. Michael in the 13th century, and together they form the three-nave Romanesque basilica. In the 14th century, these buildings were supplemented by a protective wall, which laid the foundation for the future town castle. Further extensions were also made in the form of a bastion and an entrance gate to the tower. The history of the castle as we know it today thus goes far back into the past! The basilica was converted into a Gothic church at the beginning of the 16th century, and in the 18th century it was transformed into the Baroque style. Nowadays, the Old Castle serves as the Slovak Mining Museum, and especially in the summer, its theatre performances and cultural programs create a special incentive for adventurous tourists. The museum mainly covers topics related to the history of the mining town and offers insights through an archaeological exhibition, a blacksmith and pipe workshop, and a torture chamber. In particular, the archaeological exhibition "Miners Go…" attracts many history enthusiasts and displays treasures of bronze jewellery, toolboxes, and details of ancient clothing from around 900 BC.

Love Bank

The Love Bank, probably the most unique vault in the entire world, contains not only the longest poem in the world, "Marína", but also allows visitors to store items such as photos, rings, or letters that remind them of their loved ones. The Love Bank is open to everyone and is particularly popular on Valentine's Day. The famous poem by the Slovak creative spirit Andrej Sládkovič was written between 1844 and 1846, when he learned that his beloved Marína was going to marry another man. The poem has been translated into eight languages, including English and German, and is considered a Slovak national treasure. The vault itself contains 100,000 small boxes, each holding a single letter, punctuation mark, or space from the original manuscript of the poem, allowing visitors to immortalise their memories in the vault. Each of the many boxes is protected by a seal and is therefore secure. Interestingly, the Love Bank is located in the historic house of the beloved Marína, who secretly kept the poem at the time. A place you shouldn't miss on your trip and definitely a special kind of opportunity.

The Reservoirs: An Interesting Surrounding Area for the Mining Town

The mining town was shaped by its long mining history and shows visitors its magnificent heritage of numerous reservoirs. The reservoirs are often referred to as the Ponds of Štiavnica, which were built for the mines and are used today as bathing spots. The artificial lakes were built in response to the water shortage at the time in the centre of the mountains and served to collect rainwater. This water was channelled from the mountain slopes into a water basin via a complicated system of channels. Most of the ponds of Štiavnica visible today were created in the 18th century, but of the original 60 ponds, only 20 remain. However, even these 20 ponds offer plenty of opportunities for relaxation during the hot summer months. So, during your holiday, dare to take a plunge into the cool water and enjoy the surrounding nature!

Near the Historic Mining Town

But it's not only the old mining town that offers many opportunities to discover traces of bygone times. The surroundings of this unique town can also take your breath away. Explore Calvary Hill and become part of the history and its stations as symbols of Jesus Christ.

Calvary Hill

You can already spot Calvary Hill from the viewpoints of the mining town. This hill is characterised by its Holy Staircase, 2 churches, and 24 chapels, and tells the story of Jesus Christ through its various stations. You climb the hill across more than 25 stations, each representing the life and suffering of Jesus Christ and his mother Mary.

What Do I Need to Know When Travelling to Slovakia?

Slovakia has a vignette requirement, which is particularly relevant for tourists. The vignette is used to pay the toll charged on the signposted sections of the motorways and expressways. You can find further information on the vignette requirement as well as penalties for not having a vignette in our guide. In addition to the vignette requirement, there is also the distance-based toll. If you're not familiar with the difference, feel free to check out our article on tolls in Slovakia!

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant trip!

We wish you a pleasant trip to Slovakia and lots of enjoyment exploring this versatile country. You can find further information on tolls in Slovakia in our guide. Feel free to also use our route planner to optimally plan your trip and have suitable toll products displayed to you. If you have any questions, we are available at any time via email.