Discover Banská Štiavnica

Slovakia’s oldest mining town is called Banská Štiavnica (German: Schemnitz). It is located between Košice and Bratislava, making it a wonderful way to connect Slovakia’s two largest cities during your trip. Banská Štiavnica was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1993.

Sights

Below, we would like to introduce you to the unique sights of this idyllic mountain town, which you will encounter after a winding drive to Banská Štiavnica. Admire the historic old town and the beautiful views made possible by Banská Štiavnica’s special location.

Historic Old Town

The historic old town is without a doubt the landmark of the mountain town and is home to many buildings from times long past. These include the Old Castle and the 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 Piargska Gate, and the Klopfturm (Watch Tower).

Old Castle

Today’s Old Castle consists of several former buildings. The oldest part is the former Parish Church of the Virgin Mary. Together with the Cemetery Chapel of St. Michael, it was built in the 13th century, and together they form the three-aisled Romanesque basilica. In the 14th century, these structures were complemented by a protective wall, which laid the foundation for the future town castle. Further extensions were added in the form of a bastion and an entrance gate to the tower. The history of the castle as we know it today therefore goes far back into the past. In the early 16th century, the basilica was converted into a Gothic church; in the 18th century it was transformed into the Baroque style. Today, the Old Castle serves as the Slovak Mining Museum, and especially in summer it offers a special incentive for curious tourists with its theatre performances and cultural programmes held at the castle. The museum focuses primarily on the history of the mining town and provides insights through an archaeological exhibition, a blacksmith’s and pipe workshop, and a torture chamber. The archaeological exhibition “Miners Go…” in particular attracts many history enthusiasts and displays treasures such as bronze jewellery, tool chests, and details of ancient clothing dating back to around 900 BC.

Love Bank

The Love Bank, probably the most unique vault in the world, not only contains the world’s longest poem, “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 especially popular on Valentine’s Day. The famous poem by Slovak creative spirit Andrej Sládkovič was written between 1844 and 1846 when he learned that his beloved Marína would 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 Marína, the beloved woman who secretly kept the poem at the time. A place you should not miss on your trip—and definitely a very special opportunity.

The reservoirs: an interesting setting for the mountain town

The mountain town has been shaped by its long mining history and presents visitors with its magnificent legacy of numerous reservoirs. The reservoirs are often referred to as the Štiavnica ponds, which were built for the mines and are now used for swimming. The artificial lakes were constructed in response to the water shortage in the centre of the mountain range at the time and were used to collect rainfall. This water was channelled via a complex system of gutters from the mountain slopes into a basin. Most of the Štiavnica ponds visible today were created in the 18th century, but only 20 of the original 60 ponds have been preserved. Even so, these 20 ponds offer plenty of opportunities for relaxation during the hot summer months. So, during your holiday, take a dip in the cool water and enjoy the surrounding nature!

Near the historic mountain town

But it’s not only the old mining town itself that offers many opportunities to discover traces of times long past. The surroundings of this unique town can take your breath away as well. Explore Calvary and become part of its history and stations as a symbol of Jesus Christ.

Calvary

You can already spot the Calvary from the viewpoints of the mountain town. This hill is characterised by its Holy Stairway, the 2 churches, and 24 chapels, and tells the story of Jesus Christ through its various stations. Over 25 stations, you climb the hill, and each station represents the life and suffering of Jesus Christ as well as his mother Mary.

What do I need to keep in mind when travelling in Slovakia?

In Slovakia, there is a vignette requirement, which plays an important role especially for tourists. The vignette is used to pay the toll, which applies, among other things, on motorways and expressways. You can find more information about the vignette requirement as well as penalties for not having a vignette in our guide. In addition to the vignette requirement, there is also a distance-based toll. If you don’t know the difference, feel free to take a look at 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 fun exploring this diverse country. You can find more information about tolls in Slovakia in our guide. Feel free to use our route planner to plan your trip optimally and have suitable toll products displayed. If you have any questions, you can reach us at any time by email.