Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica and the Technical Monuments in its Vicinity - World Heritage Site

Banska Stiavnica

The historic town of Banska Stiavnica and the technical monuments in its vicinity are an outstanding example of a European medieval mining centre. Central Europe, from the Harz to Slovakia, at that time was the main area for mining and metallurgy. Large scale mining started in Banska Stiavnica in the 12th century, profiting from its location in the middle of an immense caldera created by the collapse of an ancient volcano. From the 15th century on the silver mined here brought great wealth. The city also was the seat of the principal Mining Academy in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Among many others, the designated area contains the following structures:
- Town centre with the town hall, burgher houses, plague column and several churches
- Baroque Calvary complex
- Old and New Castles
- The buildings of the former Mining Academy
- Knocking tower
- Sitno Castle
- Series of dams and channels
- Bieber drainage gallery
- Mayer shaft
- Silver-lead mining plants

The inscription of this site as a WHS took two tries: in 1992 the proposal was deferred back to the Slovak government in order to gain more information on “the concrete existence of a heritage bearing witness to mining activities”. The reply obviously was satisfying, and the site was inscribed in 1993.

Year	Decision	Comments
2006	Name change	From "Banská Štiavnica" to "Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica and the Technical Monuments in its Vicinity"
1993	Inscribed	Reasons for inscription

Visit May 2008

The tension rises during the 18km approach from the highway to this town. Tiny villages and derelict mining sites (with the appropriate desolate apartment blocks) alternate. Déjŕ vu: Alaverdi, Armenia (close to the Haghpat WHS). You just wonder what is behind the next corner and what Banska Stiavnica is like. Well: the first view of its valley really makes you want to slam the brakes of the car. Elegant, colourful and many many church spires that dominate the vista. Walking its steep and cobbly streets another déjŕ vu hits in: Ouro Preto. Banska Stiavnica is smaller and less exuberant baroque, but has its Old World charm. And a number of remarkable sights: its shiny plague column of course, but also the pretty New Castle and the Knocking tower which woke the miners every morning.

In the late afternoon I decide to check out the Calvary, which lumbers so attractively on a hill just outside town. I go by car, which proves a good choice when I notice the red faces of the hikers that I pass by. You’d better save your breath for the Calvary walk itself. There’s no sign, but when you see the Calvary at its best from the main road, there’s a turn to the left into a small paved road. At the entrance of the Cavalry there is parking space for a couple of cars. The climb along the various chapels to the church at the top takes about half an hour. There are great (Sound of Music-like) views of the surrounding meadows.

In all, it’s a worthy WHS. There’s enough to see and do to keep you busy for a full day (or more) and it also is a pleasant place to stay for the night. Beware when preparing a visit on basis of the Unesco Advisory Body documentation: the ICOMOS report on the site isn’t especially flattering and the first referral (in 1992) I think was a disgrace.

More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery

Reviews

Christer Sundberg (Sweden):

Getting to Banska Stiavnica by train is not an easy one and requires numerous changes. The upside is that you are travelling through a very varied landscape with both mountain scenery and fields. The town of Banska Stiavnica is located on the slopes of what was once - some 20 million years ago – one of Europe’s biggest volcanos. And as we all know, volcano’s equals mineral deposits and there are evidence that mining took place here as early as the stone age. But in the early 12th century things started to get organised and it all later became the rich town of Banska Stiavnica where the first steps in industrial mining was once taken.

Dozens of tons of gold and silver has left the town gates of Banska Stiavnica and the riches were used to erect the town and fund wars. But it was also used to support science, education and culture. The town is filled with numerous beautiful buildings, two castles, churches and – the towns logotype – the Holy Trinity Column – erected in 1711 as a sign of gratitude for the end of the plague. And it was here the first European Mining Academy was founded in the 1760:ies. But in the midst of the 19th century the mines began to dry up and the town slowly went into decay. Today it’s slowly being refurbished and tourists are finding their way to this charming town in southern Slovakia. Don’t miss it if you are in the neighbourhood….

Date posted: September 2006

Christina Vincent (USA):
I spent two days and one night in Banska Stiavnice last summer. It was an amazingly friendly and beautiful town. Both the old and new castles are a treat to see, and the old castle hosts a medieval show for families on some evenings. People here were very approachable and interested in talking to tourists.

I am 22 and was with some others my age, and we found some nice local nightlife. There is a street with 3 small, crowded discos and an excellent tea house overlooking the town with hookahs (water pipes) and cozy rooms to sit on pillows on the floor with your friends.

The hotel we stayed at was named The Chameleon, and it was extremely nice with great breakfast, a leather living room set and TV in most rooms, and heart-shaped gingerbread cookies on our pillows.

Definately a worthwhile stop in Slovakia.

-Christina

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