In Banská Štiavnica, the townscape and mining history tell different stories about the region. The town’s preserved centre took shape in the 16th century: Late Gothic and Renaissance burgher houses, the town hall and the Late Gothic Church of St. Catherine are its distinctive features. The history of science is also rooted here. In 1762, Europe’s first mining and forestry academy was founded in Banská Štiavnica.
Discover mining history at the museum
The Banské múzeum v prírode offers insights into the history of ore mining in its original setting. Guided tours take visitors through original mine sections. The exhibition spans the period from the Middle Ages to the end of the 20th century, showing the development of ore mining in Central Europe over several centuries. Check the latest visitor information before your visit.
The museum’s surface exhibition offers another perspective: it combines technical mining monuments with a geological exhibition comprising 70 stops. In this way, the technical evidence and geological themes are presented together, while offering two distinct perspectives on mining history.
The Kammerhof also offers an introduction to the region’s history. Construction of the building began in the 12th century and continued in stages; by the 16th century, it was the seat of the Chief Chamber Count’s Office. Today, it presents the history of mining, technology and the everyday lives of miners. The Kammerhof is also home to the information centre of the Slovak Mining Museum, with minerals, souvenirs, representative publications and information materials. The selection may change.
The town’s castles offer a different focus: the Old Castle serves as a museum and displays, among other things, pipes and shooting targets. The New Castle is also used as a museum. One exhibition there is devoted to the battles against the Ottomans; the castle also offers a view of the town.
Kalvária and the mountain landscape
The expansive Baroque Banskoštiavnická Kalvária stretches along the hillside above the town. Its complex includes three churches and 19 chapels, as well as a cross with a sculptural group depicting the Seven Sorrows of Mary. The visitor route begins in the lower part of the site, passes the chapels to the Upper Church, then descends along the other side of the slope. This makes it possible to experience the complex as a circular walk, with its stops following a clear sequence.
The UNESCO World Heritage area also includes the surrounding landscape, with traces of gold and silver mining within the Štiavnické vrchy Protected Landscape Area. The Banskoštiavnický Geopark is located in Banská Štiavnica District and covers 374 km². It contains a total of 156 sites; the Štiavnické vrchy Protected Landscape Area also extends into the geopark. Sitno is considered a landmark mountain of this range: at 1,009 metres, it is the best-known and highest mountain in the range.
There is also evidence of mining history beneath the town centre: a drainage tunnel dating from the 14th century runs below it. It can also be entered by families with children aged six and over. Visiting the tunnel provides a different way to explore mining history than the exhibitions and above-ground monuments.
A festival in September
Salamandrové dni has been held every year in the second week of September since 1993. The programme includes a historical Salamander procession, music, a traditional fair, exhibitions, and activities for children and families. Check the specific dates before travelling; programme details vary from year to year. Alongside the historic sites and museums, the festival offers another cultural highlight, with visits timed to coincide with the event dates.
Discover more destinations: Banska Bela, Banska Stiavnica, Štiavnické Bane, Dekýš, Svätý Anton, Banský Studenec, Ilija, Kozelník, Vysoká, Podhorie.
Go to the overview of the wider region: Banská Bystrica.
