Silver town or Slovak Verona: Banská Štiavnica

“See Banská Štiavnica and fall in love with Slovakia,” say Slovaks.

The Calvary in Banská ŠtiavnicaThe Calvary in Banská Štiavnica (Source: One2We)

There is a secret mediaeval town hidden in the forest of central Slovakia.

  • 180 km from Bratislava.
  • On an extinct stratovolcano. With a base of more than 50 km, it was one of the biggest in Europe.
  • For many people, one of the most beautiful and, in historical terms, one of the most interesting towns in Slovakia.
  • A town with no traffic lights, no billboards, but with unique architecture and nature.
  • A “Silver town”.

An important centre

The biggest mining centre during the Habsburg Monarchy in the 18th century. The third largest city in the Hungarian Kingdom. The second largest city in Slovakia at the end of the 18th century.

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The seat of Banská akadémia (Mining Academy) opened in 1762, the first university of its kind in the world.

A flourishing and hidden harbour of science, education, knowledge, technical inventions, innovation, alchemy and freemasons.

Banská Štiavnica

  • Located in the heart of Slovakia. At the foot of the “gateway to hell” and the Slovak Chinese wall.
  • A romantic place where a popular Slovak poet of the 18th century, Andrej Sládkovič, lost his heart and fell in love with Marína, a Slovak poetical femme fatale. Sládkovič wrote the longest love poem in the world.

Let’s explore this mystical and romantic town, listed among the 15 most romantic towns in central Europe.

Whether you sit in a café on The Trinity Square, walk through the curving mediaeval streets, drink beer in the local brewery, admire the view from above from the hill with the Baroque Calvary Church, hike to the most legendary peak, Mount Sitno, or cycle around tajchs, the old artificial water reservoirs built to provide energy for the silver mines, a visit to Banská Štiavnica is a must.

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“See Naples and Die,” or “Vedi Napoli e poi Muori”, say Italians.

“See Banská Štiavnica and fall in love with Slovakia”, say Slovaks.

One2We is an incoming company concentrating on active, adventure, bike and sport tours in Slovakia, in the unique, authentic and safe country, far away from mass tourism; offer undiscovered and amazing places, tailored-made solutions and very professional individual guiding.

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