Built in a valley beneath the Štiavnica Mountains, this medieval mining town has a Gothic hilltop castle, thermal springs, and winding streets with colorful historic homes.
Banská Štiavnica spreads across the slopes of an extinct volcano in central Slovakia. As you walk its steep medieval streets, you'll pass Renaissance mansions, Gothic churches, and two castles perched on opposing hills. In Trinity Square, a baroque plague column rises above cobblestones, while underground, a network of mining tunnels stretches for kilometers beneath your feet. Just outside town, 23 white chapels of a Baroque calvary climb up a forested hill, and crystal-clear artificial lakes dot the surrounding landscape.
Exploring the Town Center
Trinity Square forms the heart of Banská Štiavnica, where a 20-meter plague column towers above Renaissance and Baroque townhouses. Walk up Holy Trinity Street to find the late Gothic Church of St. Catherine, built in 1488, with its stone-carved portal depicting mining tools. The former Mining Academy buildings along Akademická Street now contain exhibits showing how miners extracted silver and gold from these hills. Stop at one of the small cafes housed in 16th-century buildings, many with original wooden beam ceilings.
Two Castles on the Hills
The Old Castle began as a 13th-century Romanesque church before miners fortified it against Ottoman attacks in the 16th century. For €8, you can explore medieval prison cells and climb defensive walls for valley views. Across town, the white-walled New Castle (€6) dates from 1571 and contains exhibits about battles with Ottoman forces. Visit both castles between 9:00-17:00 daily except Mondays.
Underground Mining Tours
At the Slovak Mining Museum, descend 1.5 kilometers into 17th-century tunnels. The museum provides helmets, cloaks, and lamps for your underground journey. You'll see original mining tools and learn about extraction methods used over 400 years. Tours run hourly from 10:00-16:00 (€10 adults, €5 children). The museum's Kammerhof building, the former mining administration center, displays mineral collections and mining documents from the 16th century.
Tajchy: Historic Reservoirs
Miners built an intricate system of artificial lakes called tajchy to power their machinery. Today, Počúvadlo Lake, the largest at 12 hectares, has a beach for swimming in summer (water temperature reaches 24°C) and thick ice for skating in winter. Walking paths connect smaller lakes like Klinger and Veľká Vodárenská through pine forests. Each trail takes 1-2 hours to complete.
Getting Around Banská Štiavnica
Direct buses run from Bratislava (170 km, 3 hours, €12) several times daily. The closest airports are in Sliač (32 km) and Budapest (143 km). Within town, you'll need comfortable shoes for the steep streets - some climb at 15-degree angles. Local buses (€1 per ride) connect the town center with the lakes and outer neighborhoods.
When to Visit and Where to Eat
Visit between June and August for swimming when temperatures reach 25-30°C, though expect more tourists. May and September see temperatures around 20°C with fewer visitors. Around Trinity Square, restaurants serve Slovak dishes like bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings with sheep cheese) for €8-12. The Cosmopolitan restaurant, built into an old mining tunnel, serves local wine and traditional meals. Art Cafe, in a 15th-century building, roasts its own coffee beans and bakes daily pastries.
