Disclosure: This post (probably) contains affiliate links. If you click on one, I may make a small commission. Of course, this will come at no extra cost to you and helps keep this site running.
Ever been somewhere that completely surpasses the limited expectations you had? Well, during my trip to Slovakia that was the medieval mining town of Banska Stiavnica. Even with my first ten minutes there as I walked up to the hotel I could tell that the town was special. The few photos I’d seen had lured me in, but they didn’t quite do justice to this UNESCO-recognised historic town. Nor did they convey just how many things to do in Banska Stiavnica there were.
And really, Banská Štiavnica ticks all of the boxes for me. It has history, castles, a dramatic landscape and not too many tourists. But it’s also undeniably picturesque, which is why I think Banska Stiavnica is likely the prettiest town in Slovakia. So, if you’re ever in central Slovakia this is one place that definitely needs to be on your itinerary. Below you’ll find what I think is clear proof for why Banska Stiavnica is worth visiting based on what there is to see there when you do visit.
Town of Banska Stiavnica
Rather than jump straight into what to do in Banska Stiavnica and why it’s such a great day trip from Bratislava, I thought it wise to first tell you a little about the town. That’s because there are quite a few things that make this town noteworthy, from its setting to its history.
Forest-covered hills surround Banská Štiavnica in Central Slovakia, an area known for its hills and epic mountains. But what makes this town so special is that it actually rests in a vast caldera formed by an extinct volcano. While that explains the truly scenic landscape that you get to enjoy from the town’s viewpoints, it’s not the only geology that has shaped the town.
That’s because Banska Stiavnica is actually the oldest mining town in Slovakia and has thrived off the industry for millenia. Mining has been the primary industry of the town and region since as far back as the ancient Celts. Things only escalated over time, later becoming the main source of gold and silver for the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. The town even formed the very first Mining and Forestry Academy in Europe in 1762, proving its technical credentials.
This mining heritage is a large part of why UNESCO granted the town World Heritage status in 1993. No doubt, the town’s booming mining economy is responsible for the refined architecture still spotted around town today. Regardless, they both make Banska Stiavnica a more intriguing place to visit.
The Main Street
The best place to start when visiting Banska Stiavnica is with the town’s main street. This long street changes names a bit as it weaves up through town, from Kammerhofska to Andreja Kmeťa. What’s important though is that all along this narrow main street there are tall, elegant buildings flanking it either side. Some give off a distinctly medieval vibe, while others look like the sort of noble residences you’d find in Vienna or Prague.
While it’s a fair walk that’s continually uphill, the way the winding road reveals more and more of town as you go means it never grows dull. On certain sections of the street there’s a raised side walk off to the side, that only adds to the old-fashioned feel of the town. There’s a reason that this one street was probably my most photographed place in the whole town.
Church of St Catherine
Following the main street you’ll eventually spy two towers in front of you. The further of the two is a very narrow tower belonging to the local Town Hall. In my opinion though it’s the other building, the Church of St Catherine, that’s more interesting. With roads all around it, the church is kind of a little island and may well be in the very centre of the Old Town. It also seems in a very good state given it was built in the 15th century, explaining its Gothic design.
Holy Trinity Square
Just up from the Church of St Catherine you’ll find the closest thing there is to a main square with the Holy Trinity Square. There are some seriously old buildings around the square, with one still sporting patches of a mural once painted upon it.
Here on Holy Trinity Square you’ll also find the town’s Tourist Information Office, oh and the massive Holy Trinity Plague Column. This large plague column is anything but inconspicuous and was built to memorialise a devastating plague from the 18th century.
Old Castle
While it’s not immediately obvious, behind the buildings on Holy Trinity Square is one of the main places to see when sightseeing in Banska Stiavnica. Take the little staircase up from by the Town Hall and you’ll find yourself right at the entrance to the Old Castle. You’ll want to pay a visit here for sure, as there’s quite an interesting mix of things to see here.
One of the surprising things you learn when stepping inside the castle walls is that originally wasn’t a castle at all. The Romanesque Church of the Virgin Mary was the first thing built here in the 13th century, with a small cemetery off to the side. It wasn’t until after the Ottoman invasions began in the 16th century that the church was transformed into a fortress. Once that particular threat died down, the now-castle served various purposes, from an archive to library and even a prison.
Visitors have the option of a standard tour without a guide, or an extended guided tour that includes certain areas inside the church. I was quite content taking the basic tour, exploring the castle and walking around the inside of the walls. Still, one of the best parts of visiting is the climb up the castle’s Bell Tower. From the top you’re treated to some superb panoramic views of the town and its motley patchwork of rooftops.
New Castle
Sitting across town from the Old Castle on its own hilltop perch is the aptly named New Castle. Although it also goes by the Maiden Castle and there’s a great story behind that name. The tower-like castle was built in 1564 and is one of the easiest sights to see as it watches over town. Visiting inside, the castle houses an exposition of the Slovak Mining Museum focused on the Turkish invasion.
But honestly, my favourite thing about this castle is the legend surrounding its creation. The story goes that the castle was founded by Barbara Rössel, an incredibly wealthy but arrogant local heiress. Her reputation for raucous parties in town drew local ire, so they built the gallows below her window as a not-so-subtle statement. Getting the message, she appeared to change her ways for a time.
After a while, she used some of her family fortune to build this castle under the pretence that it was to defend the town from Turkish forces. Her only condition for “helping the town” was that she chose the castle’s location. And so she did, somewhere that she could no longer see the gallows as she resumed her party lifestyle. The legend ends that she went on to waste the family fortune and end up destitute. Gotta love the moral of the story.
Banská Štiavnica Calvary
Throughout my time in town, I kept noticing something up on a semi-distant hill. It only took a quite look at a map to determine that it was the Banska Štiavnica Calvary. You find calvaries all through Slovakia, as well elsewhere in Central Europe including Austria and Hungary. Having seen several in my travels previously, I knew they were usually worth the effort of climbing up. This one was no different.
Even to reach the foot o the calvary hill is a bit of a walk from the centre of town. Things only get harder when you begin the walk to the top. But passing the Stations of the Cross helps quite a bit as they each bare quite a pretty Baroque design, as do the chapels mid way up and at the very top. Sadly, people were renovating the calvary when I was there, but then I could tell how beautiful the top chapel was. Plus, my view from the top back to town was hard to complain about.
Relax at the Cosy Cafes
One of the many nice surprises from Banska Stiavnica was the town’s love affair with grand cafes. During my time there, I was able to visit several nice places for coffee. Two places worth mentioning for their service and very pretty interior were the Divná Pani Caffé and the 4Sochy cafe, both on the town’s main street. Although markedly different from one another, they both shared the kind of atmosphere you find in Viennese coffee shops which I quite liked.
Other Sights Around Town
As with any trip, it’s not always easy to fit in every single sight or attraction. But sometimes there are also things that don’t suit you or your interests. All that to say, there were a few things I missed for various reasons with my two nights in Banska Stiavnica.
One was the Stolna Glanzenberg museum, which is literally down beneath the town. I opted out of this underground museum because of my claustrophobia, but it’s heritage gallery from the 14th century did sound interesting.
Then there was the “Love Bank”, a museum and attraction related to the Slovakian romantic poem Marína. The attraction is situated inside the home of Marina Pischlova, the subject of the poem, and honestly looked a little tacky at first glance. That’s because it’s advertised as a place for couples to go and purchase a love box here as a token of their love. But there’s a small museum there with information on the poem, the longest poem in the world, that may have been more interesting.
Finally, there’s the Slovak Mining Museum to the southwest of town. Although a very well-rated museum that explores the town’s mining history, I simply ran out of time to see this myself. It doesn’t help that it’s a bit of a walk to get there and it was starting to get chilly as autumn set in.
Travel Tips for Visiting Banska Stiavnica
In order to make your visit to Banska Stiavnica easier, there’s a few things worth knowing. One bit of welcome news is that entry fees for the attractions in town are pretty reasonably priced. They ranged from 2€ for the New Castle to 6€ for the open-air mining museum, while I there at least.
As for where to stay, I chose the Hotel Bristol for my visit and liked its central location and my recently renovated room. If that option doesn’t appeal to you, then you’re in luck. There’a actually a great range of places to stay in Banska Stiavnica, so you really shouldn’t have any problems.
Then there’s the matter of getting there in the first place. Public transport in Slovakia isn’t too bad and you should find both bus and trains connections to reach the town. During my visit, there were buses connecting with Bratislava, Banska Bystrica and Zvolen, as well as smaller places.
Otherwise, there’s also a few train connections through Zvolen to Banska Bystrica which are the nearest major places in this region. It’s worth noting that both the bus and train station are at the bottom of a hill outside the town centre, so prepare for a decent uphill walk.
Ever heard of, visited or just wanted to visit Banska Stiavnica before? Are there other towns in Slovakia that you think are even prettier? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.
