UNESCO Heritage

Banská Štiavnica, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is one of Slovakia’s jewels – a place where a rich history meets remarkable architecture and technical monuments.

The town is known for its historic buildings, such as the Old Castle, originally a Romanesque church rebuilt as a fortress, and the New Castle, a renaissance Watchtower, both of which dominate the town’s skyline. St Catherine’s Church, also known as ‘the Slovak Church’, is another important monument that reflects the spiritual life of the townspeople. 

A unique feature of the region is the tajchy – man-made water reservoirs built in the 18th century to supply water to the mines. There were originally 60 of them; 24 survive today and are used for recreation, making them popular places for swimming and relaxing. The Calvary, a Baroque gem built on Scharffenberg Hill, is another of the town’s landmarks. This complex of 23 separate buildings offers visitors not only a spiritual experience but also wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. A stroll through the town’s narrow lanes reveals a wealth of burgher houses, churches and other historic buildings that together create a truly unique atmosphere. Every corner of Banská Štiavnica tells its own story, just waiting to be discovered.