Banská Bystrica

Banská Bystrica was a copper town, and in the sixteenth century the Thurzo and Fugger partnership working from here made it one of the most important metal producers in Europe. The money built the square: a very large sloping space lined with burgher houses, with a leaning clock tower, a plague column and, at the top, the town castle, a walled complex of churches and a barbican. The Low Tatras rise directly behind the town.

Background

The town lies on the Hron River at 368 m, in a broad valley closed in by the Kremnica Mountains, the Veľká Fatra and the Low Tatras. About 76,000 people live here, which ranks it sixth among Slovak municipalities by population, and it is home to Matej Bel University. In 1255 Béla IV of Hungary granted it the rights of a free royal town, and settlers from Thüringen arrived. The Slovak name joins Banská, from baňa, a mine, with the river Bystrica, a swift stream. The German name Neusohl, first recorded in 1300, means New Zvolen. Mining here is far older: tools of prehistoric miners at Špania Dolina date to 2000-1700 BC.

Source: Wikipedia, "Banská Bystrica"

What's there

• The main square - a very large sloping space of burgher houses and arcades.
• The leaning tower - the clock tower on the square, noticeably out of true.
• The town castle - a walled complex of churches and gate above the square.
• The Thurzo house - the copper company's building, now the regional museum.

When to go

April to October is the most comfortable. Museums close on Mondays. Winter brings a market to the square and the Low Tatras ski areas are close.

Practical notes

The city outside the square is workaday and industrial in places. Museum labelling is mostly in Slovak. Parking near the centre is difficult.

Nearby

Spania Dolina is north, and the Low Tatras are northeast.

Key facts