7 Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Banska Stiavnica That You Shouldn't Miss

The only LOVE BANK in the world is a unique place where people from around the world store their symbolic keepsakes of love, friendship or another special moment of happiness. LOVE BANK - is inspired by the true love story between Marína and Sládkovič - is created from the verses of the World's longest love poem - consists of 100 000 Security Boxes You can find the only LOVE BANK in the world in the basement of the house that is a part of 500-year-old gold mine. It is the house where Marína Pischlová lived for the most of her life. This house is a building of national and cultural significance as well as being part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Old Castle - whose origins reach back to the early 13th century - is a review of all existing architectural styles by itself . Originally an Romanesque Chapel of St. Michal built by the community of miners was in the period of Turkish invasion in the 16th century fortified with walls, bastions and towers – and from that time it was used for military purposes. In modern times Old castle was used as a police station, an ice – stock, a town’s archive and library even as a gym! A museum since 1900 offers archaeological exhibition, exhibitions of tobacco pipes manufacture (a famous craft of Banska Stiavnica), blacksmithing, Baroque sculptures, old interior watches, torture devices, gun dartboards, exhibitions “The miners are coming”, “Calvary in exile” and more. The baroques tower offers magnificent view of the city.

Free information about the town and its surroundings, museums and galleries and events. Database of accommodation facilities and transport. Guided tours upon request. Free Wi-Fi zone.

The late-Gothic St. Catherine church was built in 1443-91. Locals call it The Slovak Church because as early as in 1658 masses were led in Slovak language here. In a under-the-ground crypt city mayors and rich burgers were buried. Original gothic furnishing, a cross from the 15th century, late-Gothic Virgin Mary sculpture a stony baptismal font and an organ from the late 18th century survived ages.

The baroque-classicist manor house in Svaty Anton (St. Anton) was built at the route connecting Southern Balkan with Cracow and northern Baltic Sea. Inspired by the symbolic of the calendar, the building has 4 entrances, 7 arcades, 12 chimneys, 52 rooms and 365 windows. A number of famous European architects and artists participated in its building and decorating. The Kohary and Coburg families made an essential contribution to the history of the manor house. Here, they concentrated beautiful pieces of furniture, artwork and crafts from all around the world. Elderly people in the village still remember its last user - Bulgarian Tsar (emperor) Ferdinand Coburg, who lived here in exile until 1944. The manor house is a museum of art, history and hunting.

The New castle overlooking the city used be part of the fortification system and one of the important watchtowers. Nowadays it explains the history of the Turkish invasions in the 16th century and its influence on the life of mining towns. The life – size sculpture of Turks by Dionysos Stanetti and the weapons belong to the most attractive artefacts. By the way, such as tempting target as Stiavnica – the Silver city - was never conquered.