The 10 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in Banska Bystrica Region, Slovakia

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.

Centuries of mining brought intensive use of wood and surrounding forests came to its limits. This - among aesthetical values - was the reason why the Botanical garden was established in 1838 on the ground of Mining Academy. Would exotic plants adapt and grow fast enough in Middle Europe climate? More than 250 different kinds of domestic and exotic plants make the scenery. Lean on our Giant Sequoia or Lebanese Cedar to refuel energy or just sit on the bench and relax.

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.