Banska Stiavnica Travel Guide

 halikowski Says:  Jazznica 2008 included Czech solo singer Eva Bittova and the Polish 4-piece jazz outfit `Soundcheck'. Entry 300 SKK on the night. 

 halikowski Says:  A seventeenth-century Baroque statue commemorating the recovery of the town from a bad attack of plague. You can see similar statues in neighbouring towns such as Kremnica. 

 halikowski Says:  Kalvaria, a calvary, was constructed at the apogee of the town's fortunes 1748-51, but now - and in spite of two restoration projects - badly damaged and derelict. Includes 24 stations of the cross. Management consultants are sent by their company `Accenture' in Bratislava... 

 halikowski Says:  In the 19th century, when ore extraction was no longer economically viable (and I think the central mining administration was moved to Banska Bystrica), a forestry academy was opened. A grand Hungarian building, still with Hungarian inscriptions. But apparently Magyarisation... 

 halikowski Says:  Lovely, clean water lakes originally designed in the 18th century to supply a constant stream of water to power the mining pumps (there are no flowing rivers of any size in the Stiavnicke vrchy). Samuel Mikoviny was the scientist/engineer to promote their use. Now they are... 

 halikowski Says:  At 1009 metres, it's not a particularly great feat to climb Sitno. Probably the most direct ascent is from Pociuvadlo, from which it takes c. 45 minutes to go up. On the top is a renovated wooden visitor's chalet with observation floor. The top of Sitno is covered with wild... 

 halikowski Says:  Visit to a country palace, most famously occupied by the last King of Bulgaria Ferdinand of Coburg, who was exiled after siding with the losing Germans in the First World War. Sumptuous nineteenth century Biedermeier rooms with luxury furniture, Chinese silk wallpapers,... 

 halikowski Says:  Hostel 6 advertises itself as the cheapest place in town. But in fact, it's overpriced so nobody ever stays there as far as I could see. And the poor manager sits in his office surrounded by emptiness. 

 halikowski Says:  Beautiful Renaissance building, bang in the centre of town, with rooms looking out over the Old Castle. But be careful of the scouts, who seem to name a price according to how soft you look. Beds were advertised on hostelworld for 250 SKK, I ended up paying 350 SKK after... 

 halikowski Says:  6 km down the road from Banska Stiavnica (to the north) is Banska Bela, a small satellite village, situated close to the Ferdinand mining adit. But what an impressive church for such a small place! With a closed, wooden gallery leading up to the entrance. 

 halikowski Says:  We walked from Pociuvadlo jezero, up Mount Sitno, down to the hamlet of Ilija, across the fields to Svaty Anton, and up through the forest to Bansky Studenec. Problem getting back though: buses are very irregular. 

 Assenczo Says:  Antol is a village or rather an area of Greater Banska Stiavnica(2km off downtown), where the palace of Ferdinand Saxcobourg Gotta is located. For people with inclination towards history and especially comparative one it is a perfect place for a surprise. Not many in...