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I would like to share a selection of places I keep returning to – places that have, over time, simply grown close to my heart.
1. Mining towns: Banská Bystrica, Banská Štiavnica, Kremnica
I was born in the heart of Slovakia – in Banská Bystrica, historically known in German as Neusohl, a mining town surrounded by mountains, national parks, and forests where bears, wolves, and other wild animals still live. I am a strong local patriot, as I have written about before, so it is probably no surprise that I begin my selection of top places in Slovakia right here, in my home region, in the geographical centre of the country.
The oldest continuously operating mint in the world, historic town centres, mountains, forests, and unique water engineering structures built to serve mining activities. Copper, gold, and silver from the region I come from were exported across the entire Old World, and after the discovery of America, to the New World as well.
Banská Bystrica, the town I come from, was the production and administrative centre of the Thurzo–Fugger Company – at the time the largest copper enterprise in the world. That is also why Banská Bystrica is known as the copper town. Its Radvaň Fair (Radvaň-Jahrmarkt) remains the largest and most famous fair in Slovakia to this day.
Banská Štiavnica (Schemnitz) was home to the very first mining academy in the world and became famous for its unique system of water reservoirs and channels used to power mining machinery. It is known as the silver town.
And then there is Kremnica (Kremnitz) – golden Kremnitz – home to the aforementioned oldest continuously operating mint in the world.
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Common questions on this article's topic
What are the medieval mining towns of central Slovakia?
Why was Banská Bystrica one of the most important cities in medieval Europe?
What is the oldest mint in the world?
What are the Tatra Mountains?
What was Banská Štiavnica's mining academy?
Is Bratislava worth visiting?
If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback, feel free to drop me a message at mail@richardgolian.com.
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