Banská Bystrica

Thanks do the good location of Banská Bystrica in central Slovakia near the Hron River, but mainly owing to nearby ore deposits of copper and other metals, the city flourished as a major mining town. Mining towns, particularly those in central Slovakia, are characterized by town fortifications which consist of a regular set of structures, and Banská Bystrica is the biggest complex of this kind. It is composed of several Gothic and Renaissance structures including two Gothic churches, former town hall, Matthias house, rectory as well as the fortification itself with turrets and a barbican.

The parish church, formerly built in the Romanesque style, formed the centre of the early settlement. During the 14^th und 15^th centuries the church was enlarged and completed. A fire in 1761 seriously damaged not only the church but also the whole town. Preserved Gothic monuments include the St. Barbara Chapel erected around 1500 with a Gothic altar made by the master/sculptor Paul of Levoca in 1509. Another Gothic church, the Holy Cross Church dates from 1479 and so called Matthias house is of the same age. The town hall called Praetorium is late Renaissance.

The whole castle complex was fortified in 1479-1512. The castle areas itself, noblemen´s houses as well as those of artisans and merchants along with the inevitable medieval hospital were soon encircled by a massive stone fortification.

The formerly Jesuit bishop cathedral church dates from the 17^th century while the Protestant Classical church was built in 1803.

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