Banska Stiavnica & the mining towns
Tucked into the volcanic hills of central Slovakia, Banska Stiavnica is one of the country's most enchanting and least-known treasures, a UNESCO World Heritage town that grew fabulously wealthy from silver and gold mining over the centuries. Its steep, cobbled streets climb between Renaissance and baroque burghers' houses, a hilltop Old Castle and New Castle, and the dramatic Calvary, a baroque pilgrimage complex stepping up a conical hill.
The surrounding landscape is dotted with tajchy, ingenious man-made reservoirs once built to power the mines and now ringed by walking trails and used for swimming. You can descend into a historic mine, wander a perfectly preserved medieval town with a bohemian, artsy spirit, and explore a wider region of old mining towns.
It is a romantic, atmospheric step back into Slovakia's golden past. With the right timing and a little local knowledge you can climb to the castles for the views, walk up the Calvary, descend into the silver mine and still have time to sit with a coffee in one of the town's creative little cafes as the day softens.
