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Banská Štiavnica
was formerly one of the most significant centres of
precious metal mining, mining science, technology and education in
Europe. It was awarded the official status of a town and mining
rights as early as 1238, but the extraction and processing of metals,
principally gold and silver, dates back to the Bronze Age. In
mediaeval times, many German mining specialists came to Banska
Stiavnica, bringing with them their new and progressive expertise in
ore extraction. The world’s first technical university, devoted to
mining, mineralogy, physics and chemistry, was established here in
1735 by a decree of the empress Maria Thereza, inspiring the
establishment of the later polytechnic institute in Paris.
The renaissance fortress against the Ottomans
dominating the city was constructed from the former roman-gothic
church, carner and fortification. The Old Chateau originates from
the 16th century. The New Chateau was similarly built between the
years 1564 – 1571 as a counterbalance to the Old Chateau and as part
of the town fortification against the Ottomans. Today the Slovak
Museum of Mining and an exhibition documenting the history of the
fights against the Ottoman expansion are located in both chateaus.
The location is listed in the UNESCO world cultural heritage site. |
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Spišský
hrad (Spiš castle) with
its surrounding settlements, (Spišské podhradie, Spišská Kapitula
and the small church in Žehra)
form a single historical settlement unit. Spišský
hrad was constructed in the 12th century and belongs to the largest
of its kind in Central Europe. The history of the town of Spišské
podhradie and Spišska Kapitula – the complex of chapter houses and
cathedral – are closely connected with Spiš castle. The gothic
church of the Holy Spirit in Žehra from the 14th century has its
whole interior decorated with murals from the 14th and 15th
century.The most important building of the Canonry is the twin
towered Romanesque St. Martin's Cathedral (1245-73); later
reconstructed in a gothic style with an extraordinarily precious
interior (late gothic altars, roman and gothic sculptures,
gravestones) and the late renaissance bishop palace. The complex of
the Spiš castle, the Spiš canonry and Žehra (a roman-gothic small
church from the 13th century with precious wall paintings) is listed
as part of the World Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. You can see
expositions of the castle's history, medieval weapons as well as
exhibits of feudal justice and archaeology in the castle.
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Vlkolínec
lies at the southern base of Sidorovo peak, at an
elevation of 718m above sea level. The first written reference to
this village was in 1376. More than 40 original, inhabited
“gingerbread” houses are an illustration of a one-time Slovak
mountain village. There is also a museum piece in the village –
Roľnícky dom (Peasant House), with an exhibit of original, native
housing and an information center. The dominant feature of this
village is the wooden, rustic bell tower dating back to 1770. The
village emblem was a heraldic rose with a coniferous tree in
grassland |
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Bardejov
The first written references about the town comes
from the 13th century. The town’s economy reached its peak in the
15th century, when burgers prospered from the production and export
of linen. In addition to the adjacent curative spa, the town also
had , mills, a brewery, brickworks, a slaughter-house, and the town
weighing scales, and it was a trading and craft centre. The oblong
central square is the most significant part of the town. It is made
up of major urban architectural, artistic, historic and cultural
sites. The most notable sites include the Gothic church of St
Egidius from the 14th century, the former town hall, built in 1511,
which integrates the late Gothic form with early Renaissance
elements, Gothic burger houses, The church of St Francis, a
Greek-catholic church, town fortifications and a complex of former
Jewish baths, a synagogue, farming and residential buildings.
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Karst
and caves in Slovakia
Within the
world natural heritage
are since 1995 included
Ochtinská Aragonite Cave,
Domica Cave,
Gombasecká Cave and
Jasovská Cave, and since
2000 also
Dobšinská Ice Cave. As
invaluable and irreplaceable values of the world importance they
require a special protection, care and presentation.
The
Dobšinská Ice Cave
entrance is located in the cliff Bašta on the northern side of the
Low Tatras Mts., only two kilometers northerly from the Demänovská
Cave of Liberty. Ice fill has been formed in the cave for the last
500 years and in combination with calcite decoration the cave offers
a very interesting tour.
Our caves are
mostly formed in Mesozoic Middle Triassic Limestones, less in
travertines and sporadically in other less soluble rocks. More than
180 caves are formed in non-karst rocks (andesites, basalts and
their volcanoclastics, sandstones, quartzites, shales, quartz). |
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