LOCAL ACTION GROUP ZLATÁ CESTA (GOLDEN ROAD) SK · EN DE HU SK

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD Published: Róbert Jurových NIKARA, 2015 Implemented: Občianske združenie Sebechleby

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE

GOLDEN ROAD

WWW.REGIONHONT.SK TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD OF THE REGION TO GUIDE TRAVEL STARÁ HORA PAMIATKOVÁ REZERVÁCIA ĽUDOVEJ ARCHITEKTÚRY SEBECHLEBY

SEBECHLEBY - STARÁ HORA

DUDINCE - SWIMMING POOL

BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA - CALVARY

WWW.STARAHORA.SK BAĎAN - FOLK FESTIVAL Travel Guide to the Region of the Golden Road Authors: Bc. Lukáš Šiklóši Martin Schvarc Pictures: Ing. Milan Ďuroch - www.r65.sk M.Macharik - www.stiavnica.sk Ľubomír Lužina Number of pages: 96 pages Graphic design: Adrián Jakubča Printed by: Róbert Jurových NIKARA Travel Guide to the Region of the Golden Road Contents

LOCAL ACTION GROUP ZLATÁ CESTA 7

Baďan 7 Banská Štiavnica 8 Banský Studenec 10 Beluj 11 Dekýš 12 Devičie 13 Domaníky 13 Drážovce 14 Dudince 14 Hontianske Moravce 15 Hontianske Nemce 16 Hontianske Tesáre 17 Ilija 18 Kozelník 19 Kráľovce-Krnišov 19 Ladzany 20 Lišov 21 Medovarce 22 Močiar 22 Počúvadlo 23 Pohorie 24 Prenčov 25 Rykynčice 25 Sebechleby 26 Súdovce 27 Svätý Anton 28 Štiavnické Bane 29 Sudince 30 Terany 30 Vysoká 31 Žibritov 32

WANDERING THROUGH HISTORY 33

Wandering through History of Mining 37 Wine Route 41 Spa Tourism 46 Bee Route 48 Event Guide 50 Summer in the Region 55 Winter in the Region 57 Tourism in the Region 58 Obsah

Fulfi lling Children‘s Dreams 60 Adrenaline Adventure 62

FREE TIME 64

Museums and Galleries 66 Cycle Routes and Tourist Trails 69 Sports 72 Hotels 74 Boarding Houses 79 Chalets and Cottages 81 Lodging Houses 83 Restaurants 85 Wellness and Swimming 87 Conference Services 89

CONTACTS 91

LOCAL ACTION GROUP ZLATÁ CESTA

Establishment of the association Zlatá in accordance with Article 3 of its Statutes, cesta (Golden Road) is the result of a long- improve economic opportunities and social time cooperation of the members of the conditions in all areas of economic, social, following associations – Mikroregión Hon- cultural, religious and sport life for all eco- tianka, Mikroregión Južné Sitno, Mikroregión nomic and social groups of the population. Konkordia and the association of legal per- The association in cooperation with sons Región Sitno – striving for regional de- other subjects will contribute to the general velopment, especially aiming to ensure the development of the territory, its competitive- sustainable development of rural areas. ness and living standard of its population The association has been carrying through activities in the above mentioned out its activities on the territory of the vil- areas based on the perfect knowledge of lages Baďan, Beluj, Prenčov, Počúvadlo, the territory, its needs, conditions, sources Kráľovce-Krnišov, Žibritov, Svätý Anton, Št- and potentials. iavnické Bane, Dudince, Banská Štiavnica, The main aim of the project Creation Hontianske Moravce, Hontianske Nemce, of new marketing tools for support of the Sebechleby, Banský Studenec, Dekýš, rural tourism in the region by local action llija, Kozelník, Močiar, Podhorie, Vysoká, group Zlatá cesta is the support of rural Devičie, Drážovce, Domaníky, Hontian- tourism and agrotourism in the area. The ske Tesáre, Ladzany, Lišov, Medovarce, implementer of this project is the associa- Rykynčice, Sudince, Súdovce, Terany. tion Sebechleby that has been striving for The aim of the association is to in- the development of this economic sector in crease the quality of life in the given territory the region.

BAĎAN

Baďan is the village situated in the south of neighbourhood prove that people had been liv- the Štiavnické vrchy mountains almost on the ing here since the New Stone Age. Baďan was border of Banská Bystrica and Nitra Regions. fi rst mentioned in the written sources in 1245 The village is divided into two parts, Badaň and as VillaBagun. Klastava, with the population of 220 people. The main historical monuments in the Archaeological fi ndings from surface sur- village comprise an Evangelical Church with veys in the cadastral area of the village and the the original Romanesque rotunda that is reg-

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 7 istered in the list of monuments in Slovakia as precious and mystical cellars carved into tuff a late Renaissance church from 1685. There rocks which used to serve as granaries during is a room equipped according to the folk tra- the Turk raids. They are located in „Háj“ within ditions in a single house resembling the old the cadastre of Klastava village. They are cur- times. Here you can fi nd a typical entrance rently covered, but they will be reconstructed hall called „pitvor“, earthen fl oors and wooden and open to public in the future. ceilings, stone yard etc. There are also three Contact: www.badan.webnode.sk

BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA

Historical town with its distinctively mul- on 22 September 1979 on the area of 77 ticultural history is known mainly for metal 630 ha. Central part of the town has been an mining, signifi cant mining legislation, self-ad- urban conservation area since 1950 and Ban- ministration and academic tradition. It is the ská Štiavnica and its surroundings have been centre of the Štiavnické vrchy mountains that registered in the List of World Heritage Sites was declared the protected landscape area by UNESCO. The river Štiavnica rises in the

8 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD town, the fl ow of which is currently located in represented the second largest settlement in the underground and comes to the surface in Slovakia right after Bratislava in the fi rst place. the lower part of the town. In 1873 a narrow gauge railway from Hrinská The settlement of Banská Štiavnica dates Dúbrava was put into operation as the fi rst nar- back to the Neolithic Period. Another signifi - row gauge steam (not horse-drawn) railway in cant sight from further period is the settlement the then Kingdom of Hungary which is known from New Iron Age and Post-Great Moravian nowadays as The Track of Youth. Period as well as the hill fort on Glanzenberg Banská Štiavnica is a town reserve with mountain from 10th – 11th century. The fi rst 360 artistic and historical monuments. One written evidence of silver mining on the terri- of the most signifi cant one is The Old Cas- tory of the town dates back to 1217, in 1238 tle (Starý zámok) fi nished in 1546 – 1559 by it was granted the town privileges and the rebuilding the former parish Romanesque fi rst charter with town seal comes from 1275. church from the fi rst half of the 13th centu- Fortifi cation, mining tools and coat of arms ry. In the 15th century it was rebuilt in Gothic as the oldest well-preserved coat of arms in style into a hall church which used to serve as Slovakia all date back to the 13th century. a fort in the Renaissance. Here you can see Town seal of Banská Štiavnica from 1275 the exposition of the region‘s oldest history. represents the oldest well-preserved town The copies of paintings by a mysterious Mas- seal as well as the second oldest town seal ter M.S. are exposed in the sacristy. The tow- in general in the former Kingdom of Hunga- er offers a great view as well as the presenta- ry and the oldest town seal known to exist in tion of historical clockworks. The Cavalry of Europe picturing the archaic mining tools – a Banská Štiavnica (Banskobystrická kalvária) hammer and a chisel without a handle. The from 1751 with two churches belongs to the main source of the town‘s wealth was the most beautiful Baroque cavalries in Europe. It mining industry. Since the second half of the is set on the Scharfenberg Hill. It can be seen 16th century until the beginning of the 18th from all directions and it offers an overall view century, life in the town has been unfavour- of Štiavnica caldera. Its extraordinariness lies ably affected by the threat of the Turks along in the number of stations and the story it tells. with the anti-Habsburg uprisings. Fortifying of The New Castle (Nový zámok), also called the town started in 1541. Although the Turks Virginal or Maidenly Castle, from 1571 built in had never got into town, they often plundered Renaissance style is one of the architectural the surroundings. The town maintained its gar- icons of the town. Silhouette of the castle is rison and permanent intelligence service that unique in the whole Europe since it resembles reported all the movements of the Turk military a rocket. Here you can fi nd an exposition of groups. In the 18th century, Banská Štiavnica battles against the Turks as well as the unique belonged to the best technically equipped presentation of weapons. The Knocking Tow- mining centres in the world. The population of er (Klopačka) from 1681 is a two-storey tow- Banská Štiavnica in 1782 was 23 192 residents er-like building combining Renaissance and and right after Bratislava and Debrecen it rep- Baroque features with a shingle roof and a resented the third biggest town in the Kingdom small tower with sound openings on the top. of Hungary. The fi rst mining school in the King- In the past, it was used to wake the miners up dom of Hungary was founded in Banská Štia- and in the 18th century, it was turned into a vnica in 1735. In 1763 Mining University was prison. Main Square was built in the early 16th established in the town. In 1770 it was renamed century and it forms the architectural heart to the Mining Academy which was the fi rst min- of the town. Its shape had been determined ing school in Europe and the oldest technical mainly by the Town Hall and the Church of school in the world. Towards the end of the 18th St. Catherine (Kostol sv. Kataríny). It is lined century, Banská Štiavnica along with its sub- by splendid houses originally owned by rich ject villages with more than 20 000 residents burghers and mining entrepreneurs. Plague

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 9 column with the Holy Trinity sculptures is the was a Romanesque basilica with three naves dominant feature of the square. It was built out and a cross nave. The Evangelical Church of gratitude for the end of the plague which represents a signifi cant architectural sight re- had troubled the town from 1710 to 1711. minding the beginnings of religious freedom. Originally it was very simple – its current form The construction of the church was possible is of later origin. It was rebuilt during 1759 – thanks to the Tolerance Deeds of the Emper- 1764 according to the design by a sculptor Di- or Joseph II. in 1781. The Piarg Gate (Piarg- onýz Stanetti. In the centre of the town, there ská brána) is to this date the only well-pre- is also a late Gothic Church of St. Catherine served gate from the former town fortifi cation which belongs to the most beautiful church- designed by an Italian engineer Ferrabosco. es in Banská Štiavnica. It is called „Slovak“ Built in 1554, the Piarg Gate together with because the sermons have been given in the New Castle had protected the road from Slovak language here since 1658. It was built Pukanec and the former Vindšachta leading in 1488 – 1491 and the interior ornaments to Banská Štiavnica. The original town forti- were worked on in 1500. Chapel of John of fi cation had two parallel lines and connected Nepomuk (Kaplnka Jána Nepomuckého) individual houses by walls. The main routes was added to the church in 1776. Right next were closed by fi ve gates – Svätoantonská, to the church there is the Town Hall with high Belianska, Cilingerská, a gate by Kammerhof tower that can be seen from far away. Orig- and Piargská. The centre of the town is lined inally a ground Gothic house from the 14th by several well-preserved burghers’ houses century was rebuilt in 1488 into a multi-storey which also represent the cultural monuments building. The interior of the Town Hall is dec- of the town. Besides the above mentioned orated by a ceiling fresco embodying justice. monuments, Banská Štiavnica offers a lot There used to be a town prison in the cellar of other tourist attractions. There is a great of the Town Hall. Kammerhof is the largest amount of artifi cial lakes called tajchy on the building complex in the historical town and territory of the town. Most of them were con- it was formed in the mid of the 16th century structed in the 18th century for mining pur- by rebuilding several burghers’ houses. This poses. Today they serve as holiday resorts. formed an impressive object with features of In Kysihýbeľ, there is a forest arboretum all architectural styles. It had served as the founded in 1900 that include protected study seat of the Mining Chamber and the Offi ce area of 7.06 ha used to examine the suitabili- of the Chamber Count – the administration of ty of exotic woods for the Slovak forest indus- mines, smelting works and mints in the region try. In 1838 a botanical garden of 3.55 ha was of today‘s Central Slovakia. Here you can fi nd founded on the grounds of the high school of an exposition that depicts the history of mining forestry for pedagogical and study purposes. in Štiavnické vrchy mountains as well as the The highest holly in Slovakia grows in the whole territory of Slovakia. The Assumption so-called lower garden. In the upper garden, of the Virgin Mary Church (Kostol Nanebov- one can fi nd the only Lebanese cedar on the zatia Panny Márie), also called German or territory of Slovakia as well as the sequoia Parish Church, is the oldest well-preserved from 1877. There are about 160 specimens church in the town. It was constructed in of exotic wood plants in both parts of the around 1222 together with a monastery. The garden. Parish Church, also known as the Church of Contact: www.banskastiavnica.sk St. Nicholas (Kostol sv. Mikuláša) at that time, www.banskastiavnica.travel

BANSKÝ STUDENEC

Banský Studenec is located in the eastern part of Štiavnické vrchy mountains in the nar-

10 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD row valley of Kolpašský potok brook. There are was integrated to the protected landscape artifi cial lakes (tajchy) from which Kolpašský area Štiavnické vrchy mountains in 1979. Ow- potok is fl owing. The population of the village ing to a great number of technical and cultural is 460 people. monuments, the village together with Banská The fi rst written reference to the village Štiavnica and the surroundings was recorded Banský Studenec dates back to 1266 when it in the List of World Heritage Sites by UNES- was called Kulpah. Magna Via, an important CO. Kolpašský tajch is one of the most visited post route that connected Banská Štiavnica water reservoir in the region. Veľký Kolpašský with the rest of Europe led through the terri- tajch, Malý Kolpašský tajch and Rybník lake tory of the village. constituted a single system. Veľký Kolpašský There is a Roman Catholic Church dedicat- tajch was constructed in 1730. There are ed to Transfi guration of Jesus which was con- some houses, a nice forestry manor house structed in 1745 in a Baroque style according and system of ponds constructed after the to the design by Martinelli. The citizens used World War I in Kysihýbel village. It is worth it the money from ringing on funerals and alms to visit Diery, a few-century-old underground to build a wooden tower – nowadays called stone quarry registered in the List of World pitvorec. The painting of the Visitation from the Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Building blocks church has been supposedly bought by a Jew have been quarried here supposedly since the for 10 pieces of gold. He had the painting re- 14th century. You can fi nd an aqueduct here stored in Vienna for 400 pieces of gold and sold in Kysihýbeľ, which was constructed around it in Paris for 2000 pieces of gold. The painting 1870 when the narrow gauge railway from originally constituted one of six boards of the Hronská Breznica to Banská Štiavnica was main winged altar in the Church of St. Cath- being built. It is considered to be one of the erine in Banská Štiavnica. The painting was wonders of Banská Štiavnica region since the painted in 1506 by a highly valued master M.S. water in it fl ows uphill. The whole cadastral territory of the village Contact: www.banskystudenec.sk

BELUJ

The village Beluj is located in the central tate called Široká lúka constitutes the part of part of the Štiavnické vrchy mountains in the the village. It is located approximately 3 km region of Banská Štiavnica. A manor farm es- from the village towards Prenčov, right under

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 11 Sitno mountain. The population of the village nov, had sold the half of the village to a is 126 people today. burgher from Banská Štiavnica, Mikuláš, the History of the village dates back to the son of Herman. turn of the era. Beginning of populating of The main historical sight of the village is this highland region as well as the develop- the Roman Catholic Church of St. Lawence ment of its settlements was conditioned by (Kostol sv. mučeníka Vavrinca), the martyr favourable deposit conditions. The fi rst writ- from 1730 with a well-preserved original or- ten reference to the village Beluj comes from gan from 1752. There is also an Evangelical 6 July 1290 when the chapter in Esztergom Church constructed in 1785 as a tolerance has given the evidence according to which church in Classicist style. Lampert, the son of Mikuláš of Hunt-Pozna- Contact: www.beluj.ocu.sk

DEKÝŠ

Dekýš village is located in the southern erosion basin of Dekýšsky potok brook. 200 part of Štiavnické vrchy mountains in the people currently lives in the village. It is situ-

12 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD ated in a scenic valley around the centre of ed in the Stone Age and it is known for the Štiavnické vrchy. The village is surrounded settlement of volute culture with the pottery by wonderful nature, a state nature reserve of Želiezovce type and the discovery of the Jabloňský Roháč from the south, Počúvad- idol. It is also known for the settlement from lo lake from the east, Sitno mountain and the Roman Age. Richňavské jazerá lakes in the distance of There is a Roman Catholic Church from 4 km. 1805 – built in Classicist style, rebuilt in 1924 The fi rst written reference to the village – and an Evangelical Church from 1924 in Art Dekýš dates back to 1270 when it was called Nouveau style in the village. Gukes. The territory of Dekýš was populat- Contact: www.dekys.sk

DEVIČIE

The village is located at the foothills of statt burial ground. The fi rst written reference the Štiavnické vrchy mountains on the right to the village dates back to 1256 when it was side of the Krupnica‘s tributary. Today‘s pop- called Dyuche. ulation of Devičie is 300 people. There is an Evangelical Church with Ba- On the territory of the village, there used roque and Classicist features built in 1785. It to be a settlement of Lusatian culture from was reconstructed in 1804 when a tower was New Bronze Age, a Thracian-Scythian-Hall- added to the church.

DOMANÍKY

Domaníky is a scenic and distinctive vil- the Lusatian culture from New Bronze Age. lage located in the valley of the small brook The village was offi cially referred to for the called Štiavnička in the Krupinská výšina fi rst time in 1135 as Dominyk. highlands. The small brook Štiavnička fl ows The Church of St. Margaret (Kostol sv. through the village. Around 200 people cur- Margity) is the national cultural monument rently live in the village. of the village and it was constructed in 1929. There used to be an urn burial ground of Contact: www.domaniky.sk

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 13 DRÁŽOVCE

Drážovce is a small distinctive village situ- of the Bzovík abbey. ated on the banks of Klastavský potok brook. There is an Evangelical Church built in The population of the village is 134 people. Classicist style from 1843 and a wooden It was offi cially referred to in 1135 under bell tower from the end of the 18th century. the name of Dras in the deed of foundation Contact: www.drazovce.ocu.sk

DUDINCE

Dudince is a town situated at the foot- with the highest number of sunny days per hills of the Krupinská kotlina basin and its year in Slovakia. Štiavnička brook fl ows population is currently 1505 people. Con- through the village. sidering the climate, it belongs to the re- Dudince represents a signifi cant ar- gions with typical low-temperature climate chaeological locality since various fi ndings

14 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD from Neolithic Period through New Stone the vicinity of the original mineral waters, Age, Slavic and Great Moravian Period from called “Roman Baths” (Rímske kúpele), 9th – 11th centuries give evidence of its per- which the Romans carved into the traver- manent and historical populating. Findings tine at the time when Rome was expanding of mammoth, aurochs, rhinoceros, reindeer its empire. After 1918, the spa was rented and bison bones show that the local sourc- by Unterberger who built an outdoor swim- es were searched through by Pleistocene ming pool open for public. Development of animals. Skeletal graves give evidence Dudince as a complex spa town started af- that the territory was settled by a man al- ter 1950, when the fi rst spa house with bath ready in 4000 – 5000 B.C. The fi rst written departments was built in 1951. Dudince and reference to Dudince (Dyud) dates back to Merovce united in 1960 and the two villag- 1284. The charter dated 1301 refers to two es started the construction of spa houses. separate villages: Horné Dudince and Dol- Dudince was popular with Hungarian king né Dudince. The village was mentioned in Matthias as well as the wife of Franz Joseph the professional literature as a spa town for I, Elisabeth. the fi rst time in 1777 in a balneography titled There are two large modern churches Liečivé pramene Rakúskej monarchie (The in Dudince. The Roman Catholic Church Healing Springs in the Austrian Monarchy) was dedicated to Virgin Mary, Queen of written by Professor Johann von Crantz, in Peace, on 20 August 1994. Glass roof with which he termed the mineral waters the Gy- the shape of isosceles (Greek) cross is ogy warm curative springs. Matej Bel also considered to be very interesting. This was paid attention to them in 1742 in the pub- to achieve the idea of closeness of divine lication Historické a zemepisné poznatky o things. The second one is the Evangelical severnom Uhorsku (History and Geography Church of Augsburg religion from 1996. of North Hungary). Besides historical facts Contact: www.dudince-mesto.sk he described 32 excavations and digs in www.dudince.sk

HONTIANSKE MORAVCE

Hontianske Moravce is a village located Moravce and Opatové Moravce. The follow- in the south-eastern part of Ipeľská pahorkati- ing brooks fl ow through the village: Veperec, na hills. It is divided into two parts: Kostolné Lišovský potok, Trstiansky potok. The popula-

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 15 tion of the village is currently 885 people. a manor house built in Neo-classicist style. The fi rst written reference to the village Manor house in Hontianske Moravce was dates back to 1245. constructed in 1868 by a landowner family In the centre of the former village Kostol- of Zmeškal. In the premises of Elementa- né Moravce, there is an Evangelical Church ry school with kindergarten Hontiianske on a hillock built in 1883 on the site of a for- Moravce one can fi nd a room equipped ac- mer one, referred to in the written sources cording to folk traditions. in 1332. To the south of the church, there is Contact: www.moravce.sk

HONTIANSKE NEMCE

There are around 1500 people living in highlands. It lies at a crossroads from Levice, the village at the present day and it is locat- Šahy, Zvolen and Banská Štiavnica. The ed on the south-eastern foothill of Štiavnické village consists of the following settlement vrchy mountains in the valley of Štiavnica riv- formations: Hontianske Nemce, Majer, Rak- er on the western edge of Krupinská výšina ovec and Sitnianska Lehôtka.

16 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD The populating on the territory of today’s Martin (Kostol sv. Martina) from the second Hontianske Nemce begun in the Neolithic half of the 13th century. Marian column is a period – there used to be a settlement of the Rococo cultural monument from the second Lengyel culture, the burial ground of Lusatian half of the 18th century situated in the central culture from the New Bronze Age and Slavic park. There are several stone sculptures in burial ground from the Great Moravia Period. the village. Gothic church from the fi rst half Village used to be the property of the king. of the 15th century in Vinice is a cultural The fi rst written reference to Hontianske monument dedicated to St. Urban and St. Nemce (villa Nympti) comes from the charter Donatus. The main Renaissance-Baroque of 1246 when Béla IV invited the German col- altar comes from 1660 – 1680. Wine-growing onists to live in the village. Since 1720 it has area Vinice is located 2 km of the village and developed into a feudal village which has got the local wine growers have been cultivating the right to organize fairs. grapes, producing wine and providing servic- The dominant feature of the village is the es for tourists up to this date here. Roman Catholic Romanesque Church of St. Contact: www.hontianskenemce.sk

HONTIANSKE TESÁRE

Village Hontianske Tesáre consists of ily of Teszér that used to own a curia. The four smaller villages: Hontianske Tesáre, name of the village is probably derived from Dvorníky, Šipice and Báčovce. Settlements their name. Patkôš and Pírovské lso belong to the village Foundations of the vanished Roman- too. It is located on the south-western edge esque Church of St. Michael (Kostol sv. of Krupinská planina plateau and Štiavnička Michala) were uncovered in Patkôš in 1990 brook fl ows through it. The population of the (sculpture of the Crucifi ction from the 13th village is 927 people. century was found in the sacristy). The re- The fi rst written reference to the village mains of Hostinec na Parkôši (a public house dates back to the 13th century when in 1279 popular with the poet Sándor Petőfi ) can be the king Ladislaus IV donated this territory found in Patkôš. People say that the cellar to Demeter of Hunt for the merits in the fi ght led to the underground passage to the Sitno against the Czech king Ottokar. The part of castle. Nature reserve Šinkov salaš is locat- the village called Teszer belonged to the fam- ed in the village too. Its territory represents

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 17 the habitat of protected and endangered clared a nature reserve. Tesárske Dúpence species of the Slovak fl ora – Adonis vernalis – rocky dwellings – were described for the (pheasant‘s eye) – which is one of the rare fi rst time in 1902 by Andrej Kmeť (1841 – species of the Central Slovakia Region. In 1908), nature lover, scientist and tourist, in the cadastre of the village Dvorníky, there his publication Ďalšie výskumy z obvodu is a place where fossils can be found in Sitna (Further research of Sitno District). the deep erosion groove in the lower part Dúpence are 5 to 6 metres long and 180 of the northern hillside of Bábia mountain to 200 centimetres high rocky chambers (200 m. a. s. l.) with the uncovered layers that were most likely used as places to of fi ne-grained sandstone and a lot of fos- hide from the Turks. Tesárske valy are long sils. Tesárska roklina ravine is a unique banks accumulated from rocks and soil that canyon-like territory with chaotic sedimen- are located on the left side of the valley of tation and waterfalls that was formed 15 Štiavnička brook. They may be the remains million years ago. The territory of the nature of the ancient settlement (maybe even for- reserve Tesárska roklina is formed mostly tifi ed). However, they have not been thor- by epiclastic sediments of volcanic origin oughly explored yet. In the village Šipice, produced by Štiavnický stratovolcano. The there is an originally Gothic Catholic Church rocks are relatively poorly resistant, espe- of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (Kostol cially to water erosion. A unique, although Narodenia Panny Márie) that was built in short, canyon-like valley was formed in the second half of the 14th century. It was these rocks. Taking the size and quality of rebuilt in Baroque style during 1722 – 1728. the territory into account, it has been de- Contact: www.honttesare.sk

ILIJA

The village Ilija currently inhabited by 340 The village Ilija fi rst appeared in written people lies in the protected landscape area of records before 1266 as the village called Eccl. Štiavnické vrchy. There are two brooks which S. Egidii. By the 16th century, the village be- fl ow through the village – Ilijský potok and longed to the owners of the Sitno castle. Šigruntský potok. The highest summit of the The dominant feature of this picturesque Štiavnické vrchy mountains called Sitno is the village is a rare sacral monument – the part of the village too. Saint Giles Church (Kostol sv. Egídia) built

18 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD in Romanesque style in the fi rst half of the times. The archaeological research has re- 13th century. The main altar situated in the vealed a massive Lusatian hill fort here. The nave with a wooden ceiling was constructed area of the hill fort is 16 hectares large and in the 17th century and therefore represents it was the highest situated fortifi ed residence late Renaissance style. The highest summit of the Lusatian culture on the territory of Slo- of the Štiavnické vrchy mountains and Sitno vakia. This settlement existed from 1200 to Region is a part of the village. The peak it- 800 years BC. self was already populated in the prehistoric Contact: www.ilija.sk

KOZELNÍK

The village Kozelník lies in the Štiavnické building that served as a stop to change vrchy mountains in the narrow valley of Kozel- horses – a stagecoach inn working on the ník‘s brook Jasenica. The village is a part of the following principle: a coachman came in protected landscape area of Štiavnické vrchy. through the gateway and replaced exhaust- Nowadays, about 180 people live in the village. ed horses with a fresh set of horses. The The establishment of the village Kozelník, coachman refreshed himself and left the inn approximately in the 15th century, was related through the exit gateway with new horses. A to the iron industry in Breznica. The fi rst doc- two-storey building outside the village was ument about the village was written in 1424 used as a toll booth in which people stopped when it belonged to the lords of Dobrá Niva. to pay for passing from the Hont County to Dominant features of the village include the Zvolen County and the other way around. a bell tower from the 18th century and a Contact: www.kozelnik.sk

KRÁĽOVCE KRNIŠOV

The village Kráľovce-Krnišov is located vrchy. The village Kráľovce-Krnišov was es- in a picturesque valley at the foothills of the tablished by merging two separate villages Štiavnické vrchy mountains on the left-sid- Kráľovce and Krnišov. The population of the ed tributary of Štiavnica and it belongs to village is currently 190 people. the protected landscape area of Štiavnické In 1239, Kráľovce was known as Kirally-

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 19 ffya and back then it was a royal property. Ac- be said to form a triangle and buildings in cording to chronicler‘s writings from 11 and Krnišov form a rectangle. Triangle and rec- 12 January 1567, both Kráľovce and Krnišov tangle meet at one point on the south. Older were attacked and devastated by the Turks. private houses were divided into the rooms There is the Evangelical Church in the in a classical way: front room, black kitchen Neo-Gothic style in the village built in 1794 with a fi replace for bread baking, a back and reconstructed in 1909 after the terrible room and a stall. The granary was built next fi re had broken out in the village. In Krnišov, to it. There is a locality Pivničky with well-pre- there is a well-preserved bell tower that rep- served wine cellars near the village. resents a main characteristic feature of this part of the village. Buildings in Kráľovce can Contact: www.kralovce-krnisov.ocu.sk

LADZANY

Ladzany is a little submontane village and a the Štiavnické vrchy mountains in the valley of part of the Hont Region. It lies at the foothills of Klastavský potok brook. The south-eastern part

20 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD of the village‘s cadastre reaches the Krupinská and today it serves as an Evangelical Church. vrchovina highlands and part of the cadastre Even today, Gothic architectural details in the reaches the protected landscape area of Štia- church – Gothic baptistery, Renaissance picture vnické vrchy. Around 300 people currently live from the second half of the 16th century, all- in the village. wood tower built-up with wooden nails from the The fi rst written record of the village Ladza- year 1697 and the choir from 1763 remain pre- ny dates back to 1233. It was connected with served. During the World War I a narrow-gauge Lajos Ghéczy Garamszegi who had got the track for the team of horses was made in order brick house built and named it Villa Legén. How- to transport wood from the area under Sitno ever, historians consider the name Villa Leden to the village Hontianske Tesáre. The village to be more appropriate. Nevertheless, the fact Ladzany carries on a specifi c tradition of fruit that in 1233 Ladzany used to be called Lengen growing. The village was popular for high-quality is undeniable. The village was one of the oldest fruit gardens – source of fruit exported to Bu- settlements in the region. dapest and other places already in the period At the beginning of the 13th century, origi- of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. More than 60 nally Romanesque church was built but in the kinds of apple trees were being grown here. fi rst half of the 15th century, it was reconstructed Contact: www.ladzany.sk

LIŠOV

Lišov is a small village situated on the local brook, there is a neat park with the mon- southernmost spurs of the Štiavnické vrchy ument dedicated to Soviet heroes who died in mountains. Lišovský potok brook fl ows through the fi ght for the village‘s freedom. Reportedly, it. 251 people currently live in the village. it is the fi rst memorial built in Czechoslovakia The territory of today‘s village Lišov was after the war. Another interesting feature is a fi rst populated in the Neolithic Period – it in- slightly mineralized spring in a lower part of cluded a settlement of the Lengyel and Tisza the village which was used mainly for laun- cultures, a settlement and an urn cemetery of dering in the past. The dominant part of the the Lusatian culture from the Late Bronze Age. village is the Evangelical Church that was built From 1235 to 1270, the village was mentioned in 1590 and later on it was improved multiple as a nobleman‘s property. times. In the village, you can also fi nd a local In the middle of the village alongside the museum which will bring you back to the past

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 21 times of simple countryside lifestyle. Stone carved in the stone as a result of obviously dwellings were declared to be a local historical precise handwork. sight too. From little to big spacious halls are Contact: www.lisov.sk

MEDOVARCE

The current population of the village is which means to cook, therefore Medovarce 233 inhabitants and it belongs to the smallest means where the honey is cooked). Position villages in the Krupina District. The village lies of the houses in the southernmost part of in a beautiful valley of Krupinica brook. This the village should not stay unnoticed. The valley holds the village in its arms so tight that sun never shines on the houses No. 2 and it is impossible to see the village‘s basin even No. 12 from November to January because from the distance of a few hundred meters. they stand near the hill Bukovina. The hollow Only surrounding hills Brala, Brišťa and Buk- way alongside the village Medovarce was oviny offer the view of the village. a historical road called Zlatá cesta (Golden The history of Medovarce offi cially started Road) by which the historical inn was situat- in 1156 when it was called Neuelen. According ed. The village has a watermill in a relatively to some sources, the village could have been good condition that is a private property. The established even from 100 to 300 years earlier Evangelical Church built in 1832 is undoubt- than that. edly worth mentioning. Its premises include a In the 17th and 18th century, beekeep- rare stone baptistery in the Late Gothic and ing spread over the whole area of the Hont Renaissance style approximately from the County. Bees were kept in the village; the year 1 500 and the organ from the Classicist honey was used to produce mead or honey- period. On the highway to Rykynčice there dew. Probably that is why the village is called is a warm spring with the stable temperature Medovarce (Slovak word med means honey, about 20 °C. varce is derivation from the Slovak word variť Contact: www.medovarce.cou.sk

MOČIAR

The village Močiar lies on the northern edge of the Štiavnické vrchy mountains in

22 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD a shallow dell. 170 people currently live in roque-Classicist style dedicated to Virgin the village. Mary (Kostol Ružencovej Panny Márie) It was mentioned in the written docu- from the year 1782. Famous natural sci- ments already in 1305. entist Jozef Lunáček was active in this The greatest architectural monument village. is the Roman Catholic Church in the Ba- Contact: www.mociar.ocu.sk

POČÚVADLO

Počúvadlo lies in the southern part of and Počúvadlianske jazero reservoir with the Štiavnické vrchy mountains in the ero- 26-metre-high dam. The village itself is sive basin (spring area of Počúvadliansky situated in the protected landscape area potok brook) which is about 6 kilometres of Štiavnické vrchy. Today its population is far from Počúvadlo lake. The northern spur 109 people and the number is constantly of mountainous village land area reach- decreasing. es Klastavský potok brook under Sitno Historically speaking, Sitno‘s great

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 23 bronze treasure from Late Bronze Age rep- ditches. The village is also a starting point of resents a valuable artefact. The fi rst written the trail to the highest mountain of the Štia- document about the village dates back to vnické vrchy – Sitno. A lookout tower at the 1333 when it belonged to the Levice castle. top of Sitno is open for public from May to Počúvadlo – a water reservoir with the September. It fulfi ls the function of informa- area of 12 hectares – was built in 1775 ac- tion centre too. The oldest monument of the cording to Jozef Karol Hell‘s project. It con- village is the Baroque Evangelical Church sists of fi ve dams and that is undoubtedly from 1771, reconstructed in 1801. rare. It has the vastest system of collection Contact: www.pocuvadlo.sk

PODHORIE

The village Podhorie lies in the north- mains of Žakýlsky hrad castle on Brezový ern part of the Štiavnické vrchy mountains vrch mountain. Only remains of outer de- in a shallow dell in the spring area of Teplá fensive bulwark and entries to two mining brook. Northeast of the village, there is tunnels have been preserved. The castle Žakýlske pleso. 365 people currently live was probably built as a result of rapid de- in the village. The village Podhorie was velopment of silver mining in the surround- formed by merging two villages named ing area of Banská Štiavnica in the end Teplá and Žakýl. of the 12th or at the beginning of the 13th The settlement Žakýl was founded century. Near the castle, there is the tarn by the royal guards of the castle Žakýlsky Žakýlske pleso tarn (715 metres above hrad (they were called Sikuli) in 1241 whilst sea level) colloquially also called Morské people were brought to Teplá by the abbot oko lake. It is the oldest and, at the same from Hronský Beňadik. The village Teplá time, the only natural lake in Banská Štia- was mentioned in 1388 when it became the vnica‘s surroundings. The Roman Catholic property of the Šášov castle‘s owners and Church in the village is dedicated to the visit did not belong to Hronský Beňadik abbey of Virgin Mary with Elizabeth. It was built ever since. The fi rst written records of the in Late-Gothic-Baroque style in 1717. Bell settlement Žakýl were made in the years tower with open wood construction built in 1288 and 1362. 1873 constitutes a part of the church. Northeast of the village, there are re- Contact: www.podhorie.sk

24 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD PRENČOV

The village Prenčov lies in the south-east- logical research in the land area of Prenčov ern part of the Štiavnické vrchy mountains in and neighbourhood, thanks to which the the valley of Štiavnica brook fl owing through main periods of human activity in prehistoric the middle of mountainous land area. Current times were revealed. He also brought new population of the village is 620 people. facts about chronological stages of how the The territory has been inhabited since territory under Sitno was getting populated. the Bronze Age. The fi rst written docu- Andrej Kmeť was active in this village for 30 ments about the village Prenčov date back years and that is why the Memorial Room of in 1266. Prenčov had belonged to the Sitno A. Kmeť was set up. The room also includes castle‘s (which was protecting the roads to Prenčov peasant’s room with historical furni- mining area and was built most likely after ture, folk costumes and traditional tools. The 1240) owners up to the 16th century. In the Roman Catholic Church of St. Nicholas (Kos- neighbourhood of Prenčov, there were sev- tol sv. Mikuláša) is located in the village. The eral clay pits from which the clay used to be most interesting and valuable monument in exported also to Banská Štiavnica where it the church is represented by a Baroque al- was used for production of tobacco pipes tar with the painting of the church‘s patron Zacharky which became popular not only in St. Nicholas. The organ builder Martin Zork- Austria-Hungary but even worldwide. ovský from Kremnica constructed an original In the past, the mills played an impor- organ for this church in 1731 but after the tant role in the economy and there were year 1845 it was moved to the Roman Catho- three mills in this village. Only one of them lic Church in Beluj. Interesting monuments remained preserved to this day – the me- one can see here include the Late-Gothic dium-sized circular mill. The village prides Evangelical Church and a chapel with a little itself with a famous personality of the Slovak well and pure spring water called Samaritán- national and scientifi c history – Andrej Kmeť. ka (English: Samaritan woman). It was his research, to be specifi c, archaeo- Contact: www.prencov.sk

RYKYNČICE

The village lies on the south-western edge of the Krupinská výšina highlands in the valley

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 25 of Krupinica brook and currently has 310 in- shows 13.21 hectares. The arboretum reg- habitants. The village was formed by merging isters 170 taxa of wooden plants togeth- Dolné Rynkinčice and Horné Rykinčice. er – 80 of them are coniferous, 90 of them Dolné Rykynčice was fi rst mentioned in deciduous. The most beautiful spot of the 1281 and the fi rst written record of Horné arboretum is the tree-lined parkway Koháry Rykynčice was made in 1422. Alley or a plane tree meadow. It is ranked Feľaťa arboretum is situated approxi- as a valuable cultural landmark of the nat- mately 7 km in southeast direction of Dolné ural character. The Roman Catholic Church Rykynčice. First exotic woody plants were built in 1788 and repaired in 1821 is certainly planted here in 1957. The latest measuring worth mentioning too. of the protected area in arboretum Feľaťa Contact: www.rykyncice.ocu.sk

SEBECHLEBY

The village Sebechleby lies in the the Krupinská planina plateau on the mid of untouched nature in the area of south-eastern foothill of the Štiavnické

26 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD vrchy mountains in the valley of the Be- well-preserved tracery. There is a Gothic lujský potok brook that is divided by sacristy on the northern side of the church. 12-hectare-large reservoir also called The nave is rectangle-shaped; it has addi- Sebechleby. The population of the village tional side chapels on both sides. On the is currently about 1200 residents. southern side, there is a small square- Signs of settlements of Maďarovce shaped chapel from the beginning of the culture from the Early Bronze Age and of 19th century. On the northern side of the Slavic culture from the 10th century were church, there is the chapel of St. Joseph found on the territory of today’s Sebechle- from the 18th century. The church hides a by. The first reference to the village then Neo-classicist organ from 1898. There are called Zebehgleb had been recorded in the six bells in the church tower. Other cultural Bzovík monastery‘s founding charter from monument such as a sculptural group of 1135 released by Béla II of Hungary in the Holy Trinity, the statue of St. Wende- Vacov. In the 13th century, the village was lin and The memorial to WWI victims are mentioned as Scebehlyb, Sebehlyb which situated in the central parks of the village. was crossed by the road leading to silver The production of wine began in the mines in Banská Štiavnica. The village 13th century and in the 16th century wine was promoted to a town and granted town cellars started to be dug in the village. One privileges in 1412 by the king Sigismund could not find a place where the grapes of of Luxemburg in his charters. In the 16th better quality were grown, plus, this area century, meetings of zhupas (a historical was one of the biggest producers of wine type of administrative division in Central in Austria-Hungary. In the outlying vine- Europe, counties) used to take place here. yard settlement about 3 km of the village, The king Leopold I granted the village the there is a unique cultural monument of folk privilege to organize anniversary fairs in architecture called Stará Hora. The oldest 1674. They were held seven times a year. carved date inscription on a cellar in Stará From 1725 to 1750, Sebechleby was the Hora displays the year 1707. The Chapel centre of the Hont County. of St. Urban together within the square The main landmark of the village is the lies in the centre. The first written record Church of St. Michael the Archangel (Kos- of older vineyard settlement Mladá Hora tol sv. Michala). It has one nave with po- dates back to 1219. It is the third oldest lygonal shape of presbytery covered with document about the vine growing in Slo- broken barrel vault with lunettes standing vakia. on pilaster mouldings. The windows of the Contact: www.sebechleby.com presbytery represent the Gothic style with www.starahora.sk

SÚDOVCE

The village Súdovce lies in the valley of the 17th century. Veperec brook, on the south-western edge Ginkgo (Lat. Ginkgo biloba), a strictly of the Krupinská planina plateau. 210 people protected and endangered tree, grows in the currently live in the village. village. According to the natural scientists, it The fi rst written record of the village is 260 years old and therefore, it is probably Súdovce is from 1244. In the past, inhabitants the oldest ginkgo tree in Slovakia. One of the of this village occupied themselves mainly village‘s landmarks is the Evangelical Church with agriculture and wine growing as proved and modern Roman Catholic Church. There is by the symbol on the seal from 1668. The vil- also a fi shpond on the south the village. lage Súdovce used its coat of arms already in Contact: www.sudovce.ocu.sk

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 27 SVÄTÝ ANTON

Village Svätý Anton lies in the valley of of Koháry has contributed to the economic, Štiavnica brook in the south off Banská Štia- spiritual and cultural development of the vnica. There are 1 230 people currently living whole village. Following the completion of in the village. The route connecting Banská the manor house in 1744, it became the seat Štiavnica and Hontianske Nemce goes of administration of Koháry‘s property and through the centre of the village. developed into a small feudal town. The fi rst written reference to the village The most signifi cant monument is the dates back to 1266. Its name comes from well-preserved late Baroque-Classicist man- the original church devoted to St. Anthony or house Svätý Anton with wide English park the Anchorite. Since 1342, toll had been col- located below the woods of the village. On lected in the village. Besides the toll booth, the steep terrace slope, individual stages of two metallurgical facilities, a brick factory and ornamental horticulture from the old chestnut three mills (of which only one has been pre- and linden alleys to the sentimental (grottos, served) were located in the village. Family cascades) and dendrologic parergons (se-

28 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD quoia from 1879) and a collection of conifers (= months), 52 rooms (= weeks) and 365 win- from the Czechoslovak Republic can be found dows (= days). Today, after the reconstruction, in the park. Most of the rooms, halls and cor- it is diffi cult to confi rm that, however. ridors have maintained their original interior The village has the Roman-Catholic of from the Baroque, Rococo and Empire style. St. Anthony the Anchorite (Slovak: Kostol sv. It has been the seat of Forest, Wood and Antona Pustovníka) from 1755 originally built Hunting Museum (Lesnícke, drevárske a in the late Baroque style that was rebuilt in poľovnícke múzeum) – a national museum the Classicist style in 1779. It is also worth with remarkable collections of science, history to mention the Bastion (Bašta) – the remains and art. Expositions in the manor house cur- of the fort used as the protection against the rently offer the review of aristocracy living as Turks – and the Toll Booth (Mýtnica) which well as the development of forestry and hunt- is the part of the built-up area of the village. ing in Slovakia. People say that the building František Gallery is located past the village used to symbolize a calendar year – it has 4 Svätý Anton. gates (= seasons of the year), 12 chimneys Contact: www.svatyanton.sk

ŠTIAVNICKE BANE

The village Štiavnické Bane lies in the development. The settlement Sigelsberg was centre of the Štiavnické vrchy mountains in initially property of the town Banská Štiavni- the spring area of two brooks – Richňava and ca. Before 1352, it was taken by Šášov cas- Štiavnica. Some artifi cial water reservoirs – tle‘s castellan. The extent of this village and Richňavské tajchy, Vindšachtské tajchy and the surrounding settlements was mentioned others – can be found on the territory of the vil- for the fi rst time in 1352 in the fi rst credible lage. There is a nature reserve in Periny. Pop- written source dealing with the existence of ulation of the village is currently 820 people. Sigelberg. Another unit that current village The fi rst document about Štiavnické Bane Štiavnické Bane was later created from was was written in 1352 when the village was called Vindšachta. It was founded primarily called Sygluspergh. Well-known name of the thanks to the development of mining. Sigels- village is Piarg. Piarg was formed by merging berg and Vindšachta as original units which two originally autonomous neighbouring ter- later formed Štiavnické Bane undoubtedly ritorial units with relatively different medieval represented priority centres of mining of Eu-

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 29 rope-wide signifi cance. Three reservoirs on used predominantly for recreation. Inventors the territory of the village were used in mining such as Matej Kornel Hell and sons, Samuel and metallurgy work processes. In 1773, the Mikovíny, Juraj Palkovič but also many others monastery was set up by Hieronymites. What spent their time here. Nowadays, Štiavnické does not seem to be true today is the fact that Bane is included in UNESCO‘s World Herit- Štiavnické bane represented the European age. A protected technical monument reserve mining centre and the main spot of progres- can be found here. Besides, this humble mu- sive mining technology development in the nicipality prides itself on several world and Eu- 18th century. ropean fi rsts. The most signifi cant examples Village‘s fortifi cation of the 16th century are: the fi rst use of gun powder for blasting Renaissance mine Vindšachta is only a ruin rocks, application of pumping machines from today, but its watchtower and bastion have the workshop of the Hells family – thus saving stayed preserved. The 17th-century building the mines fl ooded by water and restoration of of mines and the Roman Catholic Baroque mining, the fi rst mining hospital in The King- Church from 1736 with a building of former dom of Hungary and the fi rst school for mining monastery from 1754 should be mentioned specialists in Central Europe. too. Water reservoirs in today’s village are Contact: www.stiavnickebane.sk

SUDINCE

The village Sudince lies on the border- The village has been titled several line between Ipeľská pahorkatina hills and names. The fi rst one was stated in the written the Krupinská vrchovina highlands in the document in 1245. valley of Lišovský potok brook. 81 people The oldest monument is the Evangelical currently live in the village. Church built in 1858.

TERANY

The village Terany is situated in the fl at area, on the borderline of the Štiavnické Krupina District, on the south of Central vrchy mountains, Krupinská planina plateau Slovakia in the Hont Region. It lies on the and Ipeľská pahorkatina hills. Štiavnička

30 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD brook fl ows through it. The population of the church of God‘s mercy (Kostol Božieho mi- village is currently 720 inhabitants. losrdenstva) in Terany fi nished in 2011 and The village Terany was formed by merg- God‘s cathedral – the Evangelical Church ing Dolné Terany and Horné Terany in 1944. that was being built from 1810 to 1811. It was These villages share the same history but set on fi re by the lightning on 4 August 1851. differ in the fi rst written notices. Horné Tera- It burnt together with the tower and the bell ny was mentioned as Teryen already in 1298 was partially damaged too. The reparation and Dolné Terany (Lower Terany) as Kysteri- of the damages caused by the fi re began in jen not sooner than in 1387. 1868 and ended in 1869. The village includes the Roman Catholic Contact: www.obecterany.sk

VYSOKÁ

The village lies in the Štiavnické vrchy situated on the territory of protected land- mountains in the north-west of Sitno in scape area of Štiavnické vrchy. Nowa- high intermountain shallow valley. It is days, about 140 people live in the village.

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 31 Th first written reference to the village style and rebuilt in the Neoclassicist style Vysoká dates back to 1388. The oldest in 1867. A paining depicting the events of finding on the territory of the village is the the period of the Turk invasion and two stone into which signs and Roman numer- pictures by E. Gwerk can be found in the als from the period of the invasion of the church. There is also a Chapel of Our Turks had been carved. Lady of Sorrows (Kaplnka Sedembolest- There is a national cultural monument nej Panny Márie) from 1932. Up to 4 km situated in the village – Roman-Carholic of the village, there are 6 water reservoirs church of St. Bartholomew (Kostol sv. – tajchy. Bartolomeja), originally built in Baroque Contact: www.vysoka.ocu.sk

ŽIBRITOV

The village lies on the south-eastern former castle with church and served as edge of Štiavnické vrchy mountains in the a watch and defence power in the period shallow dell of Bebrava brook, the right of the Turk invasion. Stone three-room tributary of Krupinica brook. Nowadays, houses with thatch roof represented the about 70 people live in the village. original architecture of the village. We can The first written reference to the village consider the last cultivated vineyards with dates back to 1266. In 1586 a protection vine roots more than 70 years old located fort was built and in 1700 primary school on the southern hillside of Veinperg (Wine was built and in 1876 Evangelical Church hill) above the valley of Bebrava brook was built famous for the fact that red bricks (460 – 485 m. a. s. l.). The village holds were used during the construction. one record – it is currently the highest The dominant feature of the centre of situated village with its own vineyards in the village is a small bastion constructed Slovakia. There is a small water reservoir in 1586 which constitute the remains of a above the village.

32 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD WANDERING THROUGH HISTORY

THE STONE AGE HALLSTATT AND LA TÉNE PERIOD The region was populated already in the Hallstatt period, also called Early Iron Stone Age, but the population grew during Age (approx. 700 – 500 BC), opens the new the New Stone Age – Neolithic Era (5000 chapter of the prehistoric history. Expansion – 3200 BC) when human evolution went of Celts considerably affected the territory of through substantial changes. The oldest Slovakia since they occupied mostly the fer- Neolithic settlement on our territory was the tile soils of Hont. The course of development Linear Pottery culture. is proved by the founding from the burial ground of the Lusatian culture in Domaníky, THE BRONZE AGE Prenčov and Lišov. Celts have brought a Owing to its rich deposits of copper ore well-developed craft production into the re- in Štiavnické vrchy mountains, the territory of gion. Hont represented a good raw material base. Open agricultural settlements were discov- THE ROMAN EMPIRE ered in Sebechleby. Settlements of the Lu- In 9 BC, Roman legions occupied the satian culture were discovered on the terrace whole territory of the right bank of the Dan- of the rivers Štiavnica and Krupinica (Anton, ube and in approximately 6 AD they reached Prenčov), on the hillocks (Lišov, Ladzany) the territory of Slovakia for the fi rst time. Ro- or in the high locations (Ilja-Sitno, Banská man soldiers started building fortifi ed camps Štiavnica). and stations of different extent, the so-called

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 33 Limes Romanus. The remains of the Roman and he became the fi rst governor on the large Empire have been discovered in Dudince. territory of the Hont County. Natural conditions determined the character of the Hont County. SLAVIC PERIOD The northern part was known as a mining area Cultural and historical development took owing to the deposits of precious metals and place in the territory of Hont at the end of the 7th the southern part had solely agricultural char- century and in the beginning of the 8th century. acter. There are only few written records of the The Slavs built fortifi ed hill forts and Slavic set- life of feudal subjects. Economy was infl uenced tlements in the region Štiavnické vrchy moun- by German colonists – miners. However, fol- tains (Sitno). By the end of the 9th century, lowing the invasions of Tartars (1241 – 1243), Hungarian tribes reached the borders of Great Béla IV. had to summon more German colo- Moravia and gradually occupied the territory of nists since the Tartars completely plundered Slovakia. The whole territory of Hont together the mining villages. Battle of Mohács (1526)

with the northern part was gradually integrated opened the way for Turks to the Kingdom of to the Hungarian state during the 11th century. Hungary, which had disastrous consequences Within the creation of administration sys- for the whole Hunt County. In the beginning tem in the 11th century, the Hont County was of the 16th century, most of the villages were formed in the newly formed Kingdom of Hun- taxed by the Turks. Ottoman rule in Hont Coun- gary by seceding from the Nógrád County. ty ended by the imperial offensive during 1683 Noble Hunt-Pázmány was the greatest ruler – 1686. Besides the threat of the Turks, Hont

34 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD County was during the 17th century affected by mentation met with the extremely sharp oppo- anti-Habsburg uprisings as well as Reformation sition of the aristocracy. The Court of Vienna and Counter-Reformation movements. The sit- decided to increase the agricultural production uation persisted until the Treaty of Szatmár in at the end of the 18th century. Hont County

1711 which gave an end to the anti-Habsburg was very productive in growing oats, potatoes, uprisings. Hont County was devastated due to grapes, fruit, beekeeping, sheep breeding and invasions of the Turks, uprisings, unsuccessful hunting. Štiavnické vrchy mountains were full reformations and internecine wars which result- of wild animals, therefore, the manor house ed in fl ight of the subjects to the neighbouring in Svätý Anton was built in 1630. The family Nógrád County. Working, natural and fi nancial of Coburg‘s continued in this manner and es- demands on the subjects were increased. This tablished the fi rst pheasant farm in Svätý Antol made the subjects even more paralysed and in 1875. Revolutionary years ended by signing

the State started to realize that it needs the so-called March laws that among other things subjects as contributors, soldiers, farmers and abolished vassalage. Mining industry in the re- producers. This situation was radically changed gion of Hont was during the second half of the by delimitation of the mutual rights between 19th century in decline. This was caused by vassals and lords. The existential conditions of two main phenomena, fi rst one being the de- vassals relatively improved after the urbarium crease in the price of gold and silver, the sec- regulations by Maria Theresa. Urbarium imple- ond one being the depleted ore veins. During

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 35 this period, agriculture was being developed; southern part of Hont. Battles in Hont lasted forests were cut down to create arable land. for almost three months. Following the liber- Vine growing (Sebechelby and surroundings) ation, most of the Hont territory still remained and fruit growing (Štiavnické vrchy mountains) an agriculturally backward area of Slovakia. fl ourished. In the beginning of the 20th cen- When the Communist Party came into power; tury, the Hont County went through another it started to divide land among the farmers of

administrative change caused by the dissolu- Hont. In May 1949, the change of agriculture tion of Austra-Hungary. Czechoslovakia was small-scale production to mass production formed on 28 October 1918. Problems re- was needed and fi rst machine cooperatives garding the defi nition of the southern border of were formed. During the following years they Slovakia and Hungary ended on 4 June 1920 changed into collective farms. In 1960s they by signing the Treaty of Trianon. Following the started to unite into larger agricultural units. formation of Czechoslovakia, the Hont County These changes incomparably changed the suffered from powerty and at the outbreak of the economic crisis and the mass migration for work started. Situation in industry as well as agriculture started to partially stabilize af- ter overcoming the economic crisis. In Octo- ber 1938, however, a serious political event happened and Slovak People‘s Party came into power and banned the activities of the Communist Party. Following the beginning of the World War II, partisan unit started to get together in the hills of Banská Štiavnica that lives of people in Hont. New relations among was later known as Sitno. Since the begin- people were formed the living standard was ning of 1944, national revolutionary boards increased. Many social, health and business started to be formed throughout the whole facilities were built. Considering the commu- territory of Hont. After the suppression of the nity amenities, once underdeveloped villages uprising and occupation of Hont villages by came close to towns. Businesses and com- fascist army, dozens of Hont villages provid- panies were founded in the towns and hun- ed the partisans with material assistance and dreds of modern buildings were being built. they were used as mediators. In the fi rst half Number of services offered increased, cultural of December 1944, the army of the second and educational centres were formed. During Ukraine front started to gradually liberate the 1970 – 1978, modern spa centres Rubín and

36 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD Smaragd with common balneotherapy Krištáľ result of hard work of workers and farmers were founded, which caused Dudince to be who, under the lead of the Communist Party of declared the spa town in 1983. Czechoslovakia, were trying to ensure happy All these conditions in Hont had been the and peaceful life for the following generations.

WANDERING THROUGH HISTORY OF MINING

HISTORY OF MINING ing water. Some of the mines were fl ooded and it was impossible to pump the water out of them. Therefore, several miners have to close their mines. Under the regulation of Charles Robert, royal house – Kammerhof, the residence of Chamber Count – was built in each mining town. Miners were obliged to exchange gold and silver in Kammerhof and the Chamber Count was the only person au- thorized to determine the fi neness of metals. Surface gold and silver mining was In the beginning of the 16th century, there known in the region of Banská Štiavnica al- were 426 independent mining associations ready in the period of Celts invasion. They in the region of Banská Štiavnica while 141 traded precious metals and had the knowl- of them resided in Banská Štiavnica and 52 edge of their processing. Discovery of silver of them were located in Štiavnicé Bane. Ger- coin of Audoleon from the 2nd – 3rd centu- amb Mining Union (Gerambovská únia) had ries BC, recorded in the municipal book in been the largest as well as the longest last- the 18th century, proves the existence of Celt ing private mining association in the district settlement on the territory of the Old Town on of Banská Štiavnica since 1752. Its property Glanzenberg mountain. Celts were familiar belonged to the Dutch family of Geramb‘s. In with the technology of surface ore, silver and the mid of the 19th century, the Union em- gold processing. They used them to mint ployed 1400 people and it became the larg- coins and make jewellery. est private business entitiy in mining indus- Production of gold and silver up to the try within the whole Austria-Hungary. Year 11th century may be considered very inter- 1690 was the most successful one since esting regarding the high content of metals 29 thousand kg of silver and 605 kg of gold in the surface parts of the deposits and easy was produced in the region of Banská Štia- access to ores. Tradition of quarrying and vnica. These numbers had been the highest more intensive ore mining in the region was since the beginning of mining in the region. proved by written records from 1156 in which Change for the worse gradually came in the the territory of the region was entitled the land 19th century when the deposit parts of the of miners – terra banesium. Reports on rich highest quality were exhausted and the sub- deposits lured the fi rst German settlers who sequent discovery of rich deposits outside gradually took over not only mine manage- Europe made the region of Banská Štiavnica ment, but also the administration of villages unprofi table. Year 1869 was the fi rst defi cit owing to their extensive privileges. German year of mining in Banská Štiavnica. management replaced the Slovak term baňa (mine) with the word berg from which some MINING TECHNOLOGIES of mine titles were derived – Glanzenberg, Several monuments from the period of Grunenberg, Siglisberg. In the 14th century, precious metal mining have been preserved the great enemy of miners appeared – min- in the region of Banská Štiavnica. Here you

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 37 the region (Bratislava, 1992) for the World Heritage List of UNESCO in accordance to the Agreement. Adits of shafts and galleries: Holy Trinity Draining Gallery – Banská Štiavni- ca, Dolná Bieberová Draining Gallery adit Banská Štiavnica, Glanzenberg Draining Gallery adit Banská Štiavnica, Bartolomej Gallery Banská Štiavnica, Horná Bieber- may observe all types of extraction from the ová Gallery adit Banská Štiavnica, Color- completely primitive ones to the modern min- edo Gallery adit Štiavnické Bane, Klinger ing techniques of today. Dlhá Gallery adit Banská Štiavnica, Klinger Working techniques have been changing Krátka Gallery adit Banská Štiavnica, Korn- together with the improvement of transpor- berg Gallery adit Banská Štiavnica, Michal tation in mines. Ore was originally carried Gallery adit Banská Štiavnica, Pachomi in bags on backs of miners, then it was drawn on special sledges used for transport in mines, later crates on wheels were used and after that, miners adopted the carts from Tyrol that were adjusted to the conditions of Štiavnica’s mines. Vertical transport was en- sured by means of simple mechanism called windlass, later tread wheel, horse whim or water wheel were used. Since hydropower was necessary, artifi cial water reservoirs Gallery adit Štiavnické Bane, Richňavská were constructed. There were only four Connecting Gallery adit Štiavnické Bane, water reservoirs /Veľká Vodárenská, Malá František Shaft Banská Štiavnica, Ondrej Vodárenská, Brennerštôlnianska, Evička/ Shaft – Banská Štiavnica, Ján Shaft adit – in the period between 1500 and 1638. De- Banská Štiavnica, Terézia Shaft adit – Ban- velopment of mining required also certain ská Štiavnica, Weiden Shaft adit – Banská specialization of workers. New professions Štiavnica. were formed, such as breakers /whose job Open-Surface Excavations: Špitaler was to break the rocks/, cleaners /whose job vein open-surface excavations in Banská was to load the rocks into transport contain- Štiavnica, Terézia vein open-surface ex- ers/ and runners /whose job was to transport cavations in Banská Štiavnica and under- the rocks to the destination/. Special squads ground stone pit for andesite in Banský were responsible for pumping out the mining Studenec-Kysihýbeľ. water. Specialized workers were engaged in Waste dumps: waste dump at the the ore processing and thickening process- Terézia Shaft in Banská Štiavnica and es. Independent craftsmen prepared tools, waste dump at the Žigmund Shaft in Ban- machines and buildings for the operations. ská Štiavnica. Mining supervisor with his assistants en- Mining towers: Mária mining tower sured operation and supervision of mines, – Banská Štiavnica, Žofi a mining tower steel mills and metal fi nishing shops. Banská Štiavnica, František mining tower Banská Štiavnica and Rúfus mining tower UNESCO Banská Štiavnica. The list of objects in Banská Štiavnica Other mining objects: Mining sur- and its surroundings which were processed veying building – Štiavnické Bane, Mining in the amendment of the nomination fi le of administration building – Štiavnické Bane,

38 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD Engine room of the maining machine from the Lill Shaft (above the Ondrej Shaft) – Banská Štiavnica, Engine room of the min- ing machine from the Mária Shaft – Ban- ská Štiavnica, Engine room of the mining machine from the Žigmund Shaft – Banská Štiavnica, Engine room of atmospheric pumping machines – Štiavnické Bane, Gunpowder Warehouse – Banská Štiavni- ca, Tobacco factory – Banská Štiavnica, BERGGERICHT – MINERALOGICAL Former steel rope factory building – Ban- EXHIBITION ská Štiavnica, Former shoe factory building – Banská Štiavnica, Former linen factory building – Banská Štiavnica, Smelting plant – Banská Štiavnica, Buildings of mining, chemistry and forestry schools – Banská Štiavnica, Railway station building from the end of the 19th century – Banská Štiavnica and Aqueduct – Banská Štiavnica. Signal Buildings: Mining Knocking Tower in Banská Štiavnica. See Chapter Museums and Galleries Mining Hospitals: former mining hos- http://www.muzeumbs.sk/berggericht/ pital building in Banská Štiavnica and for- mer mining hospital building in Štiavnické ŠTÔLŇA MICHAL Bane. Water Reservoirs: Antolská – Svätý Anton, Belianska – Banská Štiavnica, Čer- vená Studňa – Banská Štiavnica, Evička – Štiavnické Bane, Ilijská – Ilija, Klinger – Banská Štiavni- ca, Kolpašská Malá – Banský Studenec, Kolpašská Veľká – Banský Studenec, Komorovské (2) – Banská Štiavnica, Krechsengrundská – Štiavnické Bane, Most of the mining objects are closed for Kysihýbelské (6) – Banský Studenec, public, however, Open-air mining museum Michalštolnianska Dolná – Banská Štia- (Bartolomej Gallery), Glanzenberg Gallery vnica, Ottergrundská – Banská Štiavnica, and Michal Gallery are the exception. Michal Pachomiova – Štiavnické Bane, Počúvad- Gallery is located right in the centre of the lo – Banská Štiavnica, Rozgrund – Banská town. In the courtyard of Berggerischt on Štiavnica, Richňavska Malá – Štiavnické Námestie sv. Trojice (Holy Trinity Square) Bane, Richňavská Veľká – Štiavnické where the seat of Information Centre Ban- Bane, Vindšachtovská Horná – Štiavnické ská Štiavnica is situated, there is a 75-me- Bane, tre long part open for the visitors. Michal Vodárenská Malá – Banská Štiavnica Gallery was founded at Špitaler vein. Most and Vodárenská Veľká – Banská Štiavnica. of the burghers’ houses have their own galleries and a great example of that is the OPEN-AIR MINING MUSEUM above mentioned gallery in the Berggericht See Chapter Museums and Galleries building. This gallery is the seat of the min- http://www.muzeumbs.sk/ eralogical exposition. The tour is suitable for

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 39 children as well since it takes no more than every year. One cannot imagine how they man- 10 minutes. aged to dig hundreds-of-kilometre-long cor- ridors working at this rate. Gunpowder made GLANZENBERG GALLERY the mining rate much faster. As the mines were deeper, groundwater represented a bigger ob- stacle. Manual drainage was not enough and water was the only effective alternative source of power, however, the region suffered from its shortage. Moreover, mines were located high in the hills. The debts of miners were increasing and their profi ts were decreasing and Court Chamber in Vienna decided to close the mines. Mining engineer and designer Matej Kornel See Chapter Museums and Galleries Hell (1651 – 1743) opposed to this decision. [email protected]. He elaborated a detailed plan to save mining in the key mining operations and suggested con- KAMMERHOF – MINING IN SLOVAKIA struction of new water reservoirs. It is obvious today that Hell‘s ingenuity and brightness of technical presentation was ahead of his time and the then world standards in water con- struction. Within three years, M. K. Hell and his son Jozef Karol Hell constructed the larg- est water reservoir of that time – Veľká Vin- dšachta (1715) – and increase the capacity of Evička and Spodná Vindšachta water reser- voirs and fi nished the whole plan. Hell senior See Chapter Museums and Galleries constructed and improved seven pumping http://www.muzeumbs.sk/kammerhof/ machines by means of which he drained all the water from then fl ooded mines. The only WATER RESERVOIRS (TAJCHY) man saved mining in the region of Banská Št- iavnica for another 150 years. A genius mathematician, cartographer, geodesist and imperial and royal geometer of mining town in the Central Slovakia – Samuel Mikovini (1686 – 1750) – was the successor of the Hells. Mikovíni reconstructed the water reservoir dams and made them higher; he also designed and constructed the new ones. He connected the water reservoirs by the system The fi rst water reservoirs were construct- of water galleries, which enabled the water to ed in the beginning of the 16th century. Veľká be redirected to the places where it was need- vodárenská water reservoir lies above Ná- ed. He designed dozens-of-kilometre-long mestie sv. Trojice square and it was used as a collecting and driving ditches paved with stone drinking water reservoir and a source of water that were constructed on the hillsides of the in case of fi re. surrounding mountains driving the rainwater In the past, mines used to be dug manu- into the water reservoirs. He created a water ally by means of hammer and chisel without a management system and solved the issue of handle or fi re at most. Two people managed to energetic base of Banská Štiavnica mining until dig approximately 7 m of corridors on average the beginning of the 20th century.

40 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD JOZEF KAROL HELL water pumping machine to replace the previ- ously used mechanisms with swinging lever gear. In 1738 he constructed two of these machines in Siglizberg Shaft in Vindšacht (to- day‘s Štiavnické Bane) that were called beam water pumping machines. These were the fi rst world inventions designed by J. K. Hell. In 1745, he submitted a proposal to construct a water pillar pump. He constructed the fi rst one (also a world invention) in 1749 at Leopolf Jozef Karol Hell was an eminent designer Shaft by Vindšachta. It was successfully being of mining pumping machines whose inven- used in the 18th and 19th century all over Eu- tions and constructions were ahead of their rope and the improved pumps were used in time. He made Slovakia famous in a way the ore district of Banská Štiavnica up to the that no other mining inventor and designer 20th century. In 1753, J. K. Hell constructed had before. He devoted his whole life to the an air-pressure water pump that was also a improvement of already existing mining and world invention. Thanks to Hell, the ore dis- pumping machines as well as to designing trict of Banská Štiavnica had given the lead to new ones that were gradually spread through- the whole mining world regarding the modern out the world and used up to the 20th century. mining science and techniques for several In 1736 he designed the new type of mining decades.

WINE ROUTE

The territory belongs to the wine-grow- Sebechleby, Sudince, Súdovce, Terany. Al- ing region of Central Slovakia. It is a diverse though it does not currently belong to the key wine-growing region from Hont to Gemer, i.e. areas of wine production, it has great potential region in the south of the Central Slovakia by thanks to excellent growing conditions. the borders with Hungary. One part of this re- Soil conditions are determined by geolog- gion is the wine-growing district of Hont com- ical, especially volcanic substrate (andesites) prising 13 wine-growing villages, 12 of which on which fertile andosols were formed. These belong to our action group: Dudince, Hontian- are clay-loam to loam soils, i.e. medium soils. ske Moravce, Hontianske Nemce, Hontianske The climate is characterized by temperate tem- Tesáre, Ladzany, Lišov, Medovarce, Rykynčice, peratures and relatively low annual rainfall. The

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 41 wine-growing areas of the best quality are lo- For more information visit: cated on the southern hillsides of the Krupinská www.vinohradnik.sk planina plateau. Celts had been producing wine on our ter- HONTIANSKE MORAVCE ritory in the 6th century BC, which was proved by the archaeological fi ndings. They exported wine as a luxury good to the northern territo- ries. Later, the Romans came to the territory and started to grow common grape vine more intensively. The fi rst written reference to wine growing in this region dates back to 1135 when the king Béla donated two vineyards to the Ben- edictine monastery in Bzovík. The development of viniculture continued up to the 13th century vine growing for large production of wine when most of the vineyards were destroyed is nowadays in decline and family wineries are by the devastating invasion of the Turks. Vine becoming more popular. Small manufacturers growing started to boom after the arrival of col- trying to grow single species grapes as well onizers in the 15th century. Up to 70 % of the as noble grape varieties are very interested in overall amount of wine sold in Slovakia in this vine growing and production of wine nowadays. period of time came from the western part of Wine cellars have been dug in the reef Nad Slovakia and Hont. Later, in the 16th and 17th Mačkášom. century, vine growing in such large geograph- ical distribution was abandoned most likely HONTIANSKE NEMCE due to unprofi tability, and in the beginning of the modern times, wine production was being developed only in the restricted regions where it is known also nowadays. Drop in wine-grow- ing production continued throughout the 18th and 19th centuries also due to new diseases (downy mildew) and pests (grape phylloxera) and lasted until the 1920s (period of economic crisis) and inter-war period until 1960s. wine-growing settlement Vinice is located DUDINCE under Kukučka hill and as its name suggests (Vinice meaning Vineyards) it is a village with lots of vineyards and wine cellars. Štiavnické vrchy mountains create a border of the fertile vineyards of the local wine growers.

HONTIANSKE TESÁRE

wine-growing production is concentrated in Merovce and Staré Dudince. There are several family wineries which are based on traditions of many generations. Vineyard soils are enriched with minerals from the healing spring, which gives the wine a peculiar taste and odour.

42 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD vine growing in this region dates back to village and approximately 2 km of the village the distant past. Viniculture forms the land- there are stone dwellings which are currently scape as well as lives of local people and there- used as wine warehouses. fore it plays an important role in the economy of the region. The hillsides in Dvorníky currently MEDOVARCE represent the largest wine-growing area of the village.

KRÁĽOVCE KRNIŠOV

the local vineyards are situated at the ridges of Krupinská planina plateau in Brište. Wine cellars are carved into the rocks in the area called Bralo where you can get through there is a wine-growing area Pivnice Hajnalov mlyn. located by the village where wine growers produce wine from the grapes of the sur- RYKYNČICE rounding vineyards.

LADZANY

vineyards are located on the ridges of Krupinská planina plateau (300 m. a. s. l.). They represent a unique phenomenon of there is a wine-growing settlement called vine growing since they are the only uplands Biele dráhy where the original architecture in Slovakia where vine has been continuous- of wine-growing houses has been well pre- ly grown for several centuries. served. VINOJEK – JAROSLAV KNÁPEK LIŠOV

The company farms 32 ha of vine- vineyards are concentrated around the yards with several grape varieties. Thirteen

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 43 kinds of regional varietal wines (Cabernet The company continues in the family tra- Sauvignon, Frankovka Modrá, Modrý Por- dition of wine growing and wine making last- tugal, Svätovavrinecké, Rizling Vlašský, ing for several generations. They try to pro- Rulandské Šedé, Tramín Červený, Muškát duce high-quality wines in smaller amounts Moravský, Chrupka Biela, Muller Thurgau, that refl ect typical features of the bedrock Muškát Ottonel, Veltlínske Zelené, Veltlínske and weather conditions of the region in their Červené Skoré) are produced from their own odour and taste. They offer several kinds of grapes. The grapes are taken care of mostly white, pink and red wines, the most favourite by manual work for the whole year. All wines being Veltlín Zelený, Rizling Rýnsky, Sau- are produced by the controlled fermentation vignon Blanc, Svätovavrinecké, Frankovka method and thanks to modern technologies Modrá and Cabernet Sauvignon. White they maintain their strong varietal character, wines are produced mainly by techniques pure odour and fresh delicious taste. using minimum oxygen in stainless barrels Contact: and Rízling Rýnsky lies in lees in oak bar- VINOJEK – Jaroslav Knápek rels – sur lie method which makes the wine +421 907 072 822 taste fully excel. Red wines mature in oak www.vinojek.sk barrels and are produced by classical meth- od. The already mentioned district has a rich SEBECHLEBY history of growing relatively rare hybrids that gives it its distinctive historical and regional character. Other specialities of our vineyards include SEPORTO, herbal wine, cibéba (Bot- rytized) and ice wines. Contact: VÍNO LAUKO +421 905 777 967 www.robolauko.sk

in the beautiful and peaceful environ- SÚDOVCE ment in the southern part of Štiavnické vrchy mountains, wine-growing settlements Mladá Hora and Stará Hora can be found. In the past, Sebechleby belonged to the most im- portant wine-growing areas of the region. Lo- cal people of both settlements grow grapes and process wine, mostly hybrids, to this day. For more information visit: www.starahora.sk vineyards are concentrated around the VÍNO LAUKO village in Chrástavky and Zajfrtky. The fi rst vineyard with wine cellar was founded in Borháza.

TERANY settlers of Terany had been engaged in vine growing long time ago. There is even a tree wound by vine in its couat of arms. Mostly single species varieties are grown here, but some of the wine growers

44 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD vine variety resistant to all mildews requir- ing no chemical spraying. It is immune to

grow noble varieties, too. Wine cellars are located directly on the other side below the hill Bába. downy mildew, some of the fungal diseas- es and aggressive aphids. It does not re- VINOHRADNÍCKE SÚŤAŽE quire a lot of fertilization. It is characterized by distinctive odour and high antioxidant content. It is reproduced by cuttings. By crossbreeding the American and European vines, the wine growers have been trying to breed resistant direct-pro- ducing hybrids one of which is the white konkordia. Konkordia started to be cultivat- ed in Slovakia by the end of the 19th cen- tury when European vineyards and local The only wine growing competition in the varieties cultivated for thousands of years region is called Hontiansky súdok (Hont bar- were destroyed by American phylloxera. rel). It is the competition of wines produced Konkordia (officially called Niagara) is the exclusively by amateur winemakers and variety cultivated in the oldest wine-grow- wine growers. These wines are produced by ing village of Hont – Sebechleby – proba- wine makers for themselves, their families bly most often. and friends. Therefore, it is impossible to fi nd Single species vine varieties are sup- them in any wine shop or wine bar. The com- planted and replaced by grafts, or grafting petition is held in the spa town Dudince in of the noble vine into American rootstocks. the spring. Since 2013, the competition has They have been preserved exclusively for been extended by the Regional wine show home production of small local wine grow- which is the separate competition of wines ers. produced by professional wine makers solely from Hont. KRUPINA DISTRICT – CYCLE ROUTE For more information on the event visit: GREENWAY – ALL THE WAY FROM www.vinohradnik.sk DRÁŽOVCE TO KRNIŠOV THROUGH THREE HILLS AND HUNDREDS OF WINE GROWING SPECIALITIES VINEYARDS. White and red konkordia See Chapter Cycle Routes and Tourist White konkordia is a single species Trails

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 45 SPA TOURISM

INTRODUCTION TO SPA TOURISM IN HISTORY OF SPA DUDINCE DUDINCE

The oldest literary reference to the healing Unique and the youngest spa in Slovakia springs of Dudince dates back to 1549 when – Kúpele Dudince – is located in our region. they were mentioned in the publication Rozp- Dudince is a picturesque spa town situated rava o podivuhodných vodách Uhorska (On at the foothills of Krupinská kotlina basin in the mysterious waters of Hungary) by Wernher. the southern part of the Central Slovakia. It Matej Bel also paid attention to them in 1742 in is famous mostly for the healing water that his publication Historické a zemepisné poznat- has been used for several centuries. Mineral ky o severnom Uhorsku (History and Geogra- water of Dudince has excellent balneologic phy of North Hungary). The healing power of features similar to the water in spa in Vi- the water of Dudince has been known from chy, France and Japan. There are several time immemorial. The village was mentioned legends on the origin of mineral springs of in the professional literature as a spa town for Dudince. The one best known to people is the fi rst time in 1777 in balneography titled the legend of a fairy named Dudinka and a Liečivé pramene Rakúskej monarchie (The Roman duke. Healing Springs in the Austrian Monarchy) writ- There are 32 excavations and holes in ten by Professor Johann von Crantz, in which the area of original mineral waters known he named the mineral waters with the term today as “Roman Baths” (Rímske kúpele) on Gyogy warm healing springs. Doctor Wachtel the territory of Dudince. They were manual- in the balneography of Hungary from 1859 ly carved into travertine during the Roman describes seven springs springing to the sur- Empire, which was proved by the fi ndings of face mostly on travertine hills formed from the Roman pottery and coins from the period of sediments of mineral water. There were other Roman Emperors Nero and Antoninus Pius. springs besides these seven in Dudince and

46 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD the whole plain between Dudince and Merovce juvenile one – comes from great depths. was supposedly studded with springs. Experts assumed that this plain provided the balneolo- MINERAL WATER OF DUDINCE gists as well as geologists with one of the most interesting phenomena. First healing centre Rubín was put into operation in 1966 and four years later, balne- otherapy Krištáľ was opened. Healing institu- tion Smaragd was built in 1978. Last healing centre of the planned construction – Diamant – was built in 1986. It has its own complex bal- neotherapy. Owing to the large construction of spa facilities and infl ow of qualifi ed labour The mineral water of Dudince has unique force, Dudince were granted a statute of spa and valuable chemical composition regard- town on 11 May 1983. ing the balneotherapy. It belongs to bicarbo- nate-chloride, sodium-calcium, carbon and IMPORTANCE OF SPA DUDINCE sulphuric hypotonic waters with the tempera- ture of 28.5 C and fl ow rate of 17 l/s. The main spring „Kúpeľný prameň“ with the depth of 52 m contains a lot of dissolved minerals – 5.87 g in 1 litre of water – 3.06 g bicarbonates, 0.5 g sulphates, 0.5 g. chlorides, 0.5 g calcium, 0.83 g sodium, 0.15 g potassium, 0.13 g magnesi- um, etc. It is rich in carbon dioxide – CO2 (1560 mg/l) and hydrogen sulphide – H2S (6.64 mg/l). The water contains more signifi cant elements Healing importance of Dudince is based such as magnesium, fl uorine, bromine, potassi- on the use of healing waters for balneothera- um, lithium and others. Unique combination of pies. They all come from the common deeply high concentration of CO2 and H2S classifi es set pool and the adjacent hollows. These are the water as one of the most precious mineral fi lled with circulating thermal waters which are waters in Slovakia and Europe. constantly warming up in the depths. Origin Biological activity and penetration of the of Dudince springs is associated with the tec- healing water through skin right into body are tonic structure (with deep faults and Turovce- its unique features. H2S has effects on dam- Levice elevation) that brings them back on the aged cartilages and bones and carbon dioxide surface. Complex hydrogeological conditions protects and heals heart, vessels and blood on the boundary of volcanic andesite tuffs, circulation. It helps healing the musculoskele- tuffi tes and agglomerates of Štiavnické vrchy tal system, cardio-vascular system, rheumatic mountains and Krupinská planina plateau on diseases, high pressure, skin and gynaecolog- one side and sedimentary basin of Danubian ical diseases. It is also benefi cial for digestive Lowland on the other have caused two spring system. systems (of the so-called Levice spring line which include also Santovka, Slatina and DUDINSKÉ TRAVERTÍNY others) from deep lime stones and dolomites Dudinské travertíny travertines were de- coming to the surface on the edge of neovol- clared a protected nature object in 1964 on canics following the tectonic faults. High con- the area of 0.564 ha and the protection zone tent of chlorides is gained by fl owing through of ca. 25 ha. It consisted of six individual the marine Tertiary sediments of Danubian formations: Rímsky prameň (Roman Spring, Lowland, carbon dioxide – CO2 – probably in the past also called Travertínove pole –

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 47 Rímske kúpele, Travertine fi eld – Roman changed its category to nature monument baths), Očný prameň (Eye spring), Hostečný in 1996 in accordance with the new Act on prameň (Hostečný Spring), Tatársky prameň Nature and Land Protection. It was revised in (Tartar Spring), Kúpeľná kopa (Spa Pile) and 1999 by the decision of the Regional Council the recent Travertínová terasa (Travertine in Banská Bystrica with specifi ed area of the terrace, originally Terasovité travertíny – protected parts of 13 280 m2 for scientifi c, Terraced Travertines on the bank of Štiavni- educational purposes as a signifi cant natural ca). The Ministry of Environment of the SR and aesthetical element.

BEE ROUTE

The region is abundant in forests and Hont Region was implemented. The aim of meadows, which creates good conditions labelling the local products is to support tra- for beekeeping. Beekeeping used to be a ditional products and services production and good source of income and in the past, taxes providing of which is environmentally friendly were paid in honey and beeswax. Therefore, and safe for everyone who lives in individual beekeeping used to have a great economic Slovak regions and create unique values importance and corresponding privileges. In there. The label guarantees the certain prod- the past, honey was the only sweetener and uct has origins in the region and it is directly candles were made exclusively from bee wax. linked to the activities on the given territory. Prior to the World War I beekeepers from the Honey products by the local beekeepers are region were organized in beekeeping groups. A labelled with this label. group from Hontianske Tesáre that uniting the beekeepers from all over the region is mention Milan Skokan - EXTRAMED in the records and chronicles of the period. He has been engaged in beekeeping Each region of Slovakia has got its own and honey production since 2003 and his unique features infl uenced by natural and apiaries are located on the southern hill- cultural resources, history and traditions of the sides of Štiavnické vrchy mountains in locals passed down from generation to gener- Sebechleby. The honey offer includes lo- ation since a long time ago. A lot of contem- cust, linden and forest honey. The quality porary beekeepers engaged in beekeeping as of the products has been guaranteed by their hobbies have been raised this way. the Certifi cate of quality since 2010. Herbal In 2012, a project called Creation of the mead – „Medový bozk“ (Honey kiss) – made regional label of products and services for of honey and manually fi lled into bottles is

48 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD their famous product. We also offer bee pol- farmers secure ecological farming with no len, propolis and propolis tincture. Locust chemical treatment. He takes care of bee and linden honey, Medový bozk mead was colonies and produce honey by himself with granted a label “Regionálny product hont” the assistance of her family. Regional label (Regional product of Hont). was granted to the following products: fl ower Contact: e-mail: [email protected] honey (locust, fl ower and linden) and mead. www.extramed.sk Contact: e-mail: [email protected], tel.: +421 908 281 950 tel.: +421 902 644 462

Jozef Gembický There are many other beekeepers, most- He has been engaged in beekeeping ly in Baďan, Banský Studenec, Beluj, Dekýš, and honey production since 2004. Fam- Kozelník, Močiar, Počúvadlo, Prenčov, ily beekeeping has gradually grown and it Svätý Anton, Štiavnické Bane, Devičie, currently consists of 35 bee colonies. His Hontianske Moravce, Hontianske Nemce, apiary is located by Sebechleby on the Kráľovce Krnišov, Ladzany, Lišov, Medo- border between Štiavnické vrchy mountains varce, Rykynčice, Súdovce, Sebechleby and and Krupinská planina plateau. He produc- Žibritov. es also other bee products such as pollen, propolis and bee wax. He specializes in SPECIALITIES OF BEEKEEPING combining the honey with other fruits of the Hontianka region. His products such as echinacea in As its name suggests, Hontianka is the honey, pollen, nuts in honey hold the label original bee line in Slovakia with the origins of farming quality and a certifi cate of the re- in the region of Hont. It is an original regional gional product. ecotype of bees from Hont and it lives mostly Contact: e-mail: [email protected] in lower and warmer locations. tel.: +421 903 803 233 Jozef Pollák, the mayor of Sebechleby, had been a beekeeper for 60 years and he MEDORAJ – Mariana Plevová managed to breed the original bee line Hon- Family beekeeping farm which cultivates tianka which made Sebechleby and Hont fa- 100 bee colonies is located in Sebechleby mous throughout the world. He distributed it and has its apiaries situated in Stará Hora and not only to Europe, but also to America, Asia Mladá Hora at the foot of the southern part of and Africa. The last four families of Hontianka Štiavnické vrchy mountains. bee line were saved 12 years ago by Peter It specializes in the production of sin- Demian who received them as a gift from gle-fl ower honey (rape, locust, linden, sun- J. Polák. In cooperation with the Institute of fl ower and honeydew). The farm‘s production Apiculture in Liptovský Hrádok and Slovak includes also other bee products such as Academy of Sciences it was possible to ex- propolis, bee pollen and bee wax. amine the bee line and spread it among sev- Contact: eral beekeepers in Slovakia, especially in the e-mail: [email protected] region of Hont. tel.: +421 904 668592, +421 911 763541 This line is characterized by perfect fea- tures such as tameness, perfect cleaning Filip Ciglan instinct, resistance to ticks as well as good Beekeeping has been traditional in his gathering instinct. Losses of honey bee col- village for more than hundred years and Filip onies are observed all over the world, which Ciglan started beekeeping in 2001. Year lat- raises their ecological as well as economic er, he started to brew mead with herb fl avour importance. Original ecotypes of bees includ- according to his own recipe. ing Hontianka are currently pushed away by Flower honey is of local origin. Here the new more productive species.

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 49 EVENT GUIDE

SPORTS EVENT Ľadové medvede (Polar bears) – place: Sports events in our region can be divid- Štiavnické Bane, date: November – December ed into international, national, regional and It is the event for winter swimmers by Vin- local ones. Most of these events take place dšachta water reservoir. outdoors since the region does not have any Drieňovský okruh (Drieňov Circuit) – large sporting areas at its disposal. The events place: Banská Štiavnica, date: July, condi- are usually sponsored by local administration tions: 6 km, 4 km, 2 km. authorities, sports clubs and associations or Nemčiansky cross (Nemce cross) – civic associations. place: Hontianske Nemce, date: May, con- IAAF race walking challenge termit ditions: 11 km. meeting Dudinská 50 – location: Dudince, date: March FESTIVALS It is an international event that gathers race walkers from more than 30 countries of the world. The event will be the part of the tradi- tional race walking competition Dudinská 50. Sebechleby duathlon tour – place: Sebechleby, date: August Sprint-cross duathlon competition of various categories while the race is divided into the following legs: running 10 km/5 km, cycling 20 km/10 km and hurdle race 5 km/3 km. Cate- Festivals in the open air are held in our gories: soft, hardman, hardwoman and relay. region all year round. They represent sever- Competitors use timer chips and they can reg- al thematic performances of artists usually ister on www.marathonbb.com sponsored by local administration authorities Fishing competition – place: Sebechleby or civic associations. water reservoir, date: May Zimomravenie (Shivers) – place: Ban- Traditional fi shing competition is divided into ská Štiavnica, date: February children‘s categories taking place on Saturday Small family festival aimed at bringing and adult categories which are held on Sun- joy to the historical centre of Banská Štia- day. vnica during late winter. The programme is For more information visit: diverse and offers a wide range of activities www.mosrzkrupina.sk and fun.

50 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD For more information visit: tal disorders. www.banskastiavnica.sk For more information visit: Podsitnianske dni hojnosti (Feast www.banskastiavnica.sk Days under Sitno) – place: Baďan, Cap á l´Est – Banská Štiavnica, date: Kráľovce-Krnišov, Prenčov, Žibritov, date: August June – September European festival of poetry, theatre and It is an intimate folk festival with rich music is the part of cultural summer in Ban- folk programme and traditional meals of ská Štiavnica. It is held in the spirit of Europe Hont aiming at bringing the regional cultural with the emphasis on friendship between heritage closer to public. The festival takes Slovakia and France. Music, theatre and po- place in Badaň and Prenčov each year and etry are dominant. alternatively in Kráľovce-Krnišov and Žibritov For more information visit: every other year. www.banskastiavnica.sk For more information visit: Dni Sv. Huberta (Days of Saint Hubert) www.prencov.sk – place: Svätý Anton, date: August – Sep- Country stopa (Country track) – place: tember Dudince, date: July National hunting celebration is organized Two-day country festival is an integral by the Museum in Svätý Anton during week- part of summer holidays. Year after year, top end at the end of August or in the beginning Slovak as well as foreign singers and per- of September. It gathers hunters as well formers of (not only) country music present as non-hunters from all over Slovakia and here on the festival. abroad. Several interesting accompanying Sitno Blues – place: Počúvadlo, date: July events are the integral part of the celebration. It is a festival for blues music fans in a For more information visit: pleasant environment of natural amphithe- www.msa.sk atre above the water reservoir Počúvadlo. Salamander - place: Banská Štiavnica, The event includes other accompanying date: September programmes. It is a traditional event that concludes For more information visit: the cultural summer in Banská Štiavnica. www.sitnoblues.sk The event includes salamander procession, Festival peknej hudby (Festival of concerts, exibitions, night tours in the Old good music) – place: St. Catherine‘s Church Castle and other accompanying events. in Banská Štiavnica, date: July Furthermore, town‘s celebration, celebration The oldest festival of classical music in of miners, geologists, steelworkers and the Banská Štiavnica has become famous not celebration of rich history and traditions of only in Slovakia but also abroad. Banská Štiavnica take place during the Sala- For more information visit: mander celebration. www.banskastiavnica.sk For more information visit: Atmosféra (Atmosphere) – place: Hon- www.banskastiavnica.sk tianske Nemce, date: summer Oberačka po sebechlebsky – Family festival with programme for Sebechleby, date: October, place: Cultural children, parents as well as grandparents, Monument of Folk Architecture Stará Hora concerts, alternative theatre, discussions, It is the festival of wine making, tradition- creative and sports activities, handmade al meals, tourism and fun. It concludes the products and many other activities. wine season in the region with degustation of Osmidiv (Eighth wonder) – place: am- different wines and partially fermented grape phitheatre below the New Castle in Banská musts and traditional meals in the private Štiavnica, date: August wine cellars. There are several accompany- It is a charity festival for people with men- ing programmes such as crafts fair, cultural

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 51 programme (folk as well as contemporary accompanying programmes. production) and programmes for children. For more information visit: For more information visit: www.svatyanton.sk www.starahora.sk Carnival parade through villages – place: lija, Kozelník, Prenčov, Sebechleby, Št- TRADITIONS iavnické Bane and other villages in the region, date: February – March Carnival (burying the bass) – place: Domaníky, Ilija, Banský Studenec and other villages in the region, date: February – March Easter is the most important time of spring. It is a Christian holiday commemorat- ing the Crucifi xion and the Ressurection of Je- sus Christ that lasts several days. It has been a moveable feast since the 4th century and it Intangible cultural heritage of the region is determined by the date of Easter Sunday. during winter season comes to life through Maypole (tall deciduous or coniferous tree organized events aimed at preserving and with a trunk free of bark, decorated with rib- maintaining traditions and customs. Tradi- bons and a bottle of hard liquor) used to be tions transmitted orally, via music and danc- erected in front of a church, public buildings or ing are slightly different in each part of our houses of girls on the eve of May Day. region. Events are usually organized by local Maypole – Ilija, Ladzany, Prenčov, administration authorities, local groups or Sebechleby and other villages of the region civic associations. St. John‘s Eve is the eve of celebration Pig-slaughters take place during winter before the Feast Day of Saint John the Baptist season and in many villages they are related (24 June). According to the superstitions, the to the Carnival season. summer solstice and the beginning of summer Local pig-slaughters – Hontianske in general are associated with the increased Tesáre, Ilija, Ladzany, Sebechleby and activity of supernatural powers. Water and other villages in the region, date: Decem- especially dew collected on meadows were ber – March told to have purifying and healing power. It Carnival season belongs to the tradi- was told that a person who catches and keeps tions related to the turn of spring. It lasts a fi refl y will be lucky. Bonfi res (so called St. from the Epiphany to Ash Wednesday. John‘s Fire) were lit in order to induce rain. It used to be a season of collective yarn St. John‘s Bonfi re – place: Sebechleby, making, pig-slaughters and weddings ac- date: June companied by games, fun and costume and The event is accompanied by a sports day music parade down the village. During the with football and volleyball tournaments, activ- last days of carnival season, procession ities for children and litting the bonfi re. of young men walked around houses and For more information visit:: danced specifi c carnival dances. Burning www.starahora.sk and drowning the effi gy of Morena/bass is St. John‘s Eve in Svätý Anton – place: one of the oldest customs in Slovakia. Ac- Svätý Anton, date: June cording to the superstitions, destroying the It includes treasure hunting, St. John‘s bass brings about spring. Eve traditions and lighting the bonfi re. Svätoantonský Hajnal – place: Svätý Anton, date: February – March GASTRONOMIC AND VITICULTURAL It is a traditional carnival parade with lo- EVENTS cal pig-slaughter. The event includes other The region is rich in specialities and the

52 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD directly from the picturesque wine cellars of Dudince, in Merovce. There are various kinds of wine, folk music, refreshments and beautiful environments of the Merovce vine- yards awaiting the visitors. Sitnianska paškrta (Sitno delicacy) – place: Počúvadlo, date: August Competition of teams in cooking the spe- cialties in a camping pot. The event includes southern part of it belongs to the wine-grow- other accompanying programmes. ing region, therefore, several events are Jablková chuť Hontu (Apple taste of thematically focused on preparation of meals Hont) – place: Ladzany, date: September and wine degustation. Many of the events Competition in cooking apple meals and are related to traditions and accompanied by their degustation. The event is accompanied folk programmes. Events are usually organ- by the presentation of Hont apple tree gene ized by local administration authorities, local pool and professional fruit-growing seminars. groups or civic associations. It includes cultural programme with fair. Local pig-slaughters – See Chapter For more information visit: Traditions www.ladzany.sk Best wine competition – place: Lišov, Dudinské vinobranie (Wine festival of date: March/April Dudince) – place: Dudince, date: September Best local wine competition. Wine degus- Presentation and degustation of the best tation includes accompanying programmes. wine, partially fermented grape musts and Hontiansky súdok (Berrel of Hont) – winemakers of the region. There are several place: Dudince, date: April accompanying programmes such as crafts Competition of wines produced exclusively fair, cultural programme and programmes for by amateur winemakers and wine growers. children. Competing wines are produced by winemakers Oberačka po sebechlebsky (Wine fes- exclusively for their own consumption and they tival in Sebechleby style) – see Chapter cannot be bought in shops. Festivals For more information visit: Všade tam kde sa dá žiť, možno žiť do- www.vinohradnik.sk bre ... (Everywhere it is possible to live, it is Open Days of the company Vinojek – possible to live well...) – place: Hontianske place: Rykynčice, date: May Tesáre, date: October Presentation of wine-producing compa- It is the competition in goulash cooking. ny in wine cellars. Goulash master for everyone. The event in- Hontianska včela (Bee of Hont) – cludes other accompanying programmes. place: Hontianske Nemce, date: June Competition in baking of honey sweets, THEATRE PERFORMANCES AND workshops and exhibition of beekeeping. EVENTS FOR CHILDREN Beerfest Dvorníky – Hontianske Tesáre – Dvorníky, date: July Beer festival with accompanying pro- gramme. Dudinské otvorené pivnice (Open wine cellars in Dudince) – place: Dudince, date: August Festival of open wine cellars. Visitors may taste wines produced in the region

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 53 Theatre performances are very popular in our region since in many villages, there are voluntary theatre groups. They present their performances in different seasons of the year. Events for children are focused on families who like to visit our magical region. Rozprávkový deň v obci Počúvadlo (Day of Fairy Tales in Počúvadlo) – place: Počúvadlo, date: May Events are for children as well as adults. in order to maintain their traditions. There are „fairy tale stands“ prepared for Festival kumštu, remesla a zábavy children where they can watch the passages (Festival of arts, crafts and fun) – place: of famous fairy tales. The event includes oth- Banská Štiavnica, date: May er accompanying programmes. Rezbársky deň (Woodcarving Day) – Budenie sitnianskych rytierov place: Štiavnické Bane, date: July (Awaiking the knights of Sitno) – place: Woodcarving, craftsmen and interesting Počúvadlo, date: May attractions. Knight days for children as well as adults Svätourbanské slávnosti (St. Hurban with the opening of summer tourist season. Festival) – place: Sebechleby, date: May Divadlo v prírode (Theatre in nature) Celebration of the patron saint of wine – place: Hontianske Nemce – Vinice, date: growers that opens the wine season is held May in the Cultural Monument of Folk Architecture Z rozprávky do rozprávky (From fairy Stará Hora. Mass, folk programme, fair and tale to fairy tale) – place: Svätý Anton, date: other attractions. June Nezabudnuté remeslá (Unforgotten Day full of games, competitions and ad- crafts) – place: Banská Štiavnica, date: Au- ventures. gust, place: Námestie sv. Trojice (Holy Trinity Detské dni Sv. Huberta (Children‘s Square) Days of St. Hubert) – place: Svätý Anton, Traditional crafts and folklore fair. The date: June biggest event of its kind in Banská Štiavnica Days full of fun and lessons for young Region – almost 100 sellers, perfect offers hunters and foresters. The event includes and pleasant environment. other accompanying programmes. Cesta rozprávkovým kráľovstvom OTHER EVENTS (Journey through marvellous kingdom) – place: Dudince, date: June The fi rst Sunday of June is dedicated to the youngest every year. They can enjoy games, competitions, theatre, attractions and animations.

CELEBRATIONS OF PATRONS AND TRADITIONAL CRAFTS Our inhabitants are religious and there- Otvorenie kúpeľnej sezóny (Opening fore celebrate individual patrons or protec- of the spa season) – place: amphitheatre tors. These celebrations are accompanied in Dudince, date: May, place: amphitheatre by masses. Inhabitants of our region are This event opens summer season in engaged not only in agriculture, but also in the spa town of Dudince. Visitors can enjoy various crafts. Different events are organized rich cultural programme. The event includes

54 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD crafts fair and several stands with handmade other programmes: crafts fair, village tour products. with short story performances, workshops, Folklórne slávnosti Podhorie (Folk degustation, Goulash master and presenta- Festival Podhorie) – place: Podhorie, date: tion of farms. June Nemčianska sobota (Saturday in Traditional folk festival with the per- Nemce) – Hontianske Nemce, date: August formances of folk groups in the local am- Cultural and sports event. phitheatre. The event is accompanied by

SUMMER IN THE REGION

Diverse landscape and surroundings of eral different swimming pools. Summer swim- Hont offer a countless number of summer ming pool Dudinka with the healing mineral activities, such as tourism and bicycle touring water of Dudince is the most famous one. with a lot of signed educational trails and cycle Another possibility is to swim in wild nature. routes, hunting, mushroom hunting, fi shing and There are several artifi cial water reservoirs swimming in the neighbourhood ponds, lakes called tajchy in the region of Štiavnické vrchy and swimming pools, herb collecting along mountains. See Chapter Wellness and Swim- with the opportunity to visit many precious and ming well-known historical monuments, various local Contact: event in individual villages and bigger festivals. www.kupeledudince.sk/volny-cas/kupa- lisko-dudinka SWIMMING IN THE REGION www.banskastiavnica.travel Swimming is one of the most favourite summer activities. In our region, there are sev- HIKING

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 55 The nature of Štiavnické vrchy moun- Water reservoir Sebechleby is popular with tains enthrals people since time immemori- fi shermen. Fishing competitions are held al. Softly shaped landscape, fabulous Sitno here on regular basis. mountain, forests, meadows and water res- You may try so-called „CATCH-LET GO“ ervoirs and magical secluded places. Sea- fi shing on Vindšachta lake by the village Štia- sons of the year are full of colours as if they vnické Bane. Vindšachtské jazero lake – the were competing against each other to be the pearl in the heart of Štiavnické vrchy moun- most beautiful one. The nature of Banská Št- tains – is the district of fi shing „without taking iavnica Region offers various ways to relax in the catch“. The only thing you have to do is the wild nature. See Chapter Cycle Routes to buy a Guest Permit in Vila Vážka right be- and Tourist Trails. low the dam of the lake Vindšachta and try Contact: www.naucnechodniky.sk fi shing in person. Contact: www.tajchy.sk BICYCLE TOURING HORSE RIDING

Cycle routes of the region make you enjoy the ride in beautiful nature; they offer It is said that one has the most beauti- views of picturesque valleys, swimming in ful view of the world from the horse saddle. water reservoirs and give you the opportunity If you also love the view of the world from to get to know a great amount of historical the horse back, agrotourism, hippotherapy and cultural monuments. or animal-assisted therapy is the right thing See Chapter Cycle Routes and Tourist for you. Horse riding leads to relaxation. Our Trails. region offers several ranches and farms – Contact: www.bajkomktajchom.sk ranch Bôra in Podhorie, farm for children www.vitajtecyklisti.sk Gazdáčik in Banská Belá, ranch Nádej in Svätý Anton or Biofarma Kašiar by Počúvad- FISHING lo, forest park and small ZOO by the water reservoir Počúvadlo. Contact: www.rancbora.sk, www.gazdacik.sk www.rancnadej.sk www.jazeropocuvadlo.sk www.hoteltopky.sk

MUSHROOM HUNTING AND HERBAL- ISM Water reservoirs, ponds and lakes of Hont Region is, thanks to its beautiful and Banská Štiavnica Region provide good con- vast forests and meadows, known for its rich ditions for fi shing. Most of the natural ponds fauna and fl ora. It is popular with mushroom are saught-after by fi shermen. Fishing dis- hunters and herbalists. Various kinds of edible tricts are mostly inhabited by carp and trout. mushrooms can be found here. Mushroom

56 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD areas and the whole Slovakia come here and everyone fi nds here what they are looking for.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS Region is rich in cultural and historical monuments. Each village has its own cus- toms and traditions and a lot to offer. There- fore, a lot of sports events and festivals take place during summer here. See Chapter hunters from the neighbourhood, surrounding Event Guide.

WINTER IN THE REGION

ICE SKATING SKIING AND SLEDGING

If you want to make your winter more Skiing in Banská Štiavnica Region is des- pleasant by activities on the ice, we offer ignated for less demanding skiers, beginners a lot of opportunities to spend your time and children. There is only one slope which is in in case of good weather conditions by ice operation only in case of good snow conditions skating on the frozen water reservoirs. Dur- with no artifi cial snow. You can enjoy pleasant ing severe winter, frozen water reservoirs „old-fashioned“ skiing for families with children change into beautiful natural ice rinks. You in the ski resort Dúbrava in Ilija with two older can meet the ice-skaters most often on the T-bar lift and friendly environment. water reservoirs in Banská Štiavnica on For sledging we recommend the slopes Veľká Vodárenská (meditative ice skating) around the water reservoir Červená studňa and Červená studňa (hockey). The locals in Banská Štiavnica. If winter season brings sometimes organize night ice skating on enough amount of snow, each village offers you Veľká Vodárenská in the light of candles a slope that you can use for sledging. and lamps. You can also try the ice skat- ing marathon on all the water reservoirs. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING Furthermore, you can go to the water res- ervoir in Sebechleby and the surface quarry Devičie where ice hockey tournaments are held in case of severe winter. Ice skating on water reservoirs is on your own responsi- bility. We recommend not entering the ice surface in case of a thaw. Artifi cial season- al ice rinks are prepared for the visitors as well as the locals each year in Hontianske Moravce, Ilij, Prenčov and Svätý Anton. Fans of skiing and cross-country skiing

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 57 may enjoy 45 km of marked and maintained Intangible cultural heritage of the region cross country skiing trails. Under favourable during winter season comes to life through snow conditions there is about 10 km long organized events for preserving and main- regularly maintained circuit between Červená taining traditions and customs. Carnival sea- studňa and slope Salamandra Resort for ree son belongs to the traditions related to the and classic style. A track for winter cross coun- turn of spring. It lasts from the Epiphany to try skiing on the trail Červená studňa – slope Ash Wednesday. It used to be a season of Salamandra Resort – Horná Roveň – Rosniar- collective yarn making, pig-slaughters and ky – Červená studňa is regularly maintained. weddings accompanied by games, fun, and 10-kilometre-long trail leads along the horno- costume and music parade down the village. drušský ditch and goes back to the forest trail During the last days of carnival season, pro- down which wood used to be collected. cession of young men walked around houses and danced specifi c carnival dances. Burn- WINTER TRADITIONS ing and drowning the effi gy of Morena/bass is one of the oldest customs in Slovakia. Ac- cording to the superstitions, destroying the bass brings about spring. Christmas season is accompanied by various Christmas fairs and customs. The end of the year is celebrat- ed in a portentous way in each village and town just like anywhere else in the world. Celebrations are accompanied by various cultural programmes.

TOURISM IN THE REGION

Tourism in the region is highly developed TAJCHY – ARTIFICIAL WATER RES- since one may adore a lot of beauties of nature ERVOIRS here. Štiavnické vrchy mountains are a region very popular with tourists. A lot of visitors come here so that they can feast their eyes on won- derful nature, recharge their batteries and have a rest. This region has certainly a lot to offer.

SITNO – THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN OF ŠTIAVNICKÉ VRCHY WITH THE HEIGHT OF 1009 M. A. S. L. See Chapter Wandering through History of Mining Počúvadlo – one of the most important and well-known water reservoirs – offers refreshments, meals and accommodations. Počúvadlo is also one of the starting points for hikes to Sitno mountains.

TANÁD AND PARADAJS MOUNTAINS See Chapter Free time – Treasures of the Tanád (938.8 m. a. s. l.) is only the fourth Region. highest mountain of Štiavnické vrchy, how-

58 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD ŠTANGARÍGEĽ – KRUPINSKÉ BRALCE

ever, it offers panoramic views to all sides owing to its location as well as the fact that it is not forested. One of the most interesting tourist If you set off along the ridge of the tourist destinations in the region is a unique trail marked with red signs, you will get to a natural formation called Krupinské bralce better known mountain Paradajs (938.9 m) or Štangarígeľ. This formation consists of with wonderful views of Banská Štiavnica. regular five-side andesite pillars some of which reach the height of 6 metres. The GLANZENBERG MOUNTAIN area of the rocks (0.65 ha) was declared a nature monument in 1975 and it lies in the protected landscape area of Štia- vnické vrchy.

GUNPOWDER WAREHOUSE IN BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA

Glanzenberg is the nearest mountain to the centre of the town. It is the place of ore mining by the ancient Celts. The richest ore vein Špitaler penetrated the surface. This place is associated with a lot of legends on the origins of the town and it was first populated in the 12th century. Historical gunpowder warehouse in You can visit this historical place today and Banská Štiavnica has been declared a have a mesmerizing view of the „new“ old national cultural monument too. It was town. built in the 18th century and used to serve as a central warehouse of gunpowder in PIARG GATE the Banská Štiavnica mine district. One of the first lightning conductors in the whole Kingdom of Hungary was installed on it in 1871. The lightning conductor was constructed according to the designs by the Slovak world-class chemist and steel- worker, Leopold Anton Ruprecht.

ARBORETUM KYSIHÝBEĽ See Chapter Banská Štiavnica See Chapter Banská Štiavnica

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 59 old. It plays an important cultural and historical role. It is located in the cadastre of the village Kráľovce-Krnišov.

DUDINSKÉ TRAVERTÍNY TRAVER- TINES – ROMAN BATHS

KOHÁRY‘S OAK

See Chapter Spa Tourism

STARÁ HORA – SEBECHLEBY

A well-known tree among tourists – Eng- lish oak (lat. Quercus robur) – is a massive deciduous tree from the Fagaceae family. Koháry‘s oak is the most massive and accord- ing to the estimation it is the oldest tree oak in the Krupina District. It is 25 m high, the trunk girth is 630 cm, and the longest branch is 14 m long, elliptical treetop‘s volume is 403 m3. See Chapter Free time – Treasures of the It is estimated that it is more than 400 years region.

FULFILLING CHILDREN‘S DREAMS

We would like to introduce some plac- es and attractions of our region you should defi nitely visit with your children. We present tips for one-day-long trips to the beautiful re- gion of Banská Štiavnica and Dudince. Since there are several places of interest where you and your children can spend your free time, it is up to you to choose.

TERRA PERMONIA room) with model trains spread on 20 m2. TERRA PERMONIA is a workshop, Fosforovňa (Phosphorus room) will make place of rest, fun, education and learning. everyone who likes to play with their own Children learn to work with different techni- shadows laugh; it is dedicated for everyone cal equipment by playing games and they aged 3 to 99 years. use different materials. Younger children Contact: may have a look into Mašinkáreň (Machine www.terrapermonia.sk

60 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD NATIVITY SCENE OF BANSKÁ ŠTIA- marked tourist trails, one of which is more VNICA diffi cult than the other, with the possibility to take a break on the benches set along the trail. In the small ZOO, three enclosures are constructed – deer enclosure, wild boar en- closure and one for sheep and goats. Your children may ride a small donkey and three ponies in the forest park. Contact: www.hoteltopky.sk/?LESOPARK

It is one of the largest wooden movable TOUR TIPS FOR WALKS Nativity Scene in Slovakia. It depicts the de- Calvary of Banská Štiavnica velopment, history and traditions of one of the most beautiful towns in Slovakia – Banská Šti- avnica – in a wood carving form. The tradition- al Nativity scene is built in the 21-metres-long wooden model of Banská štiavnica inhabited by more than 800 hand carved fi gures, around 400 of which can move. Contact: www.betlehem.sk See Chapter Free Time – Treasures of BOTANICAL GARDEN BANSKÁ the Region. ŠTIAVNICA Contact: Botanical garden is spread on the area of www.kalvaria.org 3.5 ha and it was constructed in the end of the 19th century. It consists of two parts – lower EDUCATIONAL TRAILS and upper garden – separated by a road. Only Educational trail Sitno the upper part is currently open to public. Educational trail on ecology of Piarg water Around 250 various national as well as reservoirs exotic wood plants are grown in both parts of Water Management trail of Piarg the garden. You may play a game called „Bot- Mining activities trail of Piarg anist“ with children in groups; you will get all See Chapter Cycle Routes and Tourist Trails. the instructions in the information centre. Contact: Contact: www.geoparkbs.sk/geoturizmus/turis- www.slsbs.edu.sk/botanikainf.html tika.html

FOREST PARK AND SMALL ZOO RANČ NÁDEJ, SVÄTÝ ANTON

The area of the forest park offers two Ranč Nádej is a ranch located in a beauti-

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 61 ful environment of Svätý Anton village. Large room, playground, campfire rings and a complex on the ranch offers wide range of swimming pool. It is suitable mostly for ways to spend your free time and summer groups of people looking for a place to holidays. There are wooden climbing bars for relax as well as enjoy resting in an active children, large arena where western races as way, civil defence courses, school trips, well as horse riding take place. nature schools, summer camps or train- Contact: ing camps. www.rancnadej.sk Contact: www.sebechleby.eu RECREATION CENTRE SEBECHLEBY Outdoor swimming pool DUDINKA

Recreation centre Sebechleby is lo- cated ca. 2 km of the village Sebeche- See Chapter Wellness and Swimming. by in the settlement called Mladá Hora. Contact: The facility offers accommodation, play- www.kupeledudince.sk/volny-cas/kupa- ing fields for various sports, multimedia lisko-dudinka

ADRENALINE ADVENTURE

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING represents a distinctive landmark. Looking for new climbing routes on south- ern and northern rocks thanks to Mr. Juraj Kóňa led to a beautiful more-than-hundred- pages long guide. Climbing guide document- ed ca. 250 climbing routes of the diffi culty III to X in more than 60 pictures while mapping rock formations not yet published. You can fi nd one copy of the climbing guide below the starting point of Evkina route Mountain climbing is becoming more (northern rocks, sector S6) and the second and more popular nowadays. Our region is one can be fi nd below the starting point of no exception and therefore, the mountain Vnútroná dynamika route (southern rocks, climbing club IAMES LEVICE decided to map, sector J13). Electronic version is available on restore and mark the climbing routes on the the Internet (http://www.iameslv.ttce.sk). Sitno mountain. Sitno (1 009.2 m. a. s. l.) is Contact: the highest mountain of Štiavnické vrchy and Juraj Kóňa (autor sprievodcu) it represents the centre of European tourism. [email protected] It is surrounded by andesite walls from three +421 903 131 399 sides. Lookout tower and transmission tower Rasťo Šimko (správca Sitna) Sitno are located on the mountain top. Sitno [email protected]

62 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD +421 907 952 955 Horolezecký klub IAMES LEVICE www.iameslv.ttce.sk

LAKE- AND WATER-RELATED SPORTS

and hundreds of vineyards. See Chapter Cycle Routes and Tourist Trails Contact: OZ Sebechleby, www.starahora.sk

Scuba diving: Richňavské jazero lake of- Bnská Štiavnica District fers swimming and other water sports during There are several moderately diffi cult to summer, it is also known among scuba driv- diffi cult cycle routes in the region. It offers ers who organise trainings and scuba diving good conditions for bicycle touring on moun- courses here on regular basis. tain bikes. See Chapter Cycle Routes and The lake bed is rocky and covered with Tourist Trails the sediment. The maximum depth is almost Contact: 21 m, it is appropriate for beginners. Dark www.bajkomktajchom.sk places and places with pure visibility, howev- www.banskastiavnica.sk/navstevnik/ er, are appropriate only for advanced scuba aktivny-oddych/cykloturistika.html divers. Access to the water is pretty good; you may use the stairs to get into the water. MOTOCROSS Warning: Scuba diving without permis- Motocross is a kind of motorcycle sports. sion is a life threatening activity requiring a Races are driven on closed terrain tracks and proper level of skills and abilities that may be motorcycles are specially constructed for acquired only through a specialized training. off-road ride. This sport is very popular and Contact: widely spread in our region. Motocross fans Deep Paradise, s.r.o., have their own tracks created in some of the www.deepparadise.sk villages where races take place on regular ba- Rowing: is possible directly at Počúvadlo sis. If you are interested in personal trainings, lake. In case of appropriate climate conditions you can make arrangement and book a track during summer season from May to Septem- with its administrator. ber, you can rent boats, kayaks and water Krupina District bikes at Lodenica Počúvadlianske jazero and Track Lišov, type of the track: motocross, relax right on the water and enjoy beautiful location: N: 48°14’3.97“ / E: 18°52’45.47“ nature around you. Track Lišov 2, type of the track: enduro/CC, Contact: location: N: 48°13’34.59“ / E: 18°52’8.65“ Lodenica – Počúvadlianske Jazero, Track Ladzany, type of the track: motocross, www.pocuvadlo.sk location: N: 48°16’0.68“ / E: 18°53’49.2“ Banská Štiavnica District DIFFUCULT CYCLE ROUTE Track Banská Štiavnica, type of the Krupina District track: enduro/CC, Cycle route GREENWAY – All the way location: N: 48°26’55.23“ / E: 18°53’51.05“ from Drážovce to Krnišov through three hills Track Banská Štiavnica, type of the

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 63 track: enduro/CC, Contact: location: N: 48°28’10.83“ / E: 18°54’2.48“ www.countrycross.sk

FREE TIME – TREASURES OF THE REGION

BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA – THE TOWN OF protection complex was done in 1777 when UNESCO the entrance tower was rebuilt. Since 1990, Old Castle has served as town‘s museum and since 1950 it has been a cultural herit- age monument of Slovakia. Calvary of Banská Štiavnica repre- sents the complex of twenty-two individual sacral buildings including seventeen chapels presenting the scenes of the Crucifi xion of Jesus and the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary, three churches, „Ecce homo“ stations Banská Štiavnica is one of the most and the Holy Sepulchre, all located on the beautiful and historically most interesting Scharffenberg hill. It was constructed in 1744 towns in Slovakia. In December 1993, Ban- – 1751 in Baroque style and the construction ská Štiavnica won the international recogni- was initiated by the Jesuit František Perg- tion when the town together with surround- er. The upper church, so called „German“ ing monuments were registered in the List church, was fi nished and consecrated in of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. See 1745. The whole complex was fi nished and Chapter Banská Štiavnica subsequently consecrated seven years later. Town Castle or Old Castle is a well-pre- The construction was fi nanced from the gifts served castle complex. It is located in the by townsmen; the coats of arms of the most centre of the town at the foothills of Paradajs signifi cant donors are located on the front fa- (630 m. a. s. l.). The town castle of Banská cade of the chapels. Before being consecrat- Štiavnica was constructed as a Renaissance ed, Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor visited fortifi cation against the Turks out of the Ro- the Calvary on the Holy Trinity Day. manesque-Gothic church of Virgin Mary New Castle, or Girls‘ castle, Virgins‘ from the beginning of the 13th century that Castle is a six-fl oor Renaissance building was rebuilt and fortifi ed in the 16th century. with four bastions and embrasures. It was The base of the complex is formed by orig- built in 1564 – 1571 as a watchtower during inally Romanesque, nowadays Gothic ba- the battles against the Turks. It is situated on silica completed by an ossuary (Chapel of the elevation in the centre of the town. It is St. Michael). The church was rebuilt into a currently the seat of Slovak Mining Museum basilica in 1495 – 1515 and the fortifi cation and it presents the exposition dedicated to was completed by rounded bastions and the original purposes of the building. In the embrasures for cannons. The fortifi cation in- past, it used to serve as a clock tower blow- cludes a fosse and bulwark which were built ing the horn every quarter-hour and striking in order to boost the protection against Turks, each hour. The highest fl oor is used as a which changed the whole reconstruction of tourist scenic platform. the complex. By strengthening the walls of The dominant feature of the centre of the the basilica, protection fort was construct- town is the square along with the baroque ed – town castle to protect the mining town. sculptural group of the Holy Trinity with Another set of changes was carried out in Immaculata and saints – protectors against 1660s and the last signifi cant work on the the plague. The square is lined by houses of

64 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD rich mining entrepreneurs and other towns- A unique hunting exposition of the mu- men. Fairs used to be held here in the past seum, the largest one of its kind in Slovakia, and even today a lot of stallholders fi ll up the includes not only a great number of hunting square during regular summer events. Ná- trophies, but also a wide collection of his- mestie Svätej Trojice (Holy Trinity Square) torical hunting weapons, art objects, books, continues further way down to Radníčné magazines and photographs. The topics námestie (Town Hall Square). considering cynology, falconry, archery and fi shing are complemented by dioramas of THE MANOR HOUSE animals living in Slovakia. IN SVÄTÝ ANTON A beautiful park that melts into a forest is part of the manor house estate. No historical documents that would give information on the park have been preserved. It is assumed that it fl ourished mainly at the time when the manor house was completed around 1750. Currently, remains of regular Baroque type of treatment can be seen on the terraces near the main building. They loosely melt into a landscape park and forested park. The dominant feature of the village Svätý Anton that was built on a site of a smaller CULTURAL MONUMENT OF FOLK fortifi ed castle mentioned in historical docu- ARCHITECTURE STARÁ HORA ments as early as in 15th century. The manor house was originally built in Baroque style as a two-wing building with arcades surround- ing an open courtyard with a Baroque stone fountain. In the middle of 18th century, Earl Andrej Koháry completed the process of re-building the manor house into a wealthy four-wing noble residence. The manor house has served the pur- pose of a museum since 1962; currently it is In a beautiful and peaceful nature on the a museum of art, history and hunting. Ow- southern edge of Štiavnické vrchy mountains ing to the unique integrity, authenticity and lies a wine-growing settlement registered in variability of collections, the entire complex the List of Cultural Monuments of Folk Archi- of the manor house was declared a national tecture in Slovakia in 1981. The settlement cultural monument in Slovakia in 1985. The presents a rare complex of wine cellars out- museum in Svätý Anton is a contributory or- side the homes of wine growers. The most ganization directly managed by the Ministry notable features of Stará Hora include wine of Agriculture and Rural Development of the cellars dug by hands into tuff bedrock and Slovak Republic. the rooms built above them. CULTURAL The Koháry and Coburg families made MONUMENT OF FOLK ARCHITECTURE an essential contribution in the history of the STARÁ HORA was declared by the Reso- manor house. Here, they concentrated beau- lution of the Government of the Slovak Re- tiful pieces of artwork and crafts from various public No. 22/81 as of 21 January 1981. By parts of the world (18th – 20th centuries). the Regulation of the Council of the District The rich furnishing of rooms refl ects the way National Committee in Zvolen No. 105/83 as of life, taste and hobbies of the members of of 8 July 1983, 83 objects from the Cultural these families. Monument of Folk Architecture Stará Hora

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 65 were registered in the Central List of Cultural Monuments while at the same time the Prin- ciples of cultural monument protection were approved. In 1988, Measures on rescue and restoration of the Cultural Monument of Folk Architecture Stará Hora – Sebehleby were prepared. They represented a biding foun- dation for elaborating the local plan of the settlement with the cultural monument of folk architecture – Sebechleby. The measures myths and legends – the most famous being set up the means of protection as well as the the one about knights living in the massif of regime of allowed activities on the territory Sitno prepared to help the people when the of the cultural monument and its protection time got worse. area based on the knowledge of the area of Sitno has been declared a protected ar- the Cultural Monument of Folk Architecture. chaeological area. The mountain itself was There are wine cellars with above-ground populated already in the prehistoric times. buildings outside the village. They keep The archaeological work revealed a mas- the continuity of the archaic features of pur- sive Lusatian hill fort here. The area of the pose-built objects characteristic for this region hill fort is 16 hectares large and it was the by their building material and layout. Forma- highest situated fortifi ed residence of Lusa- tion of wine cellars concentrated in a single tian culture on the territory of Slovakia. This place was exacted by specifi c circumstances settlement had been here from 1200 to 800 of historical development along with suitable BC, which was proved by numerous fi ndings geographical environment offering the oppor- of pottery, spinning tools, quern-stones, a tunity to dig the cellars in the tuff bedrock. In wide range of bronze objects, such as cup, the past few years, the objects were used for hatchet, sickle, small chisel, needle, clip etc. recreation purposes and agrotourism. Some Part of the land was most likely deliberately of them provide the visitors with accommo- cultivated. Populating of Sitno lasted approx- dation and offer additional services and pro- imately until the beginning of the present era. grammes to spend your free time. During the The historical lookout tower currently Wine festival in Sebechleby one may take a offers expositions of archaeological fi ndings look into the private wine cellars. from the castle and artefacts of Sitno‘s fauna, fl ora, minerals and climbing. SITNO Štiavnické vrchy mountains and Sitno Sitno (1009 m. a. s. l.) is the highest are considered to be the centre of Europe- mountain of Štiavnické vrchy. The peak is an tourism – the fi rst tourist club was formed surrounded by andesite walls from three here in 1860. After 1880, hundred kilometres sides. Lookout tower and transmission tower of tourist trails were marked with signs, new Sitno are located on the top of the mountain. trails and mountain were created, all under It is a signifi cant landmark and its top offers the auspices of Dr. Téry. Sitno offers a won- a wide angle view. It is associated with many derful wide angle view.

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES

SLOVAK MINING MUSEUM the Old Castle in Banská Štiavnica on 1 July The beginnings of the Slovak Mining Mu- 1900. It is generally known that Slovakia used seum (Slovenské banské museum) date back to be a world‘s leader in mining and mining of to the establishment of the Town‘s Museum in rare metals and non-ferrous metals, mining

66 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD industry, techniques and education brought Old Castle offers the overview of the ar- Slovakia and Banská Štiavnica in particular chitectural styles from the 13th to 19th centu- fame throughout the world. ries, archaeological exposition, and exposition Slovak Mining Museum currently repre- of mining, smithery, tobacco pipe manufac- sents a specialized organization purposefully turing and archery. It exhibits valuable sculp- gathering, professionally processing, using tures, clocks, grave cross and other historical and popularizing the complex documentation objects. See Chapter Free time – Treasures regarding the development of mining industry, of the Region. related fi elds, geology, mineral protection, Contact: www.muzeumbs.sk development of mining towns and regions in Slovakia. Slovak Mining Museum administers New castle several expositions, provides guide tours with professional commentary, organizes various festivals and sets up interesting exhibitions

EXPOSITIONS

New castle has been built as the part of the town‘s defence fortifi cation system. Moreover, it has been used as a watchtow- er – so called „vartovka“. It has constituted a part of military signal system against the Gallery of Jozef Kollár consists of three Turks consisting of 7 mining towns which buildings – House of Bošáni, House of Richter stretched from Levice to Ľubietová. and House of Jonáš. One may see the exposition of the bat- It exhibits more than 200 most valuable tles against the Turks here. New Castle pro- works of art related mostly to Banská Štiavni- vides the visitors with a beautiful view of the ca of the 15th to 19th centuries, 20th century town and the surrounding nature. See Chap- authors from Banská Štiavnica as well as ex- ter Free Time – Treasures of the Region. hibitions of modern art. Contact: www.muzeumbs.sk Contact: www.muzeumbs.sk MINING MUSEUM Old Castle Mining Museum is the only museum of its Old Castle is located above Námestie kind in Slovakia. The underground exposition sv. Trojice (Holy Trinity Square) at the foot of includes the tour in a mine of the 17th century. Paradajz mountain. It is one of the oldest mon- It also comprises surface exposition, educa- uments of Banská Štiavnica. tional geological exposition of the Geopark,

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 67 KAMMERHOF Mining in Slovakia

exposition of quarry mining and the Terézia ore vein excavations. The museum is located in the west of the centre of the town, ca. 1 km The largest exposition in the town pre- of the route leading to Levice. It stretches in a sents mining education, history of the most wonderful valley below Klinger water reservoir important mining offi ce, gallery of mining on the boundary of the town and wild nature. specialists and personalities, folk art with It has been providing the visitors with unique mining theme as well as ceremonial mining experience of original mining places for almost clothing. It depicts all aspects of mining – 40 years. Being the oldest and thematically extraction, discovery of the deposit, geo- largest mining exposition in Slovakia, it de- logical research, work tools usage, mining picts the development of mineral mining in the maps, lamps, vehicles, pumping equipment Central Europe from the Middle Ages up to the and other equipment used when processing end of the 20th century. the material. All these complex and simple Contact: www.muzeumbs.sk activities of mining industry are presented in the exposition from the oldest archaeologi- BERGGERICHT cal discoveries up to the 20th century. More Mineralogical Exhibition than 800 original objects, illustrations of the period, historical photographs and function- al models are presented to the visitors in 9 exposition units. Together with artistic and historical part in other 5 rooms, visitors can easily imagine the impact of mining in the region. Contact: www.muzeumbs.sk/kammerhof

GLANZENBERG GALLERY Exposition is set in the national cultural monument Berggerich on Námestie Svätej Trojice (Holy Trinity Square). The fi rst Slo- vak mining museum – National Mining Mu- seum of Dionýz Štúr – was founded in this building in 1927. Exposition is interesting not only for mineralogists, geologists and mineral collectors, but also for all the fans of nature and natural science. Part of the Michal Gallery is open for The mouth of the gallery is near the Memo- public too. Exposition of the unique sceptre rial of World War II Liberators on Kammerhos- quartz can be found only in the region of fská ulica street. The oldest written reference Banská Štiavnica. to the gallery dates back to 1560. It played Contact: www.muzeumbs.sk/berggericht an important role at the beginning of gold and

68 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD silver ore mining at the ore vein Špitaler under Glanzenberg mountain. Later it was used as a drainage system. The latest exposition open for public, the drainage gallery, is one of the oldest ones in the region of Štiavnica. Contact. www.muzeumbs.sk/glanzenberg

MUSEUM IN SVÄTÝ ANTON

visitors. The younger ones admire mostly the beauty of traditional folk costumes; they are interested in folk traditions and customs that have been passed on from generation to generation. The exposition is support- ed by the audio-visual information system by means of which visitors gain an insight not only into the village Sebechleby, but A unique hunting exposition of the mu- also into the origins of the history of Hont seum, the largest one of its kind in Slovakia, in general. includes not only a great number of hunting Contact: trophies, but also a wide collection of histor- www.narodopisnemuzeumsebechleby.sk ical hunting weapons, art objects, books, www.starahora.sk/narodopisne-muzeum magazines and photographs. The interior of the manor house comprises of the original TRADITIONAL FOLK ROOMS furniture along with wall decorations, majolica stoves, chandeliers and various pieces of art. The gold furniture that was given to French queen Marie Antoinette as a wedding gift is the jewel of the exposition. Days of Saint Hu- bert are held each September in the area of the manor house. They represent the national celebration of hunters and nature lovers. See Chapter Free time – Treasures of the Region. Contact: www.msa.sk The region is characterised by rural settlements and preserving traditional folk ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM customs. In some of the villages, traditional SEBECHLEBY crafts such as lace making, pottery or smith- Ethnographic Museum Sebechleby ery have been preserved to this day. Most of (Národopisné múzeum Sebechleby) is not a the villages have also preserved their tradi- traditional museum. It consists of 130 vine- tional folk architecture. The material culture yard rooms and unique tuff wine cellars. It of Hont is exposed in numerous traditional is often visited by young as well as older folk rooms.

BICYCLE TOURING AND TOURIST TRAILS

Banská Štiavnica and the surrounding na- water reservoirs – so called tajchy – attracts a ture of Štiavnické vrchy mountains, historical lot of Slovak as well as foreign tourists. monuments and unique system of artifi cial Region of the local action group Zlatá ces-

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 69 ta (Golden Road) offers great conditions for as not diffi cult. The average time to ride the bicycle touring whether you are a touring or route is 45 minutes and the route is signed by mountain bike fan. Hundreds of kilometres of yellow cycle signs. cross-country and forest routes, a lot of single Kolárčik Connection – Connection be- tracks and unique routes of mining ditches in tween Banská Belá and Lanzpoch. It is a 1.6 particular represent an attractive environment km long leg of cycle routes which are rated as for mountain cycling of various level of diffi - moderately diffi cult. The average time to ride culty. Moreover, there are high-quality asphalt the route is 45 minutes and the route is signed routes suitable for trekking as well as road by yellow cycle signs. bikes. System of signed as well as not signed Hell‘s Circuit – route from Červená studňa cycling routes lead cycle tourists and moun- to Richňavské jazerá. It is a 26 km long leg of tain bikers to places with wonderful views, cycle routes which are rated as not diffi cult. The deep forests and beautiful secluded places. average time to ride the route is 2 hours, it is One may easily get on a bike and reach al- a thematic route which is not explicitly signed, most all water reservoirs, monuments and however, it is easy to orientate. other magical places of the region. Kopanická Connection – Route from Cycle route GREENWAY - route from Richňavské jazero to Kopanice. It is a 9.9 km Drážovce through Sebechleby to Krnišov. It is a long leg of cycle routes which are rated as not 29-kilometres-long leg of cycle routes which are diffi cult. The average time to ride the route is 1 rated as technically diffi cult for mountain bikes. hour, it is a thematic route which is not explicitly The average time to ride the route is 4 hours signed, however, it is easy to orientate. and the route is signed by blue cycle signs. Vodárenská Connection – Connection Beliansky Circuit – Circuit of Banská Belá between Banská Štiavnica and Veľká Vodáren- It is a 16.5 km long leg of cycle routes which ská. It is a 3.1 km long leg of cycle routes which are rated as moderately diffi cult. The average are rated as moderately diffi cult. The average time to ride the route is 2 hours and the route is time to ride the route is 35 minutes and the signed by green cycle signs. route is signed by yellow cycle signs. Masaryk Circuit – Circuit of Kozelník. It is Štiavnická Anča – Route from Banská a 15.3 km long leg of cycle routes which are rat- Štiavnica to Banská Belá. It is an 8.3-kilo- ed as moderately diffi cult. The average time to metres-long leg of cycle routes which are ride the route is 2 hours and the route is signed rated as moderately difficult. The average by blue cycle signs. time to ride the route is 1 hour and the Gastorné Connection – Connection be- route is signed by green cycle signs. tween Halčiansky tajch and Salaš. It is a 5.5 Svätý Anton to Žibritov Route – km long leg of cycle routes which are rated Route from Svätý Anton to Žibritov. It is

70 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD a 6-kilometres-long leg of cycle routes Trail: Banská Štiavnica, Radničné námes- which are rated as moderately difficult. tie – Červená studňa mountain saddle – The average time to ride the route is 45 Paradajs – Ottergrund – Červená studňa – minutes and the route is signed by yellow Banská Štiavnica cycle signs. The trail of 3.9 km can be taken in 2 hours. Štiavnica Cycle Marathon Route – Route from Červená studňa to Studený vrch. TRAIL OF PIARGY It is a 30-kilometres-long leg of cycle routes Trail: Municipal offi ce of Štiavnické Bane which are rated as technically diffi cult only for (ŠB) – Suchý tajch (the oldest water res- MTB and mountain bikes. The average time ervoir in ŠB) –Magdaléna, Karol, Jozef, to ride the route is 5 hours and the route is Špitáler shafts – water reservoir signed by blue cycle signs. The trail of 5.3 km can be taken in 3 hours. Cycling tour Svätý Anton – Baďan – Krížna – Svätý Anton – Svätý Anton Circuit. WATER MANAGEMENT TRAIL OF It is a 45-kilometres-long leg of cycle routes PIARG which are rated as moderately diffi cult. The Trail: Veľká Richňava – Počúvadlo water average time to ride the route is 5 hours. reservoir Cycle route Počúvadlo – Pocúvadlo The two alternatives of the trail – the longer Circuit It is a 12-kilometres-long leg of cycle one of 15 km and the shorter one of 10 km – routes which are rated as moderately diffi cult can be taken in 6 to 7 hours. only for MTB and mountain bikes. The aver- age time to ride the route is 1 hour and the EDUCATIONAL TRAIL ON PIARG WATER route is signed by yellow cycle signs. RESERVOIRS Contact: www.bajkomktajchom.sk Trail: Veľká Richňava – Evička water reservoir www.cyklo.hiking.sk, www.vitajtecyklisti.sk The trail of 4 435 metres can be taken in 2 hours. Educational trails in the region of Ban- ská Štiavnica are specially developed tourist EDUCATIONAL TRAIL SITNO trails with stations with information boards. Trail: Počúvadlo water reservoir – Tatárska The information is focused on different lúka leads to Sitno (1009 m. a. s. l.), the high- fi elds. It introduces mining, history, forestry, est mountain of Štiavnické vrchy. archaeology, natural resources, technical The trail of 3 km can be taken in 2 hours. facts about the region, prominent people of the region, etc. This region offers several ed- FOREST EDUCATIONAL TRAIL BAN- ucational and tourist trails. SKÝ JAROK Trail: The trail is located along the collection EDUCATIONAL TRAIL OF MILAN KA- ditch. The starting point is Hotel Topky near PUSTA ALONG TERÉZIA ORE VEIN Počúvadlo water reservoir. Trail: Banská Štiavnica – Červená Studňa – The trail of 2.5 km can be taken in an hour. Ottergrund – Klinger – Červená Studňa The trail of 6 km can be taken in 2 hours. EDUCATIONAL TRAIL OF KYSIHÝBEĽ ARBORETUM EDUCATIONAL TRAIL STARÉ MESTO Trail: Banská Štiavnica – 1 km off Drieňová Trail: Červená Studňa – Staré mesto – Veľká settlement, towards Banský Studenec in the vodárenská nádrž – Staré mesto – Červená area of the arboretum, the area is divided Studňa into 4 sections with 350 squares. The trail of 3 km can be taken in 1.5 hours. GEOLOGICAL EDUCATIONAL TRAIL EDUCATIONAL TRAIL SVÄTÝ ANTON PARADAJS Trail: The starting point is located by the

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 71 entrance to the park by the manor house in mountain saddle (or the other way around) Svätý Anton. The educational trail is located The trail of 4.7 km can be taken in 2 hours. in the central part of the manor house. The trail of 1 km can be taken in an hour. EDUCATIONAL TRAIL OF KOHÁRY‘S OAK EDUCATIONAL TRAIL OF ANDREJ Trail: Elementary school in Hontianske KMEŤ – PRENČOV TO SITNO Nemce – Koháry‘s oak (cadastre of the vil- Trail: The starting point is by the memorial lage Kráľovce-Krnišov) room of Andrej Kmeť in the village Prenčov. The trail of 3.8 km can be taken in 1.5 hours. It continues through the centre of the village Prenčov, Horné Majere and Vlčia jama moun- EDUCATIONAL TRAIL ŽAKÝLSKE tain saddle all the way to the top of Sitno. PLESO The trail of 9 km can be taken in 3 hours. Trail: The educational trail starts and ends in the village Podhorie and it goes along EDUCATIONAL TRAIL „IN THE FOOT- Žakýlske pleso tarn in a protected land- STEPS OF THE FOREFATHERS“ scape area. Trail: The educational trail starts in the The trail of 6.9 km can be taken in 3.5 hours. village Ladzany and continues upstream Klastavský potok brook and ends by the EDUCATIONAL TRAIL ŽIBRITOV chalet Dobrá voda by the water reservoir Trail: The starting point is located in the vil- Počúvadlo. lage Žibritov near the former parish offi ce The trail of 11 km can be taken in 5 hours. and continues through Bebrava brook val- ley all the way to the massive monument of EDUCATIONAL TRAIL HORNÁ rocks called Štangarígeľ – Krupinské bralce. ROVEŇ – RICHŇAVSKÉ JAZERÁ The trail of 5.4 km can be taken in 1.5 hours. Trail: Štiavnické Bane – Horná Roveň – Pleso Contact: www.naucnechodniky.sk, mountain saddle – Richňavské jazerá – Peciny www.turistikaonline.sk

SPORTS

SPORT EVENTS IN THE REGION Štiavnické Bane See Chapter Event Guide ZŠ s MŠ Maximiliána Hella – wooden parquet fl oor, size 36x18 m, handball, SPORTS HALL AND GYMNASIUMS basketball, volleyball, mini football Dudince Contact: +421 45 6929187 Spojená škola Ľ. Štúra – fl exible polyu- +421 905 258847 rethane surface, size 38x18 m, handball, basketball, volleyball, mini football FOOTBALL FIELDS Contact: +421 45 5583175 Football fi elds with stands: +421 915 764534 Dudince , Hontianske Tesáre, Hontianske www.skoladudince.sk Nemce, Prenčov, Banská Štiavnica.

Sebechleby Football fi elds: ZŠ s MŠ Antona Matulu – fl exible polyu- Sebechleby, Terany, Štiavnické Bane. rethane surface, size 36x18 m, handball, Football fi elds are operated by sports basketball, volleyball, mini football clubs founded by municipal offi ce of the Contact: +421 45 5591743 given village or town. www.zssebechleby.edu.sk

72 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD MULTIPURPOSE FIELDS WITH ARTI- Vysoká FICIAL TURF tennis, volleyball, foot tennis, football, ice Baďan skating, size 24x12 m tennis, volleyball, foot tennis, football, bas- Contact: +421 918 872 485 ketball, size 33x18 m Contact: +421 918 892 842 TENNIS COURTS Banská Štiavnica Banská Štiavnica Súkromná hotelová akadémia Joergesov ZŠ J. Kollára, Ul. L. Svobodu – mini football dom a.s., Contact: +421 918 255 415 Joergesov dom a.s., Contact: +421 911 401 086 Dekýš opened May – September. tennis, volleyball, foot tennis, football, bas- ketball, size 33x18 m Banská Štiavnica Contact: +421 918 515 779 ZŠ J. Kollára, Ludvika Svobodu 40 Contact: +421 918 255 415 Dudince sports complex – football, tennis, volley- Dudince ball, foot tennis, size 36x18 m Sports centre – Liečebný dom Rubín, Contact: +421 903 362 953 Kúpeľná 106 Contact: +421 45 55 04 910 Hontianske Moravce +421 45 55 04 920 ZŠ s MŠ – football, tennis, foot tennis, basketball. Hontianske Nemce Contact: +421 911 277 453 ZŠ s MŠ – 2 clay tennis courts +421 45 55 83 946 Contact: +421 902 261 778 +421 902 294 224 Močiar tennis, volleyball, foot tennis, football, basketball, size 36x12 m SWIMMING POOLS Contact: +421 911 320 871 Banská Štiavnica Kúpele - plaváreň, Mládežnícka 10 – Prenčov outdoor swimming pool sports complex – tennis, volleyball, foot Banská Štiavnica tennis, football, ice skating, size 38x18 m. Contact: +421 45 69 12 724 Contact: +421 902 386 893 FITNESS CENTRES Sebechleby Banská Štiavnica sports complex – tennis, volleyball, foot Fitness centrum Dynamika, Mládežnícka 24 tennis, football, size 36x18 m Contact: +421 904 183 232, +421 903 Contact: +421 915 847 645, +421 903 390 024, +421 903 517 868 418 966, www.sebechleby.com Banská Štiavnica Štiavnické Bane Fitnes Činka, Mládežnícka 10 mini football, tennis, volleyball, foot tennis, Contact: +421 908 953 783 size 36x18 m +421 907 839 373 Contact: +421 45 69 29 117

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 73 Dudince Dudince Reconditioning and regeneratio centre (fi t- Sporty centre - Liečebný dom Rubín, ness) - Liečebný dom Rubín, Kúpeľná 106, 2 x bowling alleys, squash Contact: +421 45 5504920 Contact: +421 45 5504910, +421 45 5504 920 Svätý Anton Fitness centrum Banská Štiavnica Contact: +421 903 966 044 Public motocross complex GEOCLUB Šobov - BFree public motocross complex OTHER SPORTS COMPLEXES in Šobov offers the possibility to use motor- cycles to the public; the negative impacts Banská Štiavnica of this sports activity to our nature and at- Paintball tendance in the protected landscape area of Contact: +421 908 914950 Štiavnické vrchy are minimized. The tracks have been designed by the members of Banská Štiavnica AMK Sitno and they are operated by them Herňa Bowling, Zvonová 2 as well. One must always comply with the Contact: +421 45 6921113 rules of conduct on the track. Contact: +421 911 343 052

HOTELS

HOTEL MINERÁL ****

Hotel Minerál is a modern hotel located Wi-Fi connection, dry sauna, steam sau- in the centre of Dudince, near the spa area, na, cooling pool, Caribbean storm shower, currently offering 139 beds. Hotel Minerál Jacuzzi, bubble bath, underwater massage, meets the requirements of a wide range of paraffi n pack, foot treatment, various mas- clients from businessmen through tourists to sages, CERAGEM Master V3 – thermal social event organizers by offering high qual- massage bed. ity services, equipment and location. Contact: Hotel Minerál ****, Services: restaurant Sonáta, lobby bar, Okružná 124, 962 71 Dudince, night bar, conference and meeting rooms, www.hotelmineral.sk

HOTEL GRAND MATEJ ***

Diamant*** Dudince offers accommo- bedrooms and suites. It provides a wide dation in fully-equipped single and double range of balneotherapy procedures and

74 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD services that satisfy every customer’s derground garage, guarded parking space, need. bike rental, Nordic walking, tennis court, Healing procedures include more than billiards, maxi chess, whirlpool and nudist 70 different kinds of procedures – healing beach on the terrace of the fifth floor, so- as well as relaxation procedures, such as larium, beauty salon, hairdresser‘s, pedi- mineral baths, various massages, CO2 cure, manicure, cinema screening room gas injections, hydrotherapy, electrother- (150 seats), meeting room (40 seats), apy, heat therapy, movement therapy, ki- indoor swimming pool, indoor relaxation nesio taping, sauna, acupuncture, vacuum pool, outdoor swimming pool. massage, oxygen therapy, cryotherapy. Contact: Hotel Grand Matej ***, Services: restaurant, Wi-Fi connec- Kammerhofská 5, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica, tion, gift shop, exchange office, safe, un- www.grandmatej.sk

KÚPEĽNÝ HOTEL DIAMANT ***

Spa Dudince are unique for the min- tish shower, whirlpool bath, Bioptron lamp, eral healing water of Dudince. Spa hotels hydro galvanic bath, infrared heater, inha- Rubín and Smaragd which are linked by a lations, magnotherapy, solux, ultrasound, connecting corridor are suitable for guests various massages, cryotherapy, paraffin who are looking for comfort for reasonable pack, gas injections, and peaty pack. price with the possibility to undergo vari- Services: restaurant, lobby bar, cafe, ous healing procedures. gift shop, exchange office, safe, children‘s Healing procedures include more than day care (for children from three years of 70 different procedures – healing as well age, reservation needed), PC, Wi-Fi con- as relaxation procedures, such as mineral nection (entrance halls, bars), transfer baths, occupational therapy, hydrokinesio- for clients, congress hall, private room, therapy, Kneipp bath, bubble bath, Scot- hairdresser‘s, pedicure, manicure, beauty

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 75 salon, solarium, vital world Wellnea – well- nis, fitness. ness, whirlpool, tepidarium, sauna world Contact: Spa hotel Diamant ***, with whirlpool bath, outdoor swimming Kúpeľná 107, 962 71 Dudince, pool, sports centre – bowling, squash, ten- www.diamant.sk

KÚPELE DUDINCE, A.S. – KÚPEĽNÉ HOTELY RUBÍN *** A SMARAGD ***

Hotel Flóra is situated on the outskirts of injections, paraffi n packs, peaty packs, group the famous Spa Dudince. It offers accommo- and individual gymnastic exercises. dation for more or less undemanding clients Services: restaurant, hotel bar with a and it is suitable for corporate events and terrace, Wi-Fi connection, swimming pool, training courses. relaxation pool, whirlpool, sauna, beauty sa- Healing procedures include several types lon, pedicure, bike rental, library, tennis court, of procedures – healing as well as relaxation exchange offi ce, transfer for clients. procedures, such as hydrotherapeutic proce- Contact: Spa hotels Rubín *** dures, e.g. whirlpool, bubble bath with herbs and Smaragd ***, and salts, water aerobics, electrotherapy, Kúpeľná 106, 962 71 Dudince, various massages, lymphatic drainage, gas www.kupeledudince.sk

HOTEL FLÓRA ***

Hotel Flóra is situated on the outskirts of of procedures – healing as well as relaxation the famous Spa Dudince. It offers accommo- procedures, such as hydrotherapeutic proce- dation for more or less undemanding clients dures, e.g. whirlpool, bubble bath with herbs and it is suitable for corporate events and and salts, water aerobics, electrotherapy, training courses. various massages, lymphatic drainage, gas Healing procedures include several types injections, paraffi n packs, peaty packs, group

76 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD and individual gymnastic exercises. lon, pedicure, bike rental, library, tennis court, Services: restaurant, hotel bar with a exchange offi ce, transfer for clients. terrace, Wi-Fi connection, swimming pool, Contact: Hotel Flóra ***, Kúpeľná 101, relaxation pool, whirlpool, sauna, beauty sa- 962 71 Dudince, www.fl oradudince.sk

HOTEL JANTÁR ***

Hotel Jantár is located at the end of the massages, vacuum massage, oxygen ther- pedestrian area of the Spa Dudince. It pro- apy, peaty packs, paraffi n, solux, phyaciton. vides the clients with complex services in- Services: restaurant, lobby bar, night cluding various tours in the region and other bar, conference rooms, Wi-Fi connection, services and activities on clients‘ request. tennis courts, indoor swimming pool. sports Healing procedures include various pro- playground, mini golf, billiards, table tennis, cedures – healing as well as relaxation pro- trampoline, gym, bike rental. cedures, such as hydrotherapy (underwater Contact: Hotel Jantár ***, Kúpelná 98, massage, sea salt therapy, etc.), various 962 71 Dudince, www.jantardudince.sk

HOTEL PRAMEŇ ***

Hotel Prameň is located in the centre massages, whirlpool bath, bubble bath, of the spa town. It offers various kinds of individual healing exercises, hydrokine- stays - weekend, relaxation, recuperative siotherapy, Kneipp bath, electrotherapy, stays for the elderly and most of all healing ultrasound, magnotherapy, paraffin packs, and rehabilitation stays. cryogel, light therapy, exercise bike, inha- Healing procedures include various lation, and peaty pack. kinds of procedures – healing as well as Services: restaurant, café, day bar, Wi- relaxation procedures, such as various Fi connection, sauna world, indoor swim-

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 77 ming pool with swim jet system, message billiards. air jets, whirlpool bath, hydro massage, Contact: Hotel Prameň ***, Dudince 8, terrace for sunbathing, bike rental, fitness, 962 71 Dudince, www.dudincepramen.sk

HOTEL HVIEZDA ***

Hotel Hviezda is located in the centre of the collagen therapy, solarium, phyaction, spa town Dudince. It offers accommodation in magnotherapy, bioptron pro. fully-equipped rooms providing the clients with Services: restaurant, café with summer a wide range of services and procedures. terrace, Wi-Fi connection, Finnish sauna, Healing procedures include various indoor swimming pool with massage air kinds of procedures – healing as well as jets and waterfalls, 18 hole golf course, relaxation procedures, such as various conference rooms. massages, paraffin pack, vacuum mas- Contact: Hotel Hviezda ***, Okružná 123, sage, whirlpool, rollen lux massage bed, 962 71 Dudince, www.hviezda-dudince.sk

HOTEL KERLING ***

Hotel Kerling is located 700 metres from conference and meeting rooms, billiards, the historical centre of Banská Štiavnica. It sauna, fi tness centre, private parking space. offers light rooms, air-conditioned hotel res- Contact: Hotel Kerling ***, Dolná 850/12, taurant and services of the highest quality. 969 01 Banská Štiavnica, Services: restaurant, bar, Wi-Fi internet, www.hotelkerling.sk

HOTEL SALAMANDER ***

Hotel Salamander is culltural sight lo- cated in the historical centre of Banská Šti-

78 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD avnica. The capacity of the hotel is 50 beds. rooms. Services: restaurant, bar, Wi-Fi con- Contact: Hotel Salamander ***, nection, various massages, infrared sauna, J. Palárika 1, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica, bike rental, safe, conference and meeting www.hotelsalamander.sk

HOTEL TOPKY *

Hotel Topky is located right by the lake forest park, mini golf, mountain bike rental, Počúvadlo. It is a family hotel offering accom- sauna, whirlpool, solarium, fi tness. modation in fully-equipped single and double Contact: Hotel Topky *, Počúvadlianske bedrooms. jazero 199, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica, Services: restaurant, Koliba Veronika, www.hoteltopky.sk

BOARDING HOUSES

There are a lot of boarding houses in our cordance with the Regulation No. 419/2001 region suitable for undemanding visitors. Coll.) is a simple accommodation facility They are popular with tourist since most of of hotel type with the minimum number of them are of family type, which makes our fi ve rooms and maximum of four permanent guests feel themselves at home. Boarding beds in a room. It provides guests with house keepers are very heart-warming and breakfast, as the case may be also all-day grateful and are willing to fulfi l every wish board, and basic services according to the of their customers. Boarding house (in ac- offer of the given boarding house.

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 79 Penzión Matej Penzión Nostalgia Kammerhofská 5, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Višňovského 3, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Tel.: +421 45 6921 213 Tel.: +421 905 360 307 www.penzionmatej.sk www.nostalgia.stiavnica.sk Penzión Rozália Penzión pri jazere - OMAD Dolná ružová 4, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Počúvadlianske Jazero 32, 969 01 Tel.: +421 948 221 213 Banská Stiavnica www.rozalia.sk Tel.: +421 45 6994 133, www.omad.sk Penzión Cosmopolitan I. Penzión Príjemný oddych Zvonová 2, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Starozámocká 3, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Tel.: +421 918 601 149 Tel.: +421 915 511 258 www.1.penzioncosmopolitan.sk www.prijemnyoddych.sk Penzión Cosmopolitan II. Penzión Resla pri Klopačke A.Kmeťa 18, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Dolná Resla 2, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Tel.: +421 45 692 11 13 Tel.: +421 45 6922 021 www.2.penzioncosmopolitan.sk www.penzionresla.sk Penzión Ister Penzión Terra Banensium Višnovského 4, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Okrúhla 8, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Tel.: +421 45 6921 566 Tel.: +421 944 223 854 www.vvb.sk/cms/index.php?page=pen- www.ubytovaniebanskastiavnica.sk zion-ister Penzión Tomino Penzión Kremenisko Akademická 9, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Kremenisko 1, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Tel.: +421 45 6921 307 Tel.: +421 903 463 115 www.penziontomino.sk www.ubytovanie-banska-stiavnica.eu Penzión Kachelman Penzión na Kopci Kammerhofská 18, 96901 Banská Štiavnica Športová 8, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Tel.: +421 45 692 23 19 Tel.: +421 45 6922 325 www.kachelman.sk www.nakopci.sk Penzión - Súkromná hotelová akadémia Penzión na Trojici Banská Štiavnica Nám. sv. Trojice 17, 969 01 Banská Drieňová 12, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Štiavnica Tel.: + 421 911 884 390 Tel.: +421 903 766 224 [email protected] www.natrojici.sk www.sha.sk/ponukaubytovania.html

80 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD Penzión AURA Penzión U Mlynárky Staromestská 8, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Viničná 404, 962 71 Dudince Tel.: +421 908 052 344 Tel.: +421 917 230 254 [email protected] www.umlynarky.sk www.ubytovaniestiavnica.sk Penzión Fortuna Penzión Cosmopolitan III. Pod horou 252, 962 71 Dudince 969 01 Štiavnické Bane Tel.: +421 907 433 892 Tel.: +421 948 282 480 www.fortunadudince.sk [email protected] Penzión Gabika www.3.penzioncosmopolitan.sk Viničná 5, 962 71 Dudince Penzión Richňava Tel.: +421 905 259 207 Štiavnické Bane 731 www.penziondudince.sk 969 81 Štiavnické Bane Penzión Relax Dudince Tel.: +421 911 635 513 Sládkovičova 316, 962 71 Dudince www.penzionrichnava.sk Tel.: +421 907 389 888 Penzión Starý Hostinec www.penzionrelaxdudince.sk Svätý Aton 81, 96972 Svätý Anton Penzión Villa Eva Tel.: +421 45 6931 124 A. Kmeťa 358, 962 71 Dudince www.staryhostinec.sk Tel.: +421 45 5583 005 Penzión Antolský mlyn www.penzionevadudince.sk Svätý Anton 220, 969 72 Svätý Anton Penzión Panorama Tel.: +421 45 6931 311 Pod horou 240, 962 71 Dudince www.antolskymlyn.sk Tel.: +421 36 749 14 33 Penzión Villa ŽAKÝL www.panorama-hotel.sk Podhorie 92, 969 82 Podhorie Tel.: +421 917 663 690 www.zakyl.sk

CHALETS AND COTTAGES

Our region is full of natural beauty. Here tions for having beautiful time in the heart of you can fi nd a lot of beautiful places in a nature. Some of them provide simple accom- quiet and peaceful nature. All these places modation; others are modern and technically are perfect for relax. Several local entrepre- well-equipped. The only thing you have to neurs, therefore, offer accommodation in do is go through the following offers and fi nd chalets and cottages. All chalets and cottag- something interesting for you. We guarantee es in our region comply with standard condi- you will be satisfi ed.

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 81 Chata Sebechleby Chata Biele dráhy 962 66 Sebechleby 962 67 Ladzany +421 905 655 221 + 421 905 655 221 [email protected] www.chatabieledrahy.sk Chata pod lipami Chata U Marcela 962 66 Sebechleby - Stará Hora 962 67 Ladzany +421 905 655 221 +421 903 897 066 www.chatapodlipami.sk [email protected] Pivnica nad Špitom Chata Dudince - Lesy SR 962 66 Sebechleby - Stará Hora 962 71 Dudince +421 908 558 425 +421 918 334 404 www.pivnicanadspitom.starahora.sk [email protected] Pivnica sv. Urbana Chata U Števťaťa 962 66 Sebechleby - Stará Hora 962 68 Hontianske Tesáre +421 905 601 546 www.chataustevtata.sk [email protected] Chata na Viniciach Pivnica u Geľa 962 65 Hontianske Nemce 962 66 Sebechleby - Stará Hora +421 907 083 770 +421 905 601 546 www.navinice.sk [email protected] Chata Husín Pivnica Kaufman 962 65 Hontianske Nemce 962 66 Sebechleby - Stará Hora +421 944 223 692 +421 904 620 950 Chata Anka Chata Anna 962 65 Kráľovce - Krnišov 962 66 Sebechleby - Stará Hora +421 908 355 410 +421 907 830 338 [email protected] [email protected] Chata Rovne Chata nad močiarom 969 72 Svätý Anton 962 66 Sebechleby - Stará Hora +421 904 151 757 +421 908 905 293 [email protected] [email protected] Chata Štiavnické Bane Prosredná pivnica 969 81 Štiavnické Bane 962 66 Sebechleby - Stará Hora +421 948 301 175 +421 908 489 181 [email protected] www.prosrednapivnica-sk.webnode.sk Chata Richňava Chata Janko 969 81 Štiavnické Bane 962 66 Sebechleby - Stará Hora +421 904 552 255 +421 902 303 268 [email protected] [email protected] Chata Viktoria Chata Anka 969 81 Štiavnické Bane 962 66 Sebechleby - Mladá Hora +421 944 925 248 +421 908 942 098 [email protected] [email protected] Chalupa pod Tanádom Rekreačné zariadenie Mladá Hora 969 81 Štiavnické Bane 962 66 Sebechleby - Mladá Hora +421 915 850 919 +421 915 836 972 [email protected] www.sebechleby.eu

82 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD Chata Štiavnica Chata Štefultov 969 81 Štiavnické Bane 969 01 Banská Štiavnica - Štefultov +421 903 975 082 +421 903 232 343 www.chata-stiavnica.com www.kindoubytko.com Chata Betka Chata Modrá ruža 969 81 Štiavnické Bane Ilija 198, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica +421 903 887 876 +421 905 617 066 Chata Halča www.bluerose.sk 966 15 Banská Belá Chata West & Katka +421 903 659 795 Počúvadlianske jazero, 969 01 Banská [email protected] Štiavnica Chata Pri jazere +421 903 975 082 966 15 Banská Belá www.chaty-pocuvadlo.sk +421 915 043 223 Chata Veverka www.chatanadjazerom.com Počúvadlianske jazero, 969 01 Banská Chata Dinas Štiavnica 969 01 Banský Studenec +421 915 830 678 +421 45 691 28 25 Chata Hron [email protected] Počúvadlianske jazero, 969 01 Banská Chalupa Kysihýbel Štiavnica 969 01 Banský Studenec +421 910 910 545 +421 903 320 357 www.chatahron.sk [email protected] Chata Lodiar Chata Simonka Počúvadlianske jazero, 969 01 Banská 969 01 Banský Studenec Štiavnica +421 902 839 693 +421 907 870 993 Chata Sofi a www.lodiar.sk 969 01 Banský Studenec Chata Dorotka +421 911 309 268 Počúvadlianske jazero, 969 01 Banská [email protected] Štiavnica +421 907 138 778

LODGING HOUSES

Lodging houses and apartments are very your basic requirements, they are high-level popular with our visitors. They provide them and well-equipped. Entrepreneurs offer sev- with peaceful environment and family atmos- eral types and categories of lodging hous- phere. This type of accommodation meet es. Lodging houses and apartments have

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 83 several forms. You may choose to rent the are prepared to meet your requirements and whole object or only a part of it, everything therefore, they would be more than happy to is completely and practically equipped. They welcome you in their facilities.

Apartmán 4 Sochy Apartmány Babovo Kammerhofská 16, 969 01 966 15 Banská Belá Banská Štiavnica +421 905 156 288 +421 915 740 261 www.babovo.sk www.4sochy.sk Apartmán Jana Apartmán Archanjel 969 81 Štiavnické Bane Radničné námestie 1 +421 917 717 313 969 01 Banská Štiavnica [email protected] +421 915 365 371 Apartmán Soví Dom www.archanjel.com Svätý Anton 292/15, 969 72 Svätý Anton Apartmány Antik Pratterov Dom +421 918 153 007 A. Pécha 8, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica [email protected] +421 908 907 560 Apartmánový dom VilaBela www.apartmanyantik.sk 966 15 Banská Belá Apartmán Franko +421 907 065 200 Dolná ružová 232/18 www.vilabela.sk 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Apartmánový dom Hubert +421 908 648 707 Strieborná 6, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica www.apartmanfranko.sk +421 903 358 961 Apartmány J&A www.apartmanhubert.sk 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Apartmánový dom 206 +421 904 608 758 Jána Palárika 10, 969 01 Banská www.apartmanyja.sk Štiavnica Apartmán U lenivého kocúra +421 905 549 247 Andreja Kmeťa 8, 969 01 Banská www.206.sk Štiavnica Apartmán U Holiča +421 905 623 040 Samuela Mikovíniho 1, 969 01 Banská [email protected] Štiavnica Apartmánový dom Zlatý dvor +421 908 344 668 Andreja Kmeťa 12, 969 01 Banská [email protected] Štiavnica Villa Vážka +421 918 413 065 969 81 Štiavnické Bane www.apartmanstiavnica.sk +421 908 086 531 Apartman Ajaj www.villavazka.sk Kriovatka 20, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Villa Gabika +421 905 757 296 29. augusta 21, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica www.apartman.ajaj.sk +421 907 828 346 Apartmán Enko Privát Ranč Nádej Pod Kalváriou 11, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Na Záhumí 499, 969 72 Svätý Anton + 421 903 121 908 +421 911 806 499 [email protected] www.rancnadej.sk Apartmán DOMino Privát Cafe Madeira Jána Hollého 9, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica 969 72 Svätý Anton +421 911 856 037 +421 904 151 757 [email protected] www.cafemadeira.sk

84 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD Privát Hájovňa Ubytovanie pri Tajchoch 966 15 Banská Belá 969 81 Štiavnické Bane +421 905 331 177 +421 910 673 622 [email protected] [email protected] Privát Pavelka Ubytovanie Vestim Merovská 220, 962 71 Dudince 969 81 Štiavnické Bane +421 905 229 442 +421 907 191 828 Privát Strieborná [email protected] Merovská 219, 962 71 Dudince Ubytovanie u Danky +421 918 143 942 Ľ. Štúra 16, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Privát Bagha +421 905 103 436 Moyzesova 7/A, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica www.ubytovanievstiavnici.sk +421 903 976 862 Ubytovanie Tatiana Privát Domček pod Kalváriou Jána Hollého 5, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Jurija Gagarina 2, 969 01 Banská +421 908 603 218 Štiavnica www.tatiana-penzion.sk +421 908 832 490 Ubytovanie Banská Štiavnica www.dpk.webnode.sk Daniela Licharda 3, 969 01 Banská Ubytovanie Pri prameni Štiavnica 962 65 Hontianske Nemce +421 905 701 926 +421 903 549 826 [email protected] Ubytovanie Achát Ubytovanie Klinger 962 71 Dudince 969 01 Banská Štiavnica +421 45 5502 111 +421 915 779 620 [email protected] www.klingerbs.sk Ubytovanie JAZ Turistická ubytovňa Sv. Juraja A.Sládkoviča 297, 962 71 Dudince A. Pécha 2, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica +421 905 100 870 +421 905 382 885 [email protected] www.hosteljuraj.stiavnica.sk Ubytovanie Piarg Turistická ubytovňa Salamander 969 81 Štiavnické Bane Kolpašská 4/A, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica +421 908 896 617 +421 903 502 867 www.piarg.sk [email protected] Ubytovanie pri Evičke Hostel 6 969 81 Štiavnické Bane Andreja Sládkoviča 6, 969 01 Banská +421 918 374 590 Štiavnica www.ubytovanieprievicke.sk +421 905 106 706 www.hostel6.sk

STRAVOVANIE

RESTAURANTS meals of the world. Even the most demand- This part is dedicated to catering fa- ing gourmets will fi nd their favourite meals. cilities of the region that usually offer hot Catering services in our region are of high meals. Most of them offer breakfast, lunch quality. Our traditional regional meals are and dinner. You can choose from all kinds of well-known throughout the whole Slovakia traditional Slovak meals as well as different as well as abroad. Just come and try. Enjoy.

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 85 Reštaurácia Sonáta - Hotel Minerál **** Starý hostinec Okružná 124, 962 71 Dudince Svätý Anton 81, 969 72 Svätý Anton +421 45 550 60 01 +421 45 693 11 24 www.hotelmineral.sk www.staryhostinec.sk Reštaurácia u Sv. Petra Reštaurácia U Starkej - Ranč Nádej A. Kmeťa 164, 962 71 Dudince Na Záhumí 499, 969 72 Svätý Anton +421 45 558 30 14 +421 948 461 222 Reštaurácia u Mlynárky www.rancnadej.sk K. Braxatorisa č. 1, 962 71 Dudince Koliba Veronika - Hotel Topky +421 908 887 756 Počúvadlianske jazero 199, www.restauracia.umlynarky.sk 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Pizzéria Ro-Si +421 45 699 41 15 Okružná 129, 962 71 Dudince www.hoteltopky.sk +421 917 466 587 Reštaurácia Penzión na Kopci Legend Pub Športová 8, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Okružná 436, 967 71 Dudince +421 45 6922 325 +421 908 044 551 www.nakopci.sk Hostinec GAMA Pivovar Erb K. Braxatorisa 22, 962 71 Dudince Novozámocká 2, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica +421 905 442 878 +421 917 755 235 Motorest Tranzit www.pivovarerb.sk Hont. Nemce 352, Reštaurácia Black M 962 65 Hontianske Nemce Námestie Sv. Trojice2, +421 45 559 13 45 969 01 Banská Štiavnica www.motoresttranzit.sk +421 45 692 02 02 Pizzéria Hont www.blackm.sk Hont. Nemce 3, Reštaurácia Penzión Kachelman 962 65 Hontianske Nemce Kammerhofská 18, +421 919 319 619 96901 Banská Štiavnica www.pizzahont.sk +421 45 692 23 19 Motorest Devičie www.kachelman.sk Devičie 121, 962 65 Hontianske Nemce Reštaurácia Penzión Cosmopolitan I. +421 45 559 12 73 Zvonová 2, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica www.motorestdevicie.sk +421 918 601 149 www.1.penzioncosmopolitan.sk

86 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD Reštaurácia Monarchia Reštaurácia Gallery A. Sládkoviča 2, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Trojičné námestie 8, +421 905 360 307 969 01 Banská Štiavnica www.monarchia.stiavnica.sk +421 45 692 12 52 Reštaurácia Penzión Príjemný oddych www.restauraciagallery.sk Starozámocká 3, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Reštaurácia Tulsi +421 915 511 258 Radničné námestie 13, www.prijemnyoddych.sk 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Reštaurácia Hotel Salamander *** +421 949 593 477 J. Palárika 1, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica www.tulsi.sk +421 45 6913 992 Reštaurácia Balans www.hotelsalamander.sk Súkromná hotelová akadémia Reštaurácia Pod starým mestom Banská Štiavnica Botanická 11, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Drieňová 12, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica +421 905 888 988 + 421 903 519 111 www.podstarymmestom.sk www.sha.sk Reštaurácia Penzión na Trojici Reštaurácia Hotel Kerling *** Nám. sv. Trojice 17, Dolná 850/12, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica 969 01 Banská Štiavnica +421 45 6949 912 +421 903 766 224 www.hotelkerling.sk www.natrojici.sk Reštaurácia Ametyst Reštaurácia a piváreň Matej Križovatka 3, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Akademická 4, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica +421 907 636 774 +421 45 692 12 13 www.ametystbs.sk Meštianska pizza Poľovnícka reštaurácia Hubert Andreja Kmeťa 2, 969 01 Banská Strieborná 4, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica Štiavnica +421 903 029 011 +421 800 100 004 Terasa u Blaškov www.mestianska.sk Počúvadlianske jazero 199, 969 01 Reštaurácia Hotel Grand Matej *** Banská Štiavnica Kammerhofská 5, 969 01 Banská +421 908 963 829 Štiavnica www.terasaublaskov.sk +421 45 6921 213 www.grandmatej.sk Reštaurácia U Böhma Strieborná 7, 969 01 Banská Štiavnica +421 903 525 022 www.ubohma.sk

WELLNESS AND SWIMMING

OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL extensive reconstruction in 2007. Public DUDINKA summer thermal outdoor swimming pool Dudinka is located in the spa town Dudinka is located ca 300 metres of the Dudince. The name of the pool originates spa hotels. It is opened from May to Sep- in a legend of a fairy called Dudinka who tember. Regarding the area of the com- has brought the healing water to Dudince. plex, Dudinka is one of the smaller outdoor Outdoor swimming pool Dudinka con- swimming pools and its capacity reaches structed many years ago went through an 1360 people a day.

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 87 There are four pools: DUDINCE - recreation pool – water temperature 27 °C We offer perfect relax in the wellness cen- - pool with water attractions – water tre of the hotel Minerál, Dudince. You may use temperature 28 °C dry, steam sauna, cold swimming pool, Jacuzzi - children pool – water temperature 30 °C and various kinds of relaxation massages. - mineral pool – water temperature 34 °C Hotel wellness centre is accessible not only for hotel guests, the reservation in advance is Mineral pool is fi lled with mineral healing although necessary. water of Dudince that helps treating musculo- Contact: +421 45 550 6001, www.hotelmi- skeletal disorders, cardiovascular diseases and neral.sk/wellness-hotela-mineral-dudince many other diseases. WELLNESS HOTELA HVIEZDA Here you can fi nd various water attractions DUDINCE such as water chute, family slide and water The hotel offers various wellness services. channel with jets. There are also deckchairs, You can fi nd a swimming pool with water attrac- changing rooms, children‘s area and sever- tions as well as Finnish sauna there. Balneo- al stalls and snack bars. You can play beach therapy centre provides the visitors with various volleyball or maxi chess here and children may kinds of healing procedures such as different enjoy playing in a sandpit or on a playground as types of relaxation massages, collagen thera- well as swinging. py treatment, oxygen therapy, magnotherapy, Contact: www.kupeledudince.sk/volny-cas/ biotron pro, detox baths, massage chairs, so- kupalisko-dudinka larium. It is necessary to make the reservation VITÁLNY SVET WELLNEA in advance. KÚPELE DUDINCE, A.S. Contact: +421 907 844 301 Wellness centre in Kúpele Dudince pro- www.hviezda-dudince.sk/procedury/bazen vides you with pure relax. It is located in the spa WELLNESS PENZIÓNU U MLYNÁRKY hotel Rubín. Hydrokinezitherapy procedures DUDINCE take place in the morning and before noon. You can relax in fi ve decorated saunas, One may enjoy short relaxation swimming in walk through Kneipp bath, Amazonian rain or the afternoon and at night. There are two dry treat yourself by refreshing bath in a swimming and two steam saunas available along with a pool with water attractions. You may end your whirlpool, tepidarium and whirlpool bath. Fur- wellness day by relaxing in a Jacuzzi and tepi- thermore, you may chose from a wide range of darium with a wonderful nature view. It is neces- relaxation massages. It is necessary to make a sary to make a reservation in advance. reservation in advance. Contact: +421 917 478 130 Contact: +421 45 550 4983, www.kupeledu- www.umlynarky.sk/wellness_spa.sk.html dince.sk/volny-cas/vitalny-svet-wellnea WELLNESS HOTELA GRAND MATEJ WELLNESS HOTELA MINERÁL BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA

88 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD You can enjoy pure relax in a wellness lot of swimming opportunities and water sports centre on the 5th fl oor of the hotel with a balco- by the water reservoirs. The most signifi cant ny and a wonderful view of Banská Štiavnica. water reservoirs (tajchy) are Počúvadlian- There is a Finnish sauna, small swimming pool ske, Richňavské, Kolpašské, Vindšachtské with bubble bath for 8 people and a mini bar. and Klinger. You may rent water bikes and Wellness centre is during the time reserved small boats by some of the reservoirs. Local by yourself available only to you and your entrepreneurs provide accommodation and guests. The massages are included. It is nec- boarding during the main seasons as well as essary to make a reservation in advance. all year-long. Contact: +421 903 404 533, www.grandma- tej.sk/wellness MESTSKÉ KÚPELE A PLAVÁREŇ KÚPANIE NA TAJCHOCH BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA Tajchy, artifi cial water reservoirs, were con- Town baths and swimming pools provide structed during 17th and 18th centuries. The the citizens as well as tourists with their ser- water was accumulated from the rainfall and vices all year-long. You can fi nd the swimming subsequently used to drive the mining equip- pool on Mládežnická ulica č. 10. ment. While in the past, they were constructed Indoor swimming pool offers swimming in and used for mining industry purposes, today a swimming pool as well as relaxation pool. they are used for relaxation and as the source There is a sauna world available with steam of industrial and drinking water. sauna and Finnish sauna. During summer season, you may enjoy a Contact: +421 45 691 2724

CONFERENCE SERVICES

BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA Hotel Grand Matej Penzión Kachelman Kammerhofská 5 Kammerhofská 18 Here you can find a conference hall The boarding house provides the with the seating capacity of 250 people, quests with cosy „hunting lounge“ for 25 a lounge for 50 – 60 people and a small people suitable for various celebrations, conference room with the capacity of 15 presentations and conferences. There is a people. Our offer includes conferences, training room for 50 people equipped with workshops, seminars, training courses, multimedia equipment. corporate events and other special ser- Contact: +421 45 6922319, vices. www.kachelman.sk Contact: +421 45 6921213, +421 903 404533, www.grandmatej.sk Banská Štiavnica, Slovak Mining Museum Kammerhofská 2 Penzión Cosmopolitan I. The museum offers the Hall of Knights by Zvonová 2 the Old Castle and a library in the Old Cas- It offers conferences, training cours- tle, both with the maximum capacity of 80 es, seminars and other similar services in people. Furthermore, you may rent a greater a fully equipped conference hall with the number of chairs, tables, technical equip- capacity up to 50 people. The conference ment, decorations, cultural programme etc. hall is technically equipped and connected The offer includes a chapel in Kammer- to the Internet. hof with the maximum capacity of 50 people, Contact: +421 918 164 149 Hall of Chamber‘s Counts in Kammerhof with 1.penzioncosmopolitan.sk the capacity of 30 people as well as four seminar rooms in Kammerhof with the total

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 89 capacity of around 160 people. Furthermore, cultural programme etc. you may rent a greater number of chairs, Contact: +421 45 6949451 tables, technical equipment, decorations, www.muzeumbs.sk

DUDINCE Hotel Minerál**** Penzión u mlynárky Okružná 124 Karola Braxatorisa 2 Modern hotel has several rooms with more Boarding house has a fully equipped con- alternative ways to organize the seating on the gress hall with technical equipment. Air-condi- conferences with the capacity of 180 seats. tioned congress hall has the maximum capac- There is a presentation and audiovisual equip- ity of 90 people (cinema seating type). ment such as screen, projector, microphones Contact: +421 45 55 51 911 and sound system installation available. All the +421 917 478 130, www.umlynarky.sk premises are equipped by air-handling system, Wi-Fi and LAN connection to the Internet. Contact: +421 45 5506001 www.hotelmineral.sk

PRENČOV Obecný úrad Prenčov is equipped by 10 computers and technology Prenčov 300 as well as connected to Wi-Fi. A small kitch- Near to the house of culture, a complex en in which one can prepare meals is also with a congress room with the capacity of 60 available. people has been built. The conference room Contact: +421 45 6726244, www.prencov.sk

SEBECHLEBY Obecný úrad Sebechleby or 60 people for cinema seating type. There is Sebechleby 1 a day room for 228 people available with a cin- There is a conference room technically ema type seating and mobile equipment such equipped and Wi-Fi connection in the premises as sound and audio-visual system installation. of municipal offi ce. The Capacity of the confer- Contact: +421 45 5591996, ence room is 40 people for school seating type +421 903 418966, www.sebechleby.com

SVÄTÝ ANTON Starý Hostinec The room is fully equipped according to the re- New congress centre is the part of Starý quirements of such events. hostinec inn with the area of 150 m2 and offers Contact: +421 45 6931124, arrangement of conferences up to 80 people. +421 903 755770, www.staryhostinec.sk

90 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD CONTACTS

Obec Baďan Mesto Banská Štiavnica

Baďan 11, 969 75 Radničné námestie 1 tel.: +421 45 6726624 969 24 Banská Štiavnica [email protected] tel.: +421 45 6949611 www.badan.webnode.sk [email protected] www.banskastiavnica.sk

Obec Banský Studenec Obec Beluj

Banský Studenec 60, 969 01 Beluj 43, 969 01 tel.: +421 45 6911671 tel.: +421 45 6995100 [email protected] [email protected] www.banskystudenec.sk www.beluj.ocu.sk

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 91 Obec Dekýš Obec Devičie

Dekýš, SNP 39, 969 01 Devičie 13, 962 65 tel.: +421 45 6993120 tel.: +421 45 5591480 [email protected] [email protected] www.dekys.sk www.dhzdevicie.estranky.sk

Obec Domaníky Obec Drážovce

Domaníky 78, 962 65 Drážovce 43, 962 68 tel.: +421 45 5591120 tel.: +421 45 5596131 www.domaniky.sk [email protected] www.drazovce.ocu.sk

Mesto Dudince Obec Hontianske Moravce

Okružná 212, Dudince 962 71 Hontianske Moravce 255/29, 962 71 tel.: +421 45 5583112 tel.: +421 45 5583913 [email protected] [email protected] www.dudince-mesto.sk www.moravce.sk

92 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD Obec Hontianske Nemce Obec Hontianske Tesáre

Hontianske Nemce 500, 962 65 Hontianske Tesáre 66, 962 68 tel.: +421 45 5591280 tel.: +421 45 5596015 [email protected] [email protected] www.hontianskenemce.sk www.honttesare.sk

Obec Ilija Obec Kozelník

Ilija 150, 969 01 Kozelník 16, 966 15 tel.: +421 45 6920847 tel.: +421 45 6933213 [email protected] [email protected], www.ilija.sk www.kozelnik.sk

Obec Kráľovce-Krnišov Obec Ladzany

Kráľovce-Krnišov 38, 962 65 Ladzany 109, 962 65 tel.: +421 45 5581619 tel.: +421 45 5596177 [email protected] [email protected] www.kralovce-krnisov.ocu.sk www.ladzany.sk

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 93 Obec Lišov Obec Medovarce

Lišov 42, 962 71 Medovarce 59, 962 65 tel.: +421 45 5519190 tel.: +421 45 5594515 [email protected] [email protected] www.lisov.sk www.medovarce.ocu.sk

Obec Močiar Obec Počúvadlo

Močiar 97, 969 82 Počúvadlo 59, 969 01 tel.: +421 45 6992626 tel.: +421 45 6994114 [email protected] [email protected] www.mociar.ocu.sk

Obec Podhorie Obec Prenčov

Podhorie 84, 969 82 Prenčov 300, 969 73 tel.: +421 45 6992125 tel.: +421 45 6726244 [email protected] [email protected] www.podhorie.sk www.prencov.sk

94 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD Obec Rykynčice Obec Sebechleby

Rykynčice 60, 962 55 Sebechleby 1, 962 66 tel.: +421 45 5593115 tel.: +421 45 5591996 [email protected] [email protected] www.rykyncice.ocu.sk www.sebechleby.com

Obec Súdovce Obec Svätý Anton

Súdovce 113, 962 71 Svätý Anton 34, 969 72 tel.: +421 45 5589144 tel.: +421 45 6920752 [email protected] [email protected] www.sudovce.ocu.sk www.svatyanton.sk

Obec Štiavnické Bane Obec Sudince

Štiavnické Bane 1, 969 81 Sudince 27, 962 69 tel.: +421 45 6929116 tel.: +421 45 5589116 [email protected] www.stiavnickebane.ocu.sk

TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD 95 Obec Terany Obec Vysoká

Terany 116, 962 68 Vysoká 2, 969 24 tel.: +421 45 5583225 tel.: +421 45 6993137 [email protected] [email protected] www.obecterany.sk www.vysoka.ocu.sk

Obec Žibritov

Žibritov 12, 963 01 tel.: +421 45 5511475

Informačné centrum Banská Štiavnica Oblastná organizácia cestovného ruchu Námestie sv. trojice 6 Dudince Banská Štiavnica 969 01 Kúpeľná 109, Dudince 962 71 tel.: +421 45 6949653 tel.: +421 917 810274 [email protected] [email protected] www.banskastiavnica.sk www.dudince.sk Oblastná organizácia cestovného Občianske združenie Sebechleby ruchu Banská Štiavnica Sebechleby 10, 962 66 Kammerhofská 1 [email protected] Banská Štiavnica 969 01 www.starahora.sk tel.: +421 918 638675 Občianske združenie Zlatá cesta [email protected] Prenčov 300, 969 73 www.banskastiavnica.travel tel.: +421 45 6726243 [email protected] www.zlatacesta.sk

96 TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE REGION OF THE GOLDEN ROAD