Banska bystrica

BANSKA BYSTRICA

The town castle was built as a fortified settlement in the lines of the gold-bearing Kremnica in 1479-1508. It was the place where the town's future was discussed Banska bystrica

and the town's riches were kept. But it also served as a refuge from the external and internal disturbances, especially from the Turkish threat and the miners' rebellions. This fortified settlement which was accessible through a gateway with a tower consists of a parochial church, a town-hall, and a royal home, i. e. the so-called Slovak church and parish. The oldest and the most valuable building is the late Romanesque parochial church from the l3th century. This church originally constituted the central part of the mining settlement which turned into a mining town later on. On the verge of the l5th and l6th centuries the construction work on the church was carned a out under the watchful eye Altar

of Master Pilgram. In those times the cross and reticulated vaultings with figural brackets were erected as well as the altar of St. Barbara which is attributed to Master Pavol of Levoca. From the same period a statue composition of the Passion cycle near the church tower had been preserved. The uniform Baroque interior of the main aisle was the result of fire in 1761. Also the Baroque spire tips, characteristic of the town's skyline, originated in the l8th century. J. L. Kracker looked after the paintings in the church. He himself worked on the altar paintings. The Renaissance town-hall which was built after 1500 was due to construction modifications in the former half of the l6th century. The Slovak Government has declared this castle The National cultural monument.

____St. Barbara's altar Altar #2

Statues on St.Barbara's altar ________ Matthew's house _____________________ Town castle