Central Slovakia - Martin, Banska Bystrica...

[Wicky]

Considering between Euro and EE forum I decided to put the thread about the central Slovakia and the two most important towns - Banska bystrica and Martin here. Pictures mostly from Kamil and mojmartin.sk. Still, there are more towns as you can see:
http://www.infovek.sk/predmety/geografia/Vlastiveda/mesta/mesta.jpg/sloven.jpg

In Slovakia, most of the towns got the towns privileges in 13-15th century. However, as the Middle age towns they were not really the towns itself, mostly it was the church, town hall, manor houses, market, etc. Many of them, however, were pretty famous for the mining tradition and actually, the first Mining university in Europe was based and operated in Banska Stiavnica. Let me also say, that most of the towns in Slovakia looks like in the following pictures


Martin is more museum town. Despite its size, the city of 56.000 inhabittants are around 35 musuems and throughout the history it was regarded as one of the most important centres of Slovaks.
The oldest building in Martin is Romanesque church dedicated to St. Martin de Tours. Church is a part of the third stage pedestrian zone re-building. In the beginning of 19th century emerged new buildings in different styles. Historical building of theatre comes from the beginning of 20-th century.

http://www.obnova.sk/modules/fotoalbum/gallery/pamslovensko/martin/milenium2002dece04.jpg
http://www.mojmartin.sk/pic/fotogaleria/large/949040e06bd14866ac026dab141c9fd9.jpg
http://www.mojmartin.sk/pic/fotogaleria/large/a369cbb64ecb0624eca575669bd7f817.jpg
http://www.mojmartin.sk/pic/fotogaleria/large/d59afde2c041d9892d6ef9102f266b24.jpg
http://www.mojmartin.sk/pic/profily/115a58641bedbe90f5df4dec58acee1d.jpg http://www.obnova.sk/modules/fotoalbum/gallery/pamslovensko/martin/milenium2002dece01.jpg http://www.obnova.sk/modules/fotoalbum/gallery/nezaraditelne/clanky/1077708034-snm-mt-harmic.jpg
http://www.kuza.sk/images/5mt.jpg
http://www.kuza.sk/images/12mt.jpg
http://www.obnova.sk/modules/fotoalbum/gallery/pamslovensko/martin/xfilo2003leto.jpg


Banska Bystrica - frankly, one of my favourite Slovak towns
Though the town territory had been settled well in the past, its rapid growth started with the beginning of intensive copper and gold mining. The first report of the town dates from 1255. The King Belo IV honored the settlement by turning it into a town. The mining was at the time quite progressive and so the town grew in prosperity and became rich very quickly. Royal privileges attracted new miners, who built a Romanesque one-nave Church of the Virgin Mary in the second half of the 13th century. In 1452 was built the Church of the Holy Cross next to the Romanesque church, under the town walls, nearby Matthias's House. Thus a castle complex with the townhall, barbican (today's tourist office) and fortress was formed.
Eloquent testimony of prosperity and the level of material and spiritual culture in the 15th and 16th century are demonstrated by many of important buildings. The most precious are in the historical core, i.e. on the square area and in the main streets.


http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-56.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-33.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-11.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-27.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-34.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-44.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-49.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-58.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-63.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-68.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-69.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-77.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-83.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-84.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-85.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-86.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-87.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-93.jpg
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-88.jpg

Modern architecture? Yes, mostly the hotels, banks:
http://www.travelguide.sk/tgskimagesguides/hg/hg51964-1.jpg http://www.archivneusohl.sk/images/titul1.gif and a small financial district (could not find better pictures): http://www.financ.umb.sk/images/FFIN1.jpghttp://www.financ.umb.sk/images/FFIN2.jpghttp://www.financ.umb.sk/images/FFIN3.jpg

It would not be fair not to mention the commieblocks, which can be found in many Slovak cities and towns. So they can look like:
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-61.jpg
, or like:
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-91.jpg
, or like:
http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-20.jpg

http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-75.jpg http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/bb-79.jpg

Highrises in the city are several, however, the hotel Lux of 17 stories is the highest: http://www.travelguide.sk/tgskimagesguides/cg/cg50584-1.jpg.
Even with IMO good developed shopping possibillities, also Europa shopping centre is under construction, including a new highrise, the grounding works were beginning in November.

And, last the photos from the surrounding: the wooden church, we have also quite a few of them ;)

http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/hrons-2.jpg

and a chalet in the mountains

http://kamim.host.sk/fotkym/jelen-2.jpg

[Kampflamm]

:applause: What's the population of Banska Bystrica?

[Wicky]

About 88.000 inhabittants. But they try to cooperate with Zvolen, which is 20 km south. The whole aglomeration Banska Bystrica-Zvolen has about 200.000 inhabittants.
Bratislava and Kosice cities and aglomerations are the largest (on our circumstances), then there are four cities-towns with around 80-90 thousands inh. (Presov, Nitra, Zilina, Banska Bystrica). Other towns population is 40-70.000 and lower.

[OlekD]

great towns and nice map:)

[Imperial]

This town look very nice

[Wicky]

^Thank you all. I´ll just post
Kremnica (old mint, still functioning today, preserved and restaurated old town, not so many commies):
http://www.slovakheritage.org/Oldcrafts/Images/Kremnica/07.jpg
http://www.slovakheritage.org/Oldcrafts/Images/Kremnica/08.jpg http://www.slovakheritage.org/Oldcrafts/Images/Kremnica/09.jpghttp://www.slovakheritage.org/Oldcrafts/Images/Kremnica/10.jpghttp://www.slovakheritage.org/Oldcrafts/Images/Kremnica/11.jpg http://www.slovakheritage.org/Oldcrafts/Images/Kremnica/03.jpg

Rimavska Sobota - more commies, but a nice walk through the old town and centre
http://www.rimavskasobota.sk/fotogal/f16.jpghttp://www.rimavskasobota.sk/fotogal/f21.jpghttp://www.rimavskasobota.sk/fotogal/f26.jpghttp://www.rimavskasobota.sk/fotogal/f23.jpg

Brezno - IMO O.K.
http://www.tourist-channel.sk/brezno/pohlad%20na%20mesto.jpghttp://www.brezno.sk/brezno/home.nsf/files/brezno_01.jpg/$FILE/brezno_01.jpghttp://www.brezno.sk/brezno/home.nsf/files/brezno_05.jpg/$FILE/brezno_05.jpghttp://spevokol_kat.szm.sk/images/page_54.gif
http://www.zelpo.sk/region/images/brezno/zvonica1.jpg
http://www.zelpo.sk/region/images/brezno/muzeum1.jpghttp://www.zelpo.sk/region/images/brezno/evkost1.jpghttp://www.zelpo.sk/region/images/brezno/piarkos2.jpg

[Nikodem]

A few weeks ago I was in this part of Slovensko.Cities are a bit different than Polish ones, for me at minus. But I must admit that towns like Ruzeberok or Zilina look really great.But try to find sth open after 19:00... :)

best wishes for our Brothers Slovakians

[Wicky]

Well, I would not see that much difference between Slovakian and Polish cities. Sure, the architecture mostly reflects the corresponding construction period. Buildings before 1918 have a little bit Austrian touch, after 1918 Czech, after 1948 some terrible buildings, but also some fine (please don´t touch me with words, the period after 1948 was horrible!).
Well, chain TESCO has 24 hours open period and you can find it at least in all district towns, also most petrol stations have 24hours regime. But the fact is, that restaurants mostly close between 21. - 22.00, anyhow the basic stuff could be found in many local stores. Maybe it´s just a question of promotion also these types of services.
And best wishes to the Polish Guys, the relations between us have never been better :)

[artoor]

I like Slovakian towns very much,
so thank you for nice presentation.

[wc eend]

Have you got some Presov and Kosice pics? :)

[Wicky]

I think they deserve special thread, although some regions in eastern Slovakia are not as developed, as cetral and particularky western part. Well, I promise to show eastern Slovakia and/or Kosice and Presov next. :)

[AstroBoy]

Excellent pictures and beautiful places. Thanks Wicky for showing them.

Slovakia is on my "Must Visit" list. Showing your country helps me to pick the places I want to visit. Thanks! :) Post more when you get the chance.

[Arpels]

tres jolie ;)

[Wicky]

I will probably make a thread about Spis region and Banska Stiavnica (the centre of minig tradition). I hope the time and pictures availability allows me to do that. Thanks again et merci pour le compliment. ;)

[PornStar]

some really great sites over there :sly:

[Czas na Żywiec]

My dad is from the Polish part of Spisz, so I'll be anticipating the pictures from the Slovak side. I don't have any relatives there, though I do have an aunt and an uncle in both Bratislava and Bardejov. I love Slovakia! ;)

[AGC]

This summer I was travelling across central Europe (PL, SK, H) by autostop. One of Slovaks, who lifted us, said that Banska Bystrica is the most beautiful city in Slovakia for him (several years earlier I was in Kosice, and I told him that in my opinion Kosice is the best).
But, after his statement, we wanted to see Banska and spend there one night. City is beautifully located, between mountains. But Kosice are bigger and there is more tourist. In Banska the Old City doesn't seem too big.
Well, we have strande night - didnt want to spend 300 koruns on motel, decided to spend whole night in the city (we have a bus in the morning). First pub was closed at 1 AM, so we moved to last opened thing - a club near market square with disco music. But is also was closed after 2 PM. No other local was opened at this time!! There was cold, we (stupid) left backpacks and wear in the luggage, so we wanted to go to a closed, warm place. One was McDonald's but we haven't find it. There was also all-night Tesco, but search also failed. So we went back to train station and spend a night just between homeless people:)

[Wicky]

I don´t know, what was the main problem, whether language, but I see, that you speak English, or your if you were just too drunk to ask for the information. If you have an access to Internet, and I see, that you have, just visit the sites about Banska Bystrica and you will find the requested information, but sometimes it is easy just whine. Don´ t be afraid and don´t be lazy to visit the Tourist information office, the ladies there are very nice, I hope this is not a problem for you.

In Banska Bystrica, restaurants and pubs close mostly in the evenings, in centre around midnight. Tesco is near the expressway to Zvolen, little bit farther from the centre, but Mc Donalds is cca. 2 km from the centre (near Radvan suburb). You could anyway, amaze yourself in hotel Lux in the bar, or evening discos. Of course, especially in the weekends it is fun. But in the upper part of the old town there should be at least 1 club, which is opened till the morning.

If you are not able to afford some of the Banska Bystrica hotels and pensions, just don´t visit it next time. Next time don´t drink too much.

[peterthegreat]

Have you got some Presov and Kosice pics? :)

Here is City of Presov, cca 90.000 inh.

http://www.pis.sk/obsah/staticke/galeria/2004/panorama/full/nocna_panorama.jpg

http://www.digitalfaf.sk/galerie/presov/6.jpg

http://www.digitalfaf.sk/galerie/presov/3.jpg

http://www.digitalfaf.sk/galerie/presov/9.jpg

http://www.digitalfaf.sk/galerie/presov/2.jpg

http://www.pis.sk/obsah/staticke/galeria/2003/oktober/dscf0013.jpg

[peterthegreat]

Have you got some Presov and Kosice pics? :)

and Kosice, cca. 250.000 inh.

http://www.kosice.sk/history/remembrances/img2/jadro.jpg

http://www.kosice.sk/history/remembrances/dom/img/dom01.jpg

http://www.kosice.sk/history/remembrances/dom/img/dom10.jpg

http://www.kosice.sk/history/remembrances/img2/div4.jpg

http://www.kosice.sk/history/remembrances/img2/fontana1.jpg

http://www.kosice.sk/history/remembrances/img2/and2.jpg

http://www.kosice.sk/history/remembrances/img3/zob3.jpg

http://www.kosice.sk/history/remembrances/img2/jakab.jpg

http://www.kosice.sk/history/remembrances/img3/altan2.jpg

http://www.kosice.sk/history/remembrances/img3/alzb1.jpg

[SinCity]

Beautiful cities you guys have in Slovakia! Especially Kosice.

[AZ2SI]

Great pics of wonderful places!

I'm curious... Which of these towns get the most tourists? Do the bigger ones have more tourist infrastructure or does that depend on their proximity to the High Tatras?

[Wicky]

Great pics of wonderful places!

I'm curious... Which of these towns get the most tourists? Do the bigger ones have more tourist infrastructure or does that depend on their proximity to the High Tatras?

Thank you all again. Well, it depends, which kind of touristics have specific town, or region to offer. Among the most visited areas are: Bratislava and surroundings (city touristics, but also developing congress touristics), then, of course High tatras (Vysoke Tatry), Liptov (Hight Tatras, Low Tatras, Mala Fatra), Slovensky raj, and the surroundings of Banska Bystrica and Kosice. Bratislava and High Tatras are, indeed, the most visited places. Generally in Slovakia the mountain touristics is leading (both summer and winter one), then thermal touristics, city touristics mostly in border areas, but also cultural touristics (connected with e.g.musical events) especially in Bratislava and Kosice.