UNESCO World Heritage – Banská Štiavnica and the Technical Monuments in its Vicinity

5 000 Sk commemorative gold coin

Banská Štiavnica, the oldest mining town in Slovakia, had acquired a dominant position in Europe at the beginning of the 13th century. In a document issued in 1275, it preserved the oldest known town-seal from the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. From the 13th to the 19th centuries, it was one of the most important centres for the extraction of gold and silver, and was at that time the most important centre of mining engineering and education. The most ingenious mine-water management system in the world with progressive mining, processing and water pumping technology was constructed in the area in the 18th century. It achieved world-wide importance due to its Mining Academy (1762-1919), which was founded by Queen Maria Theresia as the first of its kind in the world. In 1950, it was declared a historic town reserve because of its unique architectural monuments. In December 1993, Banská Štiavnica and the local technical monuments were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.