Museums and galleries Lehôtka pod Brehmi

Baňa Starovšechsvätých v Hodruši-Hámroch represents one of the oldest and best-preserved mining monuments in the region of Central Slovak mining towns, revealing to visitors an authentic underground world unchanged for centuries.

The site is located in the village of Hodruša-Hámre, in the Žarnovica district, within the Banská Bystrica Region. Baňa Starovšechsvätých is exceptional because it has preserved its original medieval and early modern form without significant modern interventions, allowing visitors to admire the precise work of old master miners. During the tour, you pass through narrow and low corridors that were carved by hand using a chisel and hammer, while traces of this strenuous activity are still visible on the walls today. The exhibition includes not only the mining spaces themselves, but also unique underground chambers, technical monuments, and a mining museum housed in the historic building of the knocker (klopačka). Guides, who are often former miners, enrich the commentary with expert knowledge on geology, mineralogy, and the life of the mining community in Hodruša. The atmosphere underground is enhanced by silence and a constant temperature, with the light of miners' lamps highlighting shimmering minerals in precious metal veins. Due to its authenticity and historical value, the mine forms an important pillar of education about Slovakia's technical heritage and reminds us of the importance of the Hodruša mining district for the former European economy.

What can you find here?

In the area and underground of the mine, you will find accessible historic adits, mining exhibitions with tools, and a unique exhibition of minerals and precious metals. The historic knocker building is available, housing further museum exhibits and documents on the village's history. Before entering the underground, visitors are lent a protective coat, helmet, and miner's lantern for safe movement in the corridors.

Who is the place suitable for?

The place is ideal for lovers of history, geology, and technical monuments who are looking for an authentic experience without commercial additives. It is also sought after by school groups as part of educational excursions and tourists who want to discover the true face of medieval mining. Due to the character of the underground, where there are narrow spaces and low ceilings, the visit is not recommended for people with claustrophobia, and reasonable physical mobility and sturdy footwear are required.

What can you visit in the surroundings?

Just a few kilometers from the mine lies the historic Banská Štiavnica (UNESCO) with numerous monuments, such as the Old and New Castles (Starý and Nový zámok). You can also visit nearby artificial water reservoirs known as tajchy, such as Hodrušský tajch, which offers opportunities for swimming in nature, or the picturesque village of Štiavnické Bane. For view enthusiasts, there is a hike to Mount Sitno or a visit to the Calvary in Banská Štiavnica.

If you like art and find yourself in Banská Štiavnica, we invite you to Galéria Jozefa Kollára, which bears the name of an important native of Banská Štiavnica and representative of Slovak fine art modernism. The gallery is housed in three townhouses in the city center, on Námestie Svätej Trojice. The most valuable exhibits you can see here are two Late Gothic wooden sculptures of St. Barbara and St. Catherine. Their author is the mysterious master "M. S.".

Galéria Jozefa Kollára is a collection-building gallery, meaning it collects, processes, and makes works accessible to the general public. In its collections, you will find artwork from the 13th century to the present day. The permanent exhibition offers a tour of rare works with a mining theme, testifying to the historical and socio-economic importance of this region. The art-historical collection of the gallery features as many as 4,600 exhibits. The gallery is among the "green" institutions and also presents works of art that deal with global warming, nature conservation, or the ecological and sustainable human footprint in the landscape.

Be sure to also view the works of Edmund Gwerk, who captures the landscape from its harsher side in his paintings. In his work, he uses impressive figural compositions that record not only the dramatic atmosphere of the era, but also the specificity of the mining region. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the gallery also collaborates with young artists and presents their work through solo and group exhibitions. During your visit to the gallery, you can also admire the tasteful architecture of the building, courtyards, and unusual corners. The gallery is open from Wednesday to Sunday, between 09:00 and 17:00.

After a great cultural experience, set off for another in the form of a proper adventure and jump into searching for treasure! It was hidden in the depths of the city by the famous polymath and cartographer Samuel Mikovíni. While completing original tasks in the City Game, you will get to know many hidden nooks and interesting streets. Exploring Banská Štiavnica in one day is certainly impossible, so stay longer and discover other great attractions in the surroundings. A rich offer of accommodation near Galéria Jozefa Kollára can be found on our page accommodation Banská Štiavnica. We wish you a successful holiday full of exceptional experiences.

Štôlňa Glanzenberg is located in the oldest mining town in Slovakia, Banská Štiavnica. Its name is derived from the German word "glänzen", which translates as to shine or sparkle. This hereditary (drainage) adit is one of the oldest mining adits in this region. Did you know that the term hereditary comes from the fact that it was constructed by several generations of miners?

The history of Banská Štiavnica is very closely tied to the extraction of precious ores and non-ferrous metals, which were mined here for over a thousand years. The oldest written mention of the adit dates back to 1560. You will find the adit, which originally measured up to 16 km, near the Monument to the Fallen Heroes of World War II, in the park on Kammerhofská ulica. Its main function was the mining of gold-silver ores on the Špitaler vein. In a later period, it served for transport, ventilation, and the descent of technicians.

The opened section, which ends at the Kaufhaus shaft, has a depth of 32 m and a length of 500 m. Štôlňa Glanzenberg was made famous by several visits from monarchs and emperors of the Viennese court. In 1751, it was visited by Crown Prince Francis Stephen of Lorraine (husband of Maria Theresa), who later became Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The last significant descent was made by Emperor Franz Joseph I on July 7, 1852. At the end of the accessible section, there are the "imperial stairs" connecting the Kaufhaus shaft with the Horna Svätotrojičná štôlňa adit excavated below. At this location, you will find commemorative plaques installed in their honor.

The tour of the adit can be taken by adults and children over 6 years of age. Before entry, museum staff will equip you with a protective coat, helmet, and flashlight, as the adit premises are not illuminated. The total tour time is approximately 90 minutes. The adit can be visited from spring to autumn, and you should always announce your visit in advance by phone. As a nice souvenir of your visit to this unique adit, you can mine a small piece of ore yourself.

After a 1.5-hour excursion in complete darkness, enjoy your time in daylight and visit the beautiful botanical garden, where you have the opportunity to discover over 200 species of domestic and exotic trees. In addition to a abundance of flora, you can also admire the historical buildings of the Mining and Forestry Academy. Take a romantic stay with your partner in Banská Štiavnica. A wide range of accommodation near the Štôlňa Glanzenberg mining adit can be found on our page for accommodation in Banská Štiavnica. Hide the symbol of your love in the world's only love vault, created from the verses of Sládkovič's Marína. In Banka lásky, a vault box is assigned to every letter, punctuation mark, and space. We wish you a wonderful stay full of exceptional moments.

In the picturesque nature of Štiavnické vrchy, you can find a small treasure. It is hidden on the steep slope of the village of Štiavnické Bane, offering a stunning view of the surrounding area. Visit the circular Bašta Štiavnické Bane, which is one of the popular tourist attractions in this region.

Bašta v Štiavnických Baniach was once part of the defense system of the anti-Turkish fortifications. Today, it is one of the restored attractions of the village. This is mainly because the original bastion underwent reconstruction, and its founder built a museum inside dedicated to Maximilián Hell, a native of the village. During the tour, as part of one of the two exhibition sections, you can view information panels concerning, for example, the first observatory in Slovakia founded in 1878, the first mine surveying office, or the first school or hospital established in this mining region. On the next two floors, you will also take a look at significant milestones of the village. The second part of the exhibition is dedicated to the life and work of the aforementioned Catholic priest, Jesuit, astronomer, mathematician, and physicist Maximilián Hell.

The museum is open on weekdays (except Monday). A set of 175 wooden steps will lead you to it. In addition to regular tours, guided visits combined with sky observation are organized twice a year. This is possible thanks to a professional telescope that the village purchased for the exhibition. Naturally, an expert is also invited to these events.

If you would like to enrich your trip with other interesting places, we recommend visiting the beauty of Prírodný park AVES. If you visit this region in summer, there is an opportunity to swim in the surrounding tajchy artificial lakes. The closest to the bastion is Veľké Richnavské jazero. You can visit Škola v múzeu not only with children. With a headlamp on your head, you can explore Banské múzeum v prírode - Banská Štiavnica. After a continuous layer of snow falls, you can ski on the slopes of the popular Salamandra Ski Resort.

Don't feel like rushing back home? Stay longer and book accommodation near Bašta Štiavnické Bane. There is a choice of many apartments or smaller cottages in Štiavnické Bane. It only depends on your preferences which accommodation you choose. We will be happy to help you with your choice.

Excellent reports have always circulated about the Kremnica mint, and we can say that rightfully so. Its products rank among the world's top tier based on several criteria right away. It began writing its story on November 17, 1382, when it started minting the first coins. Since then, it has expanded its portfolio and constantly delivers them to customers in the highest possible quality. We rank it among the oldest enterprises in the world that have never interrupted their production. Currently, it is a state-owned enterprise falling under the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic. Since 2011, it has also been part of the European Heritage Label.

From its inception, it has held an honorable position throughout all of Europe

The mint was founded by King Charles I of the well-known Anjou dynasty. He elevated the then settlement of Cremnychbani to a free royal town, thanks to which it was granted the privilege of operating a mint. From the 14th century, ducats with a fineness of 23 carats and 9 grains were minted here, which were faithful copies of florins, gold coins from Florence. Subsequently, domestic, Hungarian symbolism was reflected on the coins. Already in the medieval period, ducats from Kremnica became known as the hardest currency in Europe. This was thanks to their high-quality production, which was characterized by a fineness higher by one grain compared to all other coins of the continent. Thanks to the preservation of records, we know today that medieval Kremnica minted 21.5 million ducats.

At the end of the 15th century, ducats were replaced by half-thalers, known under the name guldiners. It was precisely during this period that Kremnica belonged among the richest towns in Hungary. However, the 16th century already bore the spirit of thalers, large silver coins. From 1710, the Kremnica mint began using balances as the first in the monarchy. Thanks to them, the minted coins gained not only in technical but also in artistic quality and value. The minters in Kremnica were not only skilled in operating them, but they even knew how to construct them themselves, and thanks to them and the patent, these presses were supplied to other mints. Following our example, identical machines were also secured for the mints in Vienna or Prague. At the end of the 19th century, the Kremnica mint was the only enterprise in the entire Kingdom of Hungary where the minting of circulation currency and the refining of precious metals took place. Already at this time, the results of the work were not only gold and silver coins, but also commemorative and subsidiary coins made of various non-ferrous metals.

Just like for other enterprises, both world wars were a severe test for the mint in Kremnica. They directly affected both operations and running, as well as property, but fortunately, the enterprise managed to be saved in a very short time. It was the only mint in Czechoslovakia, and since 1993 a state-owned enterprise of the Slovak Republic. Since then, our Slovak crowns as well as a wide variety of commemorative coins have been minted here. Great efficiency also occurred after the decision on the accession of the Slovak Republic to the eurozone, when in 4 and a half months in Kremnica they minted an unbelievable 470 million Slovak euro coins for the NBS. In addition, coins for many foreign countries have been minted here since 1989 – in Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia.

The mint is among the top tier even at present

The Kremnica mint offers a wide and diverse range of products. Currently, it mints not only circulation coins, but also commemorative, collector, and gold coins, as well as medals, investment gold, badges, plaques, orders, mayoral chains, and much more. In production, they base their work on artistic depiction and high quality, which is declared by an ISO certificate. Upon request, they will process all your requirements from precious and non-ferrous metals, in any shape, size, or surface finish.

Part of the mint is not only production, but also a company shop and exhibition. This has been accessible to the public since 2006. You can view historical minting machines, equipment, and, of course, coins here. It is also interesting to see a modern minting machine directly at work. However, you may also learn some other Kremnica "bests" here. For example, the fact that the world's largest silver coin was minted here, that during the reign of Maria Theresa more coins were minted here annually than in all other mints of the monarchy combined, or the fact that the mint was considered the dowry of Hungarian queens.

Past, present, and future intertwine in the Kremnica mint, and it is definitely worth a visit. We recommend that you book accommodation near Mincovňa Kremnica and also visit other significant Slovak mining town, not only golden Kremnica, but also silver Banská Štiavnica and copper Banská Bystrica. Do not miss the Museum of Coins and Medals as well as the controversial Museum of Kitsch. If you like history, you will also be captivated by the view of the town castle in Kremnica, the Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier, or the town castle in Banská Bystrica. However, you will also find rich opportunities for hiking, relaxation in swimming pool areas, or great skiing here. In short, absolutely everyone will find something to their liking.

Do you love laughing and know how to poke fun at yourself? Then you should definitely visit the unique Múzeum gýča , located in the beautiful mining town of Kremnica. This museum is the only museum of its kind in the entire European Union. Here you will find up to 1,248 exhibits that are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Come and have a good laugh, and if you bring something you consider a true piece of kitsch, your admission is free!

The first idea to present and point out the kitsch around us originated in 1973 in the minds of seniors, retirees who wanted to entertain all people of good will and remind them of times when it was not possible to make fun of just anything. Its founder is Roman Vykysalý, who dealt with the idea of highlighting kitsch as a mirror of human (bad) taste already during his high school studies. The original idea, the first attempt, was successfully realized in 1982 at the second edition of the humor and satire festival Slovenské gagy. Since 2004, this humorous exhibition has become an annual part of the festival Kremnické gagy. The official activity of the civic association Občianske združenie Múzeum gýča began in 2006.

You will guaranteed leave this museum in a good mood and with the awareness that life is beautiful if we can make it pleasant and live it with a cheerful and open mind. In places, you will feel like you are in your grandmother's living room. You will be captivated by various ceramic figurines, strange paintings, or other bizarre "trinkets." The exhibition is divided into several sections. Your mind will boggle for a moment at the section of clocks, hunting items, textiles, or in the popular section of garden gnomes. If you like one of the displayed exhibits and tell yourself "I must have this at home," you have a unique opportunity to purchase such an exclusive piece. In addition, during the tour, you can take photos with the exhibits, and the braver ones can even touch them. Museum tours are accompanied by humorous commentary, even in foreign languages. A popular event is held here every year, where the "kitsch of the year" is announced. Do not forget to book your visit in advance by phone. You can enjoy this exceptional and unrepeatable cultural experience all year round, every day except Sunday.

Kremnica is full of interesting attractions. After this extraordinary experience, visit the Mincovňa mint, which has been continuously minting coins and medals for almost 7 centuries. Do not miss out on the amusing Ulička slávnych nosov alley, where originally the rear part of the body was supposed to be imprinted instead of noses. And if you like walks in nature, take a trip to the mining museum Banské múzeum Štôlňa Andrej, where with helmets on your heads and lamps in hand, you will walk through an approximately 60 m long section beneath the earth's surface. Stay in Kremnica longer and discover other interesting places that the surroundings offer. You can find accommodation near Múzeum gýča on our page accommodation Kremnica. If you decide to spend your winter holiday in Kremnica, you will experience fantastic skiing in the ski resort Skalka arena – Skalka pri Kremnici.