Banská Bystrica (German: Besztercebánya; German: Neusohl) is the metropolis of central Slovakia, the regional capital of the Banskobystrica region and the district capital of the Banskobystrica district. With a population of 75,317, it is the sixth largest city in Slovakia.
The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the parish church,
is a single-nave late Gothic building with a polygonally finished
presbytery and a presbytery, which was founded in the 13th century as a
Romanesque church. From this period, the lower part of the tower has
been preserved, with arched Romanesque windows. The church underwent a
Gothic reconstruction in the 14th and 15th centuries. The southern
chapels of St. come from the period after 1470. Andrew and the Body of
Christ and the northern chapel of St. Barbara. Despite several
devastating fires, many Gothic details have been preserved in the
interior. The altar of St. comes from the workshop of Master Pavle from
Levoča. Barbara in the chapel dedicated to this saint from 1509. Other
valuable elements include the Gothic bronze baptistery from 1475, the
work of master Jodok and the statue of Christ on the Mount of Olives.
The church was baroque around 1761, when a devastating fire engulfed the
church. This resulted in the baroque painting of the vaults by Anton
Schmidt and the main altar with paintings of the Assumption of the
Virgin Mary and the Holy Trinity by J.L. Kracker from 1774.
Church of St. Kríža, Slovak Church is a single-nave late Gothic building
on an irregular floor plan without a tower from the second half of the
15th century. The church is part of the fortifications of the Bystrica
castle, directly connected to the Pisárská Bastion. Both objects were
created at the same time. Around 1492, the original chapel was extended
to the building of Matej's house, with which it is connected by an
emporium. The church underwent modifications around 1561, when the nave
was increased to its present form. During the Reformation, the church
was evangelical, after the church was taken over the building was taken
over by the Jesuits, who modified it in the Baroque style.
The
Evangelical Church, a single-nave Empire building on the plan of the
Greek cross, without a tower, from 1803-1807. The interior is designed
as a central elliptical space with two emporium levels. On the altar
there is an image of Christ blessing. The main facade is dominated by a
risalite finished with a triangular gable with a tympanum. A portico
supported by two Tuscan columns is placed on the axes of the rizalite.
There is a thermal window above it. The facades of the church are
divided by lisene bands.
In 1955, the medieval city center was declared a city monument
reserve. The area of the City Castle was declared a national monument.
In addition to the castle itself, this concerns the Church of the
Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the so-called parish church. The
so-called Matej's house was the seat of a royal official, but he also
hosted the king himself. The area also houses the old town hall, the
so-called Praetorium.
On Náměstí SNP there is the Cathedral of
St. Francis Xavier as well as the bishop's palace. There is also a
reconstructed town hall, the houses of wealthy residents of the city:
Thurz's house, Benické's house, the leaning city clock tower and other
monuments. Other historical monuments are located outside the city
center: Radvanské Manor, Bárczyovský Manor, Tihányiovský Manor. Among
the more modern buildings is the SNP Memorial. This work of the
architect Dušan Kuzma was completed in 1969. The construction of the
21st century was reflected in the Europa Business Center. The building
is the tallest in the city and at the same time the Building of the Year
2009.
Municipal power plant in Banská Bystrica (defunct), Medený három in Banská Bystrica, PLETA, a state enterprise "in liquidation" (already abolished, see Rezidencia Pleta), Urpiner (Banskobystrický pivovar, a. s.).
There are several theaters in Banská Bystrica. The State Opera presents opera, musical and ballet performances. Divadlo z Pasáže in Banská Bystrica is the only theater in Slovakia that engages actors with mental disabilities. The Puppet Theater at the Crossroads deals not only with puppetry for children and adults, but also with other forms of theater. Modern dance art is represented by the Dance Studio. There are also several art schools in the city, which organize concerts for their students and teachers. Banská Bystrica also hosts the international biennial of puppetry, Bábkarská Bystrica. Since 2011, the Záhrada cultural center has been located in the courtyard of Beniczké Passage in the city center, which provides space for the presentation and creation of community and contemporary art of all genres. The adjacent garden park serves as a public recreation area for visitors and residents of the city.
Central Slovak Museum – Thurz House (Nám. SNP 4)
Museum of the
Slovak National Uprising (Kapitulská street 23)
Literary and Music
Museum (Lazovná ul. 9)
Central Slovak Gallery (Dolná ul. 8), it also
includes the permanent exhibition of Dominik Skutecký (Horná ul. 55)
Postal Museum, (Partizánska cesta 9)
Central Slovak Education Center,
(Dolná ul. 35)
Tourism
In 2016, the city recorded a 24%
increase in the number of visitors, the number of overnight stays
increased by 27% compared to the previous year. The sales of
accommodation facilities increased by 37% and their capacity also
increased. The city received approximately 26,000 euros from
accommodation taxes. As of June 30, 2015, there were 124 accommodation
facilities in the Banská Bystrica district, which were used by 39,552
visitors.
By plane
Banská Bystrica is served by Sliač Airport
(SLD). The airport is located 15 km from Banská Bystrica, however, there
are no regular passenger flights, only charters.
The nearest
international airports are Budapest (200 km), Bratislava (205 km) and
Vienna (260 km).
If you are flying from Vienna, check your
connections carefully. An afternoon flight from Vienna (around 15:00) is
likely to leave Banská Bystrica by train 06:27 or by bus between 07:00
and 08:00. It is also possible to take the 08:27 train to Bratislava and
arrive at Vienna Airport for an afternoon flight, but that leaves little
time.
Transportation to Budapest is relatively complicated with
no direct bus or train. In the summer of 2015, this could not be done
with less than 2 transfers (significantly missing the shortest route).
By rail
There are train connections from major Slovak cities.
Banská Bystrica can also be reached from Vienna, Budapest, Poland and
the Czech Republic (direct train). The city is not well served in the
evening. Plan your connections from Bratislava carefully as there are no
trains between 18:01 and 23:49 (the midnight train arrives at 05:19 and
the train stops in Zvolen at 02:57, with a long wait - until 04:47 - for
local train to Banská Bystrica). Many trains from Bratislava have Wi-Fi.
There are two stations:
The main railway station.
Banská
Bystrica - town. A station that is closer to the city center.
By
bus
The main bus station.
There are bus connections to all
major Slovak cities, as well as international routes to Vienna, the
Czech Republic and many other cities in Western Europe. Buses from
Bratislava cost around €9.50 (RegioJet buses cost €5). As of mid-2015,
the last bus leaves Bratislava for Banská Bystrica at 20:35, so be
careful when connecting to Bratislava Airport or Vienna Airport.
By car
Banská Bystrica has road connections with all major Slovak
cities. Bratislava (210 km) can be reached via the R1 motorway. Banská
Bystrica also has road connections with: Ružomberok (52 km) by road 59 /
E77, Martin (59 km) by road 65, Zvolen (19 km) by road R1 / E77. From
Zvolen you can continue on the E77 further south to Saha (70 km -
Hungarian border) and Budapest (160 km)
Banská Bystrica is a walkable city and all major
attractions can be reached on foot in 15 minutes.
Public
transport
Public transport is useful if you are staying outside the
city center or for city trips. It consists of buses and trolleybuses and
costs €0.70 per trip (as of mid-2015). Regional buses from the main bus
station (or the neighboring "Parkovisko Mičinská" stop) serve the
surrounding villages for a slightly higher price.
Taxis
Due
to increased competition (caused by a complete lack of public transport
during the night), taxi prices in Banská Bystrica have plummeted to a
flat rate of around €3-4 for a trip anywhere in the city (out of town
fares are charged per km). Since the official area of the city is quite
large, a taxi is a really convenient transportation option.
The town is located at the confluence of the Hron and Bystrica
rivers, between Horehron and Zvolenská kotlina. It is surrounded by
Starohorské vrchy, Kremnické vrchy and Poľana. The lowest place within
Banská Bystrica is Štadlerovo nábrežie, 336 m.a.s.l. - GPS 48.73188,
19.14066. The highest place in Banská Bystrica is Stará kopa, 713
m.a.s.l. - GPS 48.72751, 19.18368.
The important European road 77
from Ružomberok to Zvolen runs through the city in a north-south
direction, which is crossed here by roads I/59 (from the north), I/14
(from the west), I/69 (from the south) and I/66 (from the east). The R1
expressway also ends in Banská Bystrica, heading from Trnava through
Nitra and Zvolen to the eastern edge of the city, from where it should
continue to Ružomberok in the future. From Zvolen to Vrútky, railway
line 170 leads through the city, which is connected here by the line to
Horehronie.
Examples of names attested from historical texts are:
1773
Neozolium, Besztercz-Bánya, Neüsoll, Banská Bystrica
1786 Neusohl,
Novisolium, Besztercze-Bánya, Banská Bystrica
1808 Neosolium,
Beszterczebánya, Neusohl, Banská Bystrica
1863 – 1913 Besztercebánya
1920 Banská Bystrica
1927 Banská Bystrica
The Latin name is
Neosolium, other names of the city: Mad. Besztercebánya, German. He
failed, field. Bańska Bystrzyca
The oldest settlement in the region is linked to mineral wealth,
while around Banská Bystrica it was mainly copper. Therefore, already in
the Eneolithic period (2900 – 1900 BC), groups of prospectors penetrated
the surroundings of Špana and the Sásovská valley, which is confirmed by
finds of ceramics. The development of metallurgy and the demand for
copper required the construction of facilities, including settlements in
mountainous areas. The polished and split industry from this period has
been preserved on the terraces of Hrona and Slatina in the vicinity of
Zvolen, from where groups of metal seekers probably penetrated into the
nearby mountains. Findings of smoothed and polished stone industry were
identified in Kremnička and Velky hrádek in Malachovská dolina. The
oldest copper tools of the people of the Baden culture come from Dolná
Mičiná, finds of ceramics from Španá Dolina prove the presence of people
of the Ludanica group (approx. 4000 BC). At the foot of Suché vrch, an
object was discovered with a cultural layer containing ceramics and
chipped tools from the Epilengyel period (the end of the 5th millennium
BC).
In the Na Pieskoch site in Španá Dolina, numerous traces of
copper processing (thrashing) were found from the early Bronze Age, when
the territory of central Slovakia was the raw material base for a large
part of today's Slovakia. Findings of settlements in the vicinity of
Zvolen indicate that this crossroads of trade routes was an important
trade center of that time. This is proven by 4 mass finds of bronzes,
including finished products. The location of Banská Bystrica in the
younger and late Bronze Age (1250 – 700 BC) was inhabited by people of
the Lusatian culture, who, in addition to ore processing, also engaged
in agriculture and cattle breeding. Hill forts were created, where all
the life of the communities was concentrated. In the vicinity of the
city there are well-known housing estates in Horné Pršany, Nemcie,
Selcie, Moštenice. Trade routes led to the north through nearby passes,
and through the Hrona, Neresnica and Slatina valleys to the west, south
and east. The cremation graves of people of the Lusatian culture in
Sásová and Moštěnica come from a younger period, the settlement was also
documented by ceramic and bronze material in the Bat Cave in Nemcie.
The Iron Age left monuments in the form of highland settlements of
the Púchov culture in Horny Pršany and Selcie. The Celts already ruled
this area, bringing further economic and social progress. Celtic coins
were discovered in Radvani, contacts with the Roman provinces are also
evidenced by the discovery of coins in Selcie, where almost 50 silver
coins from the years 104-193 were found. A unique find of a ceramic
chalice and a silver arched clasp with an extended leg was made in 1926
in the Bat Cave , where during further research in 1986 they found three
more silver buckles, dated to the 5th century. Findings from the Roman
period also prove the settlement of the Kaplnka cave.
In the early Middle Ages, the territory of the Zvolen Basin was
inhabited by Avars, who mixed with Kotín and other Germanic tribes.
During that period, groups of Slavs, whose tribes were subordinate to
the Avars, already penetrated through the Carpathian passes into the
lowlands and basins of Slovakia. This changed with the emergence of the
Samo Empire, when these Slavic tribes were united. Finds in the
Zvolenská kotlina confirmed the presence of Slavs as early as the 7th
century, and Slavic settlement in the territory of Banská Bystrica was
confirmed by finds of pottery from the 9th century on Náměstí SNP. Even
in the pre-Great Moravian period, however, the territory of nearby
Zvolen and Sliač was also densely populated, so it is probable that
there were also dwellings in the territory of Banská Bystrica.
During the reconstruction of the Radvanské manor, the remains of
prehistoric dome-shaped furnaces were discovered, documenting the
processing of ores from the surrounding mountains. This is also
confirmed by the discovery of a mining payment token from 1686, which
comes from Španá Dolina and served as a wage deposit for miners. During
the field work in the vicinity of the manor, shards of ceramics from the
period of Great Moravia (9th century) were found, confirming the
settlement of this part of the city. The settlement from this period was
also identified during the construction of the northern bypass in the
city district of Senica, where 29 buried residential buildings were
uncovered. After the demise of Great Moravia, centers of power were
built, one of which was in Zvolen, which became the center of the Zvolen
Committee, which also administered the territory of today's Banská
Bystrica. Bystrica gained importance as a center of copper mining,
thereby increasing its importance, which confirmed the early recognition
of the privileges of a free royal city.
In the period after the
Mongol invasion (1241-1242), approximately until the middle of the 13th
century, a German element appeared in the area of today's Banská
Bystrica. It was a group of German colonizers who came to the territory
of the Kingdom of Hungary in the wave of colonization after the Mongol
invasion. They probably came to the area of today's Banská Bystrica from
Krupina or Banská Štiavnica, but their genesis goes back to Saxony. This
is revealed by the surname of the locator's son Ondrej, under whose
leadership the group settled here. Ondrej was nicknamed Sas. These
colonists settled in the space of the already existing Slavic settlement
of Bystrica and engaged in trade as well as the exploitation of precious
metals. In 1255, the Hungarian king Bel IV. granted to our "guests from
the new settlement of Bystrice" (hospites nostri de villa nova
Bystrice), i.e. German colonists, bourgeois privileges. The sovereign
exempted them from the powers of the Zvolen Committee, granted them the
right to hunt and fish, but also the right to mine precious metals,
while they were to pay the urbura from the mined metals. At the same
time, the townspeople were obliged to entertain the sovereign at any
time and to fight under the king's banner. When resolving conflicts
between townspeople, it was to be judged according to Saxon law.
Banská Bystrica developed thanks to immigrants. In 1494, the company
Ungarischer Handel (Hungarian Trade), also called Der Neusohler
Kupferhandel or the Turzovsko-Fugger company (1495 - 1525), was founded
here, which in the 16th century became one of the largest and most
modern mining companies of that time. It contributed to the significant
development of mining, metallurgy and transport, which affected the
entire sphere of medieval life. In 1525-1526, a miners' uprising took
place here, which ended in failure for the miners.
The successful advance of Ottoman troops through Hungarian territory
forced the town to be fortified in 1589, as a result of which stone
walls were built. As a center of Protestantism, Banská Bystrica was in
conflict with the Hungarians and Turks, as well as with the Holy See. On
August 20, 1620, the then prince, Gabriel Betlen, was elected Protestant
Hungarian king in the city. In 1720, 149 guild workshops were operating
in the city, in 1784 there were 502, making the city the third most
important in Slovakia in terms of guild production.
After the
copper supply was exhausted, production was reoriented to wood
processing and paper production, the industrial revolution became the
next impetus for development. In 1908, a minting right for gold mining
in Harmanac was issued and a contract with the town was concluded in
1922. Exploration shafts and various tunnels were dug here, but after a
short period of mining, the project was closed due to unprofitability.
In 1776, a Roman Catholic bishopric was established in Banská Bystrica.
The number of inhabitants increased from 5,661 to 10,776 between 1857
and 1910. A new court building was built (1898), a massive five-story
Porges apartment building (1912), a neo-Renaissance-neo-baroque building
of the forest administration on Náměstí SNP (1916), girls' gymnasium,
today the Faculty of Economics of the Matej Bel University (year 1914)
and a number of rental neo-style buildings and town villas. The town
received a railway connection with Zvolen in 1873, with Podbrezová in
1884 and Harmanec in 1913. A savings bank was established in 1845, a
credit bank in 1872, and later several financial institutions. Craft
traditions and manufactories were followed by several smaller textile
factories, woodworking industry (furniture factory, matchmaker),
building materials, food industry (brewery, mills, production of
spirits) was created. In 1908, the municipal power plant was built.
However, these factories could not employ all the inhabitants of the
city and the surrounding area, as a result of which there were several
strikes. In 1872, the workers' support association was founded, in 1895
the organization of the social-democratic party, at the beginning of the
20th century trade unions, in 1904 the workers' educational association.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the area of today's central
Slovakia was opened in 1890.
In the middle of the 19th century,
Banská Bystrica became the center of the efforts of Slovak businessmen
and intelligentsia during the tenure of the first chairman of Matica
slovakska, Slovak education and culture developed, but the increasing
Magyarization suppressed these tendencies. In the years 1899 – 1900, the
Banská Bystrica trial was held in the city with representatives of
Slovak political and cultural life, in the years 1873 – 1883 the
pro-government, anti-Slovak magazine Svornosť was published, and in the
years 1904 – 1918 the similar magazine Krajan was published. The
activities of the local grammar school in the 1950s and 1960s had
national importance. It was the only higher secondary school for 5
Slovak counties, the language of instruction was Slovak, it was taught
by a number of excellent Slovak and Czech professors (M. Čulen, E.
Černý, F. Mráz, J. Loos, J. Slotta and others). In 1867, Slovak and
Czech professors were dismissed and education was Germanized. Alongside
them, they worked in the city in the 2nd half. 19th century and the
beginning 20th century scholars and writers Štefan Moyzes, Karol
Kuzmány, Terézia Vansová, Ján Botto, M. Chrástek, T. Červeň. F.V.
Sasinek, composer Ján Levoslav Bella, visual artists Jozef Božetech
Klemens, Dominik Skutecký. In 1857, the Musical Society was founded
here, and in the 1950s and 1970s Slovak newspapers were published (Cyril
a Metod, Slovak National Teacher, Evangelical School). The city museum
was founded in 1889.
Until 1928, it was the seat of Zvolen County. The number of
inhabitants grew only slowly (year 1919 – 10,734, year 1930 – 11,347,
year 1940 – 13,045), despite this, the construction industry did not
stop. In 1920, a remarkable Art Nouveau Stone Villa was built, and in
1928, the National House was completed. Several functionalist buildings
date from the 1930s. In 1930 they built the District Health Insurance
Company (today's polyclinic), in 1934 a teacher's institute, and two
years later a branch of the Prague Municipal Savings Bank next to the
municipal tower, as well as a transmitter. The notary's dormitory and
the civil servants' house, which today is used as a polyclinic, were
completed in 1937. Just before the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, they
built municipal tenements for military policemen. The Neo-Renaissance
branch of the National Bank from 1932 stands outside the mainstream of
modern architecture.
The city remained a business and financial
center, with the completion of the railway line Zvolen – Vrútky and
Banská Bystrica – Červená Skala, its importance as a transport hub
increased. Several smaller metalworking, food and construction
enterprises were established, but several enterprises from the previous
period (furniture factory, textile factories) disappeared. In the years
of the global economic crisis, there was also high unemployment and
numerous strikes. Education and culture achieved great development.
Education became independent, with the help of Czech professors it
reached a good level. In addition to the gymnasium, there were more
vocational schools in the city (a business academy, a school for women's
professions, a teacher's institute and an engineering industrial school
- these two were located in new buildings). The Municipal Theater
Association was formed from many volunteer theater troupes, from whose
ranks came several leading Slovak professional actors. Ján Cikker, among
others, was a student of the music composer V. Figuš-Bystrý.
In 1940, it became the seat of the new Pohron County. A new folk
school was built (year 1939), the building of the United Power Plant
(year 1941) and a new railway station was built.
Since 1941,
anti-fascist resistance groups were formed among the officers of the
Land Forces Command of the Slovak Army, based in the city. Under the
political leadership of the Slovak National Council, the Military
Headquarters was created here in 1944, a military body for the
preparation of the Slovak National Uprising, which directed
conspiratorial activity in the army. After the entry of the German
occupation troops, on August 29, 1944, an anti-fascist coup was carried
out, and the commander of the Military Headquarters, Lt. Col. Ján Golian
issued an order to the army to resist the occupying troops. The coup was
completed by the partisans of the 1st Stalin Brigade, the Jánošík
Brigade and Capt. The sticker, who entered the city on August 30, 1944.
On that day, the Free Slovak Broadcaster started broadcasting from
Banská Bystrica.
After the outbreak of the SNP, Banská Bystrica
became the political, military and administrative center of insurgent
Slovakia. The leading forces of the uprising were based here - the
Slovak National Council, the Headquarters of the 1st Czechoslovak Army.
army in Slovakia, a delegation of the Czechoslovak Republic came here.
émigré government in London and representatives of the Moscow leadership
of the Communist Party. Anglo-American and Soviet military missions were
based here. Armed struggle and implementation of basic economic and
social changes were controlled from the city. In September 1944, the
central organ of the Central Committee of the KSS Pravda, the weekly
Nové slovo, the wall newspaper Hlas ľudu and others began to be
published. On September 17, 1944, a unification congress of the KSS and
Social Democracy took place.
Already in September 1944, Banská
Bystrica experienced German bombing, when the bombs hit the Free Slovak
Broadcaster. At the end of October, the military situation deteriorated
rapidly, the insurgents left the city almost without a fight, and the
Germans occupied it on October 27, 1944. They arrested and imprisoned
more than 2 thousand people. On October 30, Gen. Hermann Höfle organized
a military ceremony in Banská Bystrica with the participation of
representatives of the Slovak government headed by President Jozef Tis.
Jozef Tiso served mass, honored members of the Waffen-SS and publicly
thanked Hitler. The occupation of the city lasted 5 months, it was
liberated by the troops of the Soviet and Romanian armies on March 25,
1945.
In the years 1949 – 1960 it was the seat of the Banskobystrické
Region, then until 1990 the Central Slovak Region. It was the political,
economic, administrative and cultural center of central Slovakia. Banská
Bystrica experienced significant territorial expansion during this
period, the villages of Jakub, Kostiviarska, Kremnička, Kynceľová,
Laskomerské, Majer, Malachov, Radvaň – Kráľová, Rakytovce, Rudlová,
Sásová, Senica, Šalková and Nemce joined it. The number of inhabitants
increased from 13,605 in 1950 to 22,529 in 1960, to 46,846 in 1970, and
by 1989 it had risen to almost 80,000.
In the 1940s and 1950s, in
addition to the first brick housing estates (Na Fortničke, Na Uhlisku,
the first part of the Fončorda estate - new Kalište, Prednádražie), the
buildings of the former District National Committee (year 1949),
polyclinics (year 1951), the railway station were completed . The former
Regional National Committee, today's city office, dates from 1957 and is
an example of socialist realism architecture. From the 1960s,
large-scale construction of panel housing began, which continued in the
1970s (mainly other parts of Fončorda, in the first half of the 1960s,
the first high-rise tower houses made of precast concrete in
Prednádraží, later the housing estate in Radvan). In 1969, the SNP
monument and the Lux hotel were opened, then the Prior department store.
During the 1970s, a new hospital building was gradually built. In the
1980s, housing estates were created in the peripheral parts of Podlavice
and Sásová. In addition, a stadium was built in Štiavničky, an indoor
winter stadium, indoor swimming pools, and gymnasiums. An expressway to
Zvolen was built, at the very end of socialism in August 1989,
trolleybuses began to operate in the city.
Unlike other Slovak
cities, the historical center was spared major interventions. Monuments
were constantly being repaired, the facades of townspeople's houses were
given a new coat of paint. Thurz's house was already renovated in the
first half of the 1950s, the other buildings later (eg the city tower
around 1970, the barbican around 1980).
The economy developed,
during socialism the energy industry (Stredoslovenské energyké závody),
metallurgy (SNP plants), electrical engineering (Tesla), woodworking
(Smrečina), clothing (Slovenka, Modrotlac), food (brewery, cannery,
distillery) was represented in Banská Bystrica. , building materials
(Stredoslovenská cement plant, Ipeľské tehelne, Stredoslovenský
kamenopryemysel), construction (Pozemné stavby, Stavoindustria),
printing (Tlačiarne SNP).
Education and culture also recorded
development, although under the supervision of the Communist Party.
The number of residents of the regional city has been decreasing for
the last decade. In 2002, the city had a population of 82,299, but by
the end of 2012 it was only 78,068. Although more children were born in
2012 than the previous year, the downward trend continued with 1,222
moving out compared to an increase of 876. In 2014, the city was in 5th
place in the number of immigrated people (registration of residence),
but at the same time it occupied the fifth place in the ranking of
cities from which people move the most. The total increase was negative,
the trend also occurs in other larger cities.
Ethnic composition
of the population
Slovaks – 94.74%
Czechs – 1.39%
Roma - 0.54%
Hungarians – 0.54%
Germans - 0.06%
Ukrainians – 0.05%
and
others
Religious composition of the population
Roman Catholics
– 46.57%
no religion - 30.17%
Evangelicals and. in. – 13.94%
Greek Catholics – 1.03%
Orthodox - 0.24%
and others
Public road transport
Urban transport in Banská Bystrica is
provided by two carriers. The transport company of the city of Banská
Bystrica provides trolleybus transport (lines 1-8), SAD Zvolen provides
public transport bus lines (20-100). Within the public transport
district, it is also possible to use suburban lines for public transport
prices and documents.
In July 2020, the city announced a public
procurement announcement for the operation of public transport. The
competition has two parts: bus and trolleybus transport, and the city
wants to compete with two partners who would operate public transport
for 10 years from January 1, 2021. Among the city's requirements for
finishing works are ecology and modern technologies.
The bus
station, where long-distance, suburban and city lines stop, is located
near the railway station. The original station, now replaced by a new
one, was under interrupted construction since 1983, in 1990 the
construction of the part with the background was interrupted. Despite
its age and condition, this station served until 2015, when, after
several previous unsuccessful attempts to correct the situation, a new
investor started demolition work and the traveling public was
temporarily relocated to a temporary station in the parking lot on
Michinská cesta. In January 2015, the new mayor of the city, Ján Nosko,
announced that a new two-story building would be built by Christmas
2016, but this did not turn out to be a true statement in the end.
According to information from July 2017, the station was supposed to be
put into operation at the beginning of September 2017, which, despite
doubts, became - albeit two weeks later, but finally - a reality.
Rail transport
Banská Bystrica is located at the intersection of
the Zvolen – Vrútky line, which is electrified in the Zvolen – Banská
Bystrica section, and the Banská Bystrica – Červená Skala line, which is
not electrified. Both lines are single-track. The Banská Bystrica
railway station is located near the bus station. The railway station
Banská Bystrica-mesto is located closer to the city center. The
Kostiviarska, Radvaň, Šalková and Uľanka stations are also located on
the territory of the city.
Traffic
Banská Bystrici is located
at the crossroads of several roads. From the south it is connected to R1
and I/69 (direction Zvolen), from the east to I/66 (direction Brezno)
and from the north to I/59 (direction Donovaly mountain pass). Several
roads of the second and third class pass through the city. Since April
2009, the Northern bypass of the city has been under construction as a
continuation of the R1 route. Its route starts from road I/59 in the
Karlovo district, passes between the city center and the Sásová
district, and connects to road I/66 in the direction of Brezno.
Long-distance transport in the directions Zvolen-Brezno and
Ružomberok-Brezno thus avoids the city center. The bypass has a length
of 5,672 km. It was opened on July 27, 2012.
Further, the planned
continuation of the R1 towards Slovenská Ľupča and through the ridge of
the Low Tatras to Ružomberok.
Cycling transport
Since June 22,
2012, a cycle bus has been running from the city to Králiky and Kráľova
studňa in Veľká Fatra. The fare is €1, the transport is subsidized by
the city government and the Banskobystrica self-governing region. It
will operate during summer weekends and holidays. The construction and
expansion of bicycle paths is part of the city's Development Program for
the years 2008 - 2010 - 2014. In 2016, the plan was to build 25
kilometers of bicycle paths that would connect the city districts with
the city center. 360,000 euros were allocated for this purpose. The
cycle route from Podlavice to Hušták was in the construction permit
phase in September 2016.
At the turn of May and June 2019, a
bicycle station was built at the station, enabling the storage of
bicycles, the use of a pump or the charging of electric bicycles.
Air Transport
There is a helicopter emergency medical service
station with the call sign Krištof 02 at the F. D. Roosevelt Faculty
Hospital. The Sliač International Airport is located near the city.
The Central Slovak Institute of Heart and Vascular Diseases also has
a heliport.
Universities
Two public universities, two private universities and
the faculty of the state university are located in Banská Bystrica:
Academy of Arts
Matej Bel University
Faculty of Health Sciences of
the Slovak University of Health Sciences
High schools
The
following high schools operate in the city:
Gymnasiums
Andrej
Sládkovič High School
Jozef Gregor Tajovský High School
Mikuláš
Kováč Gymnasium
Church gymnasiums
Evangelical high school in
Banská Bystrica
Štefan Moyses Catholic High School
High
schools
Conservatory of Ján Levoslav Bella
Business Academy
Joint school (High school of automotive, business, electrical
engineering)
Joint school (Kremnička) (Secondary Vocational School of
Construction, SPŠ Construction)
Jozef Murgaš Secondary Industrial
School
Secondary Medical School
Secondary vocational school,
Tajovského 30
Vocational secondary school, Pod Bánoš 80
Secondary
Vocational School of Hotel Services and Business
Secondary sports
school Banská Bystrica
Colleges
Viliam Gaňa Boarding
Vocational College
Private secondary schools
Orbis eruditionis
private gymnasium
Private Business Academy
Primary schools
The following elementary schools operate in the city:
Elementary
schools under the authority of the City of Banská Bystrica
Elementary
school, Bakossova 5
Elementary school, Ďumbierska 17
Jozef Gregor
Tajovský Primary School, Gaštanová 12
Elementary school, Golianova 8
Elementary school, Hronská 47
Elementary school, Moscow 2
Elementary school, Pieninská 27
Elementary school, Radvanská 1
Elementary school, Sitnianska 32
Elementary school, Spojová 14
SSV
Elementary School, Skuteckého 8
Elementary school, Class SNP 20
J.
Cikker Elementary Art School, Štefánikovo nábrežie 6
Private
primary schools
Fantázia Elementary School, Magurská 16
Dráčik
Elementary School, Mládežnícka 51
Elementary school U Filipa, Ružová
14
Róbert Tatár private art elementary school, Okružná 2
Private
art school, Námestie Slobody 3
Church primary schools
Elementary school with Štefan Moyses kindergarten, Nám. Štefana Moysesa
23 (Roman Catholic Church)
Narnia Elementary School, Okružná 2
(Cirkev Bratská)
Elementary schools under the establishment
authority of the Banská Bystrica Regional Office (Special elementary
schools)
Special elementary school, Ďumbierska 15
Elementary
school at the Children's Faculty Hospital with polyclinic, Nám. L.
Svoboda 4
Kindergartens
In 2013, there were 27 kindergartens
in Banská Bystrica, which were founded by the city of Banská Bystrica.
Two facilities (Special Kindergarten, Children's Integration Center)
were established by the Banská Bystrica District Office, and three
private kindergartens also operated here.
The Summer European Youth Olympic Festival 2022 took place in Banská
Bystrica from 24 to 30 July 2022.
Some clubs in Banská Bystrica:
HC ’05 Banská Bystrica
FK Dukla Banská Bystrica
Dukla Military
Sports Center Banská Bystrica
FPS Banská Bystrica
ŠK Kremnička
MFK Banská Bystrica
ŠKP Banská Bystrica
UMB 08 Banská Bystrica
Sports club DRÁČIK
kickbox sports club in Banská Bystrica
Sports
club Kartík bb
TC Dixon Tenisia BB
BKLOKYBB Badminton Club
Taekwon-Do I.T.F. Banska Bystrica