Banská Bystrica Castle

About

Banská Bystrica Castle (Slovak: Mestský hrad v Banskej Bystrici; also referred to as a Barbican) is a castle located in the centre of Banská Bystrica in Slovakia. It is a part of a complex that features several other buildings. The city castle complex consists of the Church of the Virgin Mary, Matthew's House, the Slovak Church, the town hall, the rectory building and a stone fortification with bastions, an entrance gate with a barbican, through which the area was entered. The oldest building is the late Romanesque parish church of the Virgin Mary from the second half of the 13th century. It was originally surrounded by a cemetery, on which a Romanesque ossuary stood until the 19th century.

Location: During the 1500s, Banská Bystrica was one of the most significant cities in the Kingdom of Hungary in terms of strategic importance. It was also important due to the mining of copper and silver ores that was found in the nearby mountains. The hill where the important trade routes intersected was where Banská Bystrica Castle was built. High-ranking city officials, the mayor, and church representatives resided there. The City Castle was not meant for residential use, unlike royal...