New Castle in Banská Štiavnica

The New Castle (Nový zámok) is a white six-storey Renaissance bastion on Frauenberg hill above the historic centre of Banská Štiavnica. After the hill it is also called the Maiden Castle (Dievčenský or Panenský hrad). Today it is one of the exhibitions of the Slovak Mining Museum, devoted to the very purpose for which it was built — defending the mining towns against the Ottomans. From the top floor there is one of the best views of the town, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The fortress was built in 1564–1571 as an anti-Turkish watchtower. It was a link in the signalling system of the Union of Central Slovak Mining Towns — Pukanec, Nová Baňa, Banská Štiavnica, Banská Belá, Kremnica, Banská Bystrica and Ľubietová — which stretched from Levice to Ľubietová: guards passed warnings of danger from tower to tower. The building has four corner bastions with loopholes. When the Turkish wars ended, gunpowder for the Štiavnica mines was stored here, and later a fire watch was posted — the so-called "living clock": a trumpet sounded every quarter of an hour and a bell struck every hour.

The powder store was no coincidence: it was in Banská Štiavnica, in 1627, that gunpowder was first used anywhere in the world as an explosive in ore mining. The town grew rich on silver and gold; in 1735 the first mining school in Hungary was founded here, and in 1763 the Mining Academy, where scholars invited from all over Europe taught. So there was plenty to defend against the Ottomans: together with the Old Castle and the town walls, the New Castle guarded one of the richest mining towns of the kingdom.

What to see

• The exhibition on the Ottoman wars — the military situation of the 16th–17th centuries, the armament of anti-Turkish fortresses, weapons of the Hungarian and Turkish armies, painted shooting targets dating back to the period of Turkish raids, and portraits of the Koháry family, who distinguished themselves in the fighting against the Turks.
• Highlights — a seven-barrelled "organ" gun from the 16th century, Turkish yataghans, castle muskets, pitch torches, life-size Turkish figures, Oriental interiors and a Hungarian army guardroom.
• The history of the volunteer fire brigade of Banská Štiavnica, one of the oldest in Slovakia (founded in 1873): a unique banner from 1877, ceremonial firemen's helmets and photographs.
• The viewing platform on the top floor — a panorama of the old town, the Old Castle, the Calvary and the surrounding Štiavnica Mountains.

Practical information

The castle stands above Novozámocká street, a few hundred metres from the Old Castle and the main square; steep lanes lead up to it, so expect a short but noticeable climb. In October and November 2026 the exhibition is open Tuesday to Saturday; the summer schedule differs and the museum updates it monthly. An adult ticket costs €5 and a family ticket €12; other prices are in the "At a glance" box. A tour in English can be booked for a €20 surcharge, and schools and large groups are advised to book ahead.

A visit takes about an hour. Inside, narrow stairs link the six floors, so the castle is not convenient for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Children usually love the Turkish figures, the guns and the view from the top.

Nearby: trails and peaks

The Rudná magistrála: Veľký Inovec – Kadak — a long route through the Štiavnica Mountains — passes the castle, and from town you can also set out on the Andrej Kmeť Trail, named after the Štiavnica naturalist. Below, above Holy Trinity Square, stands the Old Castle in Banská Štiavnica, and on the edge of town it is worth going down the adit of the Open-Air Mining Museum.

Official website: muzeumbs.sk

Photos: Ladislav Luppa, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Palickap, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Juhele_CZ, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jozef Kotulič, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Adrian Tync, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.