Banska Stiavnica is an old medieval mining centre, that grew into a town with Renaissance palaces, 16th-century churches, elegant squares and castles.
Years of 16th - 18th were the golden age of Banska Stiavnica. It gained prominence as the most important centre of precious metal (gold and silver) mining in the Habsburg monarchy. This fact is confirmed by the establishment of the first mining school in Hungary in Banska Stiavnica (1735), which was subsequently promoted to the Mining Academy in 1762, as a result of its being the best-known centre of mining science and technology in Europe at that time.
Banska Stiavnica is surrounded by various inventions such as the highly effective water reservoir and canal system, and machinery for water-pumping, helped to revitalize the production of ore and to advance the standard of mining in area. In present, they are used as cute summer recreation center (reservoirs Pocuvadlo, Richnava lake, Vindsacht lake, Evickine lakes).
Banska Stiavnica is listed in World Heritage program from 1993.