Slovakia: charming sites

Banska Stiavnica

July 4 2019. The day was underlined by two UNESCO touristic places. First Banska Stiavnica, considered as a medieval village of strong attraction. The medieval traces however are quite tarnished by modern improvements: the buildings are taller than the medieval average and the structures and architecture obviously of sooner construction. 

The streets are wider than the expected. It is quite obvious that later improvements were taken in the XVI century. UNESCO states “the town of Banská Štiavnica, the oldest mining town in Slovakia, was established in the 13th century, although evidence of mining dates back to the late Bronze Age. 

While it served as an important town during the middle Ages, the surviving urban centre was formed during the 16th century. The grand Late Gothic and Renaissance burgher houses, the town hall, and the Late Gothic Church of Saint Catherine characterize it. In the same era, a fortification system was built which has visible remains in the fortress of the Old Castle, the Renaissance watchtower of the New Castle, and the only surviving of the town gates – the Baroque-style Piarg Gate.” 

Vlkolinec

On the other hand in the afternoon we hit the asphalt to reach Vlkolinec in the mountain, north of the Carpathians. This time Unesco’s World Heritage deserves well its attribute (obviously my opinion) and it describes as “a remarkably well preserved rural medieval settlement featuring wooden architecture typical of hillside and mountain areas. 

Its layout, defined in part by the hilly terrain of the mountains of Veľká Fatra, features log houses situated on narrow lots with stables, barns and smaller outbuildings in the rear. A canalized stream flows through the centre of the village. The surrounding landscape is formed by narrow strips of fields and pastures with haylofts, protected from the north by the Sidorovo Hill.” 

The structures, the style and the architecture were little modified through time and that keeps the charm of the site intact.

Vlkolinec it is also one of the ten Slovak villages that has the status of folkloric architecture village. This one really deserved the visit. Also an interesting point is that half of the village is still inhabited and the photos the tourists take each time don’t impress the locals. Two of the nice people assured me the touristic interest goes all year long.

Korytnica

Another dark site that made my curiosity up to bring me in the mountains of central Slovakia. A quite famous spa and sanatorium complex with a reach mineral water that still is running. I couldn't drink more that a few sips from the local fountain, since it is really really strong and made my stomach immediately roar. But the locals keep coming fill in their 1,5 bottles God knows what for, maybe to cleanup the pipes or for feet treatment.

Nevertheless Korytnica had renown guests such as Austrian emperor Franz Josef and the Slovak nationalist hero Ludovít Štúr. Popular during the communist era now it's an abandoned site that makes the day for photographers.

Useful sites
Vlkolinec  - https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/622/

Banska Stiavnica  - https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/618
Korytnica - http://www.dark-tourism.com/index.php/slovakia/15-countries/individual-chapters/1131-korytnica

Log book: July 4th 2019 - 439 Kms * Pays: SK-PL * Frontiers: 1 (SK-PL)  

Coordonnées
Banska Stiavnica  -  48°27'29.00" 18°53'47.00"E
Vlkolinec -  49° 2'20.70"N 19°16'41.43"E

Korytnica -   48°53'20.40"N 19°17'6.00"E