Calvary in Banska Štiavnica

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Location on map - Calvary in Banska Štiavnica
Region: Banska Bystrica Region
District: Banská Štiavnica
City / Municipality: Banská Štiavnica
Tourist location: Hont
Mountains:Štiavnica Mountains (Štiavnické vrchy)
World Heritage: UNESCO Cultural Heritage
Category: Churches in Slovakia, Historical Places in Slovakia, Historical buildings in Slovakia
Calvary in Banska Štiavnica - Slovakia
Štiavnica’s Calvary is one of the most beautiful baroque Calvaries in Europe. It is located on Scharfenberg (Sharp mount) hill, thus being visible from all sides and providing a complete view of Štiavnica’s caldera (a large crater which came about by collapsing of the walls of a volacnic crater). The Calvary is remarkable due to its number of stations and the story it tells. After the renovation, it became one of the most frequently visited sites in the region.The person to initiate its construction was pater František Perger (1700 – 1771) from the local Jesuit community. He built it by virtue of gifts of wealthy miners, officers, but also humble families of miners. The donors are commemorated by coats of arms placed on the frontage of each station.

The construction began in 1744, and it was finished in 1751. Most Calvaries have fourteen stations: they begin with the condemnation of Christ before Pilate and end with the Holy Sepulchre. The Štiavnica Calvary has seventeen stations, three churches - Lower church (Dolný kostol), Holy stairway (in Slovak Sväté schody), Upper church (in Slovak Horný kostol), the Prison (Ecce homo) station, and Holy Sepulchre – the only building located on the opposite, eastern side of the hill. Wooden reliefs in chapels represent, with their typically baroque theatricality, key moments of Jesus’ life until his torture and resurrection. The uniqueness of the Calvary along with its sensitive setting onto a place with a beautiful view make it one of the most visited attractions.

In 2007 it was put on the List of 100 most endangered sites of the world and in 2008 commenced – based on the voluntary initiative – its general reconstruction.

The area of Calvary is freely available all year round. At the time of opening hours it is possible to visit the exposure with a small shop in Information centre Calvary in the street "Pod Kalváriou" (80 m from the first chapel). In case of good weather the exposure in lower church is open, too. More informations you will find in Visiting hours section. Rescued originals of  panel reliefs and the sculptural exhibition introduces exposition "Calvary in asylum" (in Slovak Kalvária v exile) at the Old Castle (in Slovak Starý zámok).

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