The GOLDEN town – KREMNICA
GOLDEN town – Kremnica. We were LIVE with our “15 minutes Thursday tour”, now, get more details.
Kremnica, located in Central Slovakia, only 5 kilometers from the geographical center of Europe is one of the oldest cities in Slovakia with a rich mining history, especially mining of gold and minting of coins and medals.
If you like the historical towns, then this is the place worth to stop and enjoy the well-preserved sights and possibly do some easy hiking tour in the area.
Enjoy reading!
As we visited Kremnica town during the difficult times (April 2020, with lots of restrictions due to COVID19), all shops, museums, restaurants and café’s were closed. Therefore, we only could spend some time outside with a walk up to the viewpoint of Krahulsky stit.
SUNNY DAY IN KREMNICA – VIEW OF THE CENTRE FROM A DRONE
Kremnica, thanks to mining and minting became rich and famous. It all started when a Hungarian king Charles Robert from Anjou dynasty in the year 1328 granted privileges to the settlement called Cremnychbana, later Kremnica. It became a free royal mining and minting town. The king also established a mint factory.
During the 14th century, the largest production of gold in Hungary (Current-day Slovakia belonged to Hungary from the year 1000 when the first Hungarian king Stephen I was elected up to 1918 when the Austria-Hungarian empire ended and a Czechoslovakia was created).
As the main square is the highlight, I started our discovery here. Walking through the only preserved entrance gate (Lower gate / Dolná brána. Originally, this town had 3 entrance gates, the Small, the Lower and the Upper Gate) I reached the main square – Stefanik square (named after M.R. Stefanik, one of the founding fathers of Czechoslovakia)
The dominant of the square is the baroque Plague pillar with the Holy Trinity on the top and many statues of patrons saints of the black plague, miners, and angels. (Plague pillars you can find around Slovakia and neighboring countries, they were built after the epidemic of the Black Plague disappeared).
In the north-east direction – there is another highlight – the Town’s castle with St. Catherine church.
TOWN’S CASTLE SURROUNDED BY CITY WALLS AND BASTIONS
The Town’s castle, the national cultural monument is a dominant complex of 14-15 centuries protected by defensive walls. The dominant building of the castle area is the church of St. Catherine, clock tower, 3 bastions, and north tower gate.
St. Catherine church – Roman-catholic, late gothic church from the 15th century. However, the interior of this church is younger – neogothic (19th century).
The pride of this church is the organ, visitors can enjoy the exceptional acoustic on the most significant event which takes place every year during the summer months – The European Organ Festival “Kremnica Castle Organ”. Program, prices and more info here
Mint factory / Mincovňa, with 700 years of operation, it is the world oldest continuously working mint factory. Kremnické dukáty – so-called Kremnicke floreny belonged to the most precious coins in Europe. I recommend to take a tour through the mint, see the 100-year-old machines. Opening hours and prices, here
TOWN’S HALL-A LOVELY LITTLE HOUSE ON THE MAIN SQUARE
Interesting museums:
Museum of coins and medals, info about opening hours and entrance fees – here
Mining museum – Adit Andrej
Become a miner for a while. Visit Adit Andrej, it takes visitors for an interesting journey through the town’s mining history. It is only possible with a local guide who gives you the safety instructions and equipment. The part open for visitors is 660 meters long and it takes roughly 60 minutes. Opening hours and entrance fee, here
VIEWS FROM KRAHULE VIEWPOINT
Tip to get great views of the town – walking up to Krahulsky stit Unforgettable views of the old Kremnica (views of town’s castle complex, city walls, St. Catherine church) and Kremnica hills, Stiavnicke hills, and Vtacnik peak. Walking takes 1:30 min, starting from the square. The 13m tall wooden tower lies in 959mASL.
SNOW ON THE MAIN SQUARE – AFTER “BIG AIR IN THE TOWN EVENT”
“Big Air in the city” is a snowboard and Freeski show, a special thrilling event that takes place every winter in Kremnica, directly in the center. Details here
Looking for some more challenging summer adventure?
Visit Skalka area – The Via Ferrata is one-way with 3 levels of difficulty, Komin (Chimney), Trubacova veza (Trubac’s tower), and Výzva (Challenge) – the most difficult via ferrata in Slovakia.
Try the Via Ferrata Bridge in Skalka, the longest cable bridge and cable climbing in Slovakia. Opening hours, entrance fee and more info, here
SUNSET AT GEOGRAPHICAL (SLOVAK) CENTRE OF EUROPE 
(Slovak) The geographical center of EUROPE. In a beautiful place near Kremnica is located an ancient church of St. John the Baptist and in front of it a stone with information that there is the Geographical center of Europe.
As I have mentioned earlier – Slovak – it is because there are several other “centers of Europe”, Germany, Latvia, Poland, and some other countries have their own centers of Europe:)
It is also here a foundation stone of the Slovak state, laid here on the occasion of the establishment of the Slovak Republic.
Other events
European festival of Humour and Satire, a unique international event called Kremnicke gagy which takes place every year at the end of the summer.
Where to have tasty Slovak specialties?
Restaurant Silvanus is the best choice. Located in a historical main square offers home-made meals and game specialties.
Address: Poľovnícka reštaurácia Silvanus, Štefánikovo nám 33/40, 967 01 Kremnica, Mobile: 00421 905821405
THANKS for reading my travel blog. I do believe it was useful, interesting, and motivational for you.
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Short Video of Kremnica on our YouTube channel.
WHERE DO WE GO NEXT?
The next adventure is Banska Bystrica city and Spania Dolina village. Hiking, drone videos, good pictures, 2 tour guides – Peter & Martin S.
WHEN WE ARE LIVE WITH OUR “15 MINUTES THURSDAY TOUR”?
On Thursday, April 30, 2020
Check out our Facebook page
At 5 pm local time (Slovakia is on GMT +2) Live Stream from the Old town
WHO’S JOINING ME THIS TIME?
Martin S, our colleague, and the top tour guide will be with me.
Meet Martin – virtually- in the Old town.
We can’t wait to show you BANSKA BYSTRICA – COPPER TOWN
Write us on contact@bestslovakiatours.com
Peter, founder & CEO of Best Slovakia Tours
