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Coordinates: 48°43′57″N 19°08′57″E? / ?48.73250°N 19.14917°E? / 48.73250; 19.14917

Banska Bystrica
City
Banska Bystrica's main square

FlagCoat of arms

Name origin: "mining creek"

CountrySlovakia

RiverHron

Elevation362 m (1,188 ft)
Coordinates48°43′57″N 19°08′57″E? / ?48.73250°N 19.14917°E? / 48.73250; 19.14917

Area103.37 km2 (39.91 sq mi)

Population78 327 (2011-12-31)
Density775 / km2 (2,007 / sq mi)

First mentioned1255
MayorPeter Gogola (Independent)

TimezoneCET (UTC+1)
 - summer (DST)CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code97401
Area code+421-48
Car plateBB

Location of Banska Bystrica within Slovakia
Location of Banska Bystrica in a more detailed map of the Banska Bystrica Region
Wikimedia Commons: Banska Bystrica
Statistics: ⇒MO?/MIS
Website: ⇒eng.banskabystrica.sk

Banska Bystrica ( Slovak pronunciation (help・info); German: Neusohl; Hungarian: Besztercebanya) is a city in central Slovakia located on the Hron River in a long and wide valley encircled by the mountain chains of the Low Tatras, the Ve?ka Fatra, and the Kremnica Mountains. With 78 327 inhabitants, Banska Bystrica is the sixth most populous municipality in Slovakia.[1][2] The present town was founded by German settlers,[3] however it was built upon a former Slavic settlement. It obtained the municipal privileges of a free royal town of the Kingdom of Hungary in 1255. The copper mining town acquired its present picturesque look in the Late Middle Ages when the prosperous burghers built its central churches, mansions, and fortifications. It is the capital of the kraj (Banska Bystrica Region) and the okres (Banska Bystrica District). It is also the home of Matej Bel University. As a historical city with an easy access to the surrounding mountains, Banska Bystrica is a popular winter and summer tourist destination.
Contents

1 Etymology

2 History

3 Geography

3.1 Climate


4 Demographics

5 Economy

6 Places of interest

6.1 City Castle


7 Culture

7.1 Theaters

7.2 Museums

7.3 Literature

7.4 Folklore

7.5 Sport


8 Government

9 Education

10 Transportation

11 International relations

11.1 Twin towns ? Sister cities


12 See also

13 Gallery

14 References

15 Further reading

16 External links


Etymology

The Slovak name "Banska Bystrica" includes two distinct roots:

the adjective Banska from Slovak "ba?a" ? "mine". The etymology of the word "ba?a itself is extensively discused in [4]

the name of the local river "Bystrica" (from Slavic "bystrica" ? "swift stream).[5]

The name of the town in Hungarian: "Besztercebanya" also comes from the "Beszterce" stream (from the Slavic name of the stream, "Bystrica" ), and the suffic "banya is connected to the mines of the town.[6]

The river lent its name to the town as early as 1255 when the Latin name Villa Nova Bystrice (meaning "New Town of Bystrica) was recorded[7] in the document in which King Bela IV of Hungary granted the town royal privileges.[8][9]