The Banská Bystrica Region (, ; , ) is one of the
eight regions of
Slovakia
Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...
. It is the largest of the eight regions by area, and has a lower population density than any other region. The Banská Bystrica Region was established in 1923; its borders were last adjusted in 1996. Banská Bystrica consists of 514 municipalities, 24 of which have town status. Its administrative center is the
eponymous town of
Banská Bystrica, which is also the region's largest town. Other important towns are
Zvolen and
Lučenec.
Geography
It is located in the central part of Slovakia and has an area of 9,455 km
2. The region is prevailingly mountainous, with several ranges within the area. The highest of them are the
Low Tatras in the north, where the highest point,
Ďumbier, is located. Some of the mountain ranges in the west include
Kremnica Mountains,
Vtáčnik and
Štiavnica Mountains. The
Javorie and
Krupina Plain ranges are located in the centre. The
Slovak Ore Mountains are running from the central areas to the east, along with its subdivisions (e.g.
Poľana,
Veporské vrchy,
Muránska planina and
Spiš-Gemer Karst). Lower lying areas are located in the south, represented by the
Southern Slovak Basin, running along the borders with
Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
. Major rivers are the
Hron in the northern half,
Ipeľ
The Ipeľ (Slovak language, Slovak; ) or Ipoly (Hungarian language, Hungarian) (German language, German: ''Eipel'', archaic Slovak: ''Jupoľ'', Latin language, Latin: ''Bolia'') is a long river in Slovakia and Hungary, a tributary of the Danube ...
in the south and centre,
Rimava and for short length
Slaná in the east. As for administrative division, the region borders
Žilina Region in the north,
Prešov Region in the north-east,
Košice Region in the east, Hungarian
Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county in the south-east,
Nógrád county in the south and
Pest county in the south-west,
Nitra Region in the west and
Trenčín Region in the north-west.
Demographics
The population density in the region is (2020-06-30/-07-01), which is the lowest of all Slovak regions and much lower than the country's average (110 per km
2). The largest towns are
Banská Bystrica,
Zvolen,
Lučenec and
Rimavská Sobota. According to the 2014 census, there were 655,359 inhabitants in the region, with a majority of
Slovaks (83.7%), but there is a substantial
Hungarian minority (11.8%) along the border with
Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
, as well as smaller minorities of
Roma (2.3%) and
Czechs (<1%).
POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS 2001 - Tab. 3a
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Politics
The governor of Banská Bystrica region is Ondrej Lunter (Independent). He won with 48.5 %. In election 2022 was elected also regional parliament:
Administrative division
The Banská Bystrica Region consists of 13 districts (okresy).
There are 514 municipalities, of which 24 are towns, where the 56% of the region's population live.
Places of interest
* Banská Bystrica with Banská Bystrica Castle, Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral, Museum of the Slovak National Uprising, etc.
* Hronsek with its castles, articular church and belfry ( UNESCO World Heritage Site)
* Zvolen Castle
* Kremnica with Saint Catherine Church, Kremnica Mint, etc.
* Hronský Beňadik Monastery
* Banská Štiavnica ( UNESCO World Heritage Site)
* Svätý Anton manor house
* Modrý Kameň Castle
* Lučenec Synagogue
* Gemer churches with the medieval wall paintings: Medieval churches in Rákoš, Chyžné, Kameňany, Rimavské Brezovo, Rimavská Baňa, Rimavské Janovce, Kyjatice, Kraskovo, etc.
* Predná Hora mansion
* Telgárt viaduct
* Špania Dolina - a town with a mining tradition
* Low Tatras National Park
* Muránska Planina National Park
* Greater Fatra National Park
* Cerová vrchovina Protected Landscape Area
* Poľana Protected Landscape Area
* Štiavnické vrchy Protected Landscape Area
Photo gallery
File:Somoskő - castle.jpg, alt=, Šomoška Castle
File:Banska Bystrica SNP Square.jpg, Banská Bystrica
File:Banska Bystrica farsky kostol 01.jpg, Banská Bystrica
File:Banská Bystrica - Barbakán - Mestský hrad v Banskej Bystrici 005.jpg, Banská Bystrica Castle
File:Múzeum SNP v Banskej Bystrici 2015.JPG, Museum of the Slovak National Uprising, Banská Bystrica
File:Zvolen hrad.jpg, Zvolen Castle
File:Hronsek - Vodný hrad - 01.jpg, Hronsek Castle
File:Hronsek - Drevený artikulárny kostol - 01.jpg, Hronsek wooden articular church ( UNESCO World Heritage Site)
File:Kremnica v zime.jpg, Kremnica
File:Kremnica - Štefánikovo námestie (1).jpg, Kremnica
File:Mincovňa.JPG, Kremnica mint
File:Hronsky benadik.jpg, Hronský Beňadik monastery
File:Banská Štiavnica zhora.jpg, Banská Štiavnica ( UNESCO World Heritage site)
File:Banská Štiavnica, 2018 (50).jpg, Banská Štiavnica
File:Nový zámok - panoramio (1).jpg, New Castle, Banská Štiavnica
File:Banska stiavnica kalvaria.jpg, Banská Štiavnica calvary
File:Svaty anton1.JPG, Svätý Anton manor house
File:Lučenec - synagóga (2016) A.jpg, Lučenec Synagogue
File:Fiľakovo, hrad.jpg, Fiľakovo Castle
File:Rimavské Janovce - Kostol sv. Jána Krstiteľa.jpg, Medieval church in Rimavské Janovce
File:KostolKraskovoBrana.jpg, Medieval church in Kraskovo
File:Kyjatice6.jpg, Medieval church in Kyjatice
File:Vultus Trifrons Rákoš.jpg, Medieval church in Rákoš
File:PrednáHora2.jpg, Predná Hora mansion
File:Railway viaduct - Telgárt - panoramio.jpg, Railway viaduct in Telgárt
File:Špania Dolina kostol 14.jpg, Špania Dolina
File:Bystra Cave 5.jpg, Bystrianska Cave
File:Kráľova hoľa 2NT5.jpg, Low Tatras National Park
File:Muránska planina, Skalná brána, pohled SZ.jpg, Muránska Planina National Park
File:Velka Fatra, Krizna.jpg, Greater Fatra National Park
File:SF-IMG 0319-stoneWaterfall.jpg, Cerová vrchovina Protected Landscape Area - Stone waterfall
File:Stiavnicke vrchy3.jpg, Štiavnické vrchy Protected Landscape Area
File:Obec Strelníky leží na úpätí Poľany.JPG, Poľana Protected Landscape Area
See also
* Former Zólyom County of the Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from 1000 to 1946 and was a key part of the Habsburg monarchy from 1526-1918. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the Coro ...
References
*
External links
Banskobystrický samosprávny kraj
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banska Bystrica Region
Regions of Slovakia