BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA is one of the most beautiful and interesting towns in Slovakia. In December 1993 it was inscribed on the List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage of UNESCO. The inscription includes the town's historical centre plus the technological monuments in its surroundings. The centre of the town contains 360 artistic and historical sights. Archeological fmdings from the Glanzenberg hill testify to the fact that primitive mining had been developing as soon as in the Celtic times in the area of today's Banská Štiavnica. The glorious history of Banská Štiavnica started with the year 1238 when it was bestowed the privileges of a royal town. From the very beginning the town had been closely connected with mining and even its coat-of-arms, depicting silver fortifications and golden mining tools, testifies to this fact. From the 13^th to the 18th century the Banská Štiavnica ore-fíeld was among the richest in Európe - producing both silver and gold. In the 13th century, Germán settlers invited by the sovereign arrived to Banská Štiavnica, most of tnem miners from the Lower Germán and Austrian regions. Even then, the two late Romanesque basilicas, not more than 500 m from each other, had already stood in the town, therefore Banská Štiavnica mušt háve been quite prosperous. However, this happy era of prosperity was soon to be shaken by power struggles fór the Hungarian throne and, this time literally, by a large earthquake (1442 -1443). Luckily, ihc town's reál significance and wealth continued to flourish. At the turn of the 15* and 16^Ú' centuries rich burghers and mining lords invested their money into luxurious residences. This fact was to shape the face of the town decisively. After the Hungarian army lost the battle at Moháč (1526), the town, apprehensive because of possible Turkish raids, was fortified. Toward the end of the 16*¹ century Banská Štiavnica became the seat of the Mining Chamber and the Chief Office of the Chamber Lord, an institution which administered mines in the whole area of Central Slovakia. In 1627 gunpowder was used fór the first time in the world in local mines. In the 18* century Banská Štiavnica had its heyday. Silver and gold ore proceeds were highest in 1740 (600 kg of gold, 23 000 kg of silver). The town also experienced a boom of culture and property development. In the 18* century it boasted of the third largest population in the Hungarian Empíre. In 1762 the Mining Academy was founded here. It was the first technical college in the world and it brought Banská Štiavnica the status of the centre of mining science and technology development in Európe. The first academic paper was read here on October I^a, 1764. Many European and world primacies in the science and technology realms áre connected with the names of its proféssors. Later the Mining Academy merged with the Forestry Inštitúte, forming the Mining and Forestry Academy in Banská Štiavnica. Thanks to its students the most unique tradition of Banská Štiavnica has been preserved until present days - the Salamander pageant. This annual allegorical paráde with historical costumes evokes nostalgia and entertains boťh locals and visitors each September. In the mid-19^lh century a unique mining hydro-system was finished in the surroundings of Banská Štiavnica, consisting of 60 reservoirs. These lakes áre now very popular among holiday-makers. Surrounded by the hilly landscape and picturesque scenery of the Štiavnické vrchy mountains they provide a wonderful resort. The Štiavnické vrchy mountains offer a network of walking routes leading through areas full of historical remnants (mining tunnels and surface mining areas) but, first of all, with marvellous flóra and fauna.