Mountains. With 78 327 inhabitants, Banska
Bystrica is the sixth most populous municipality in Slovakia. It started as a
permanent settlement in the 9th century and obtained the municipal privileges
of a Hungarian royal town 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 (Banská Bystrica Region) and the
okres (Banská Bystrica
District). It is also the home of Matej Bel University. As a historical city
with an easy access to the surrounding mountains, Banská Bystrica is a popular
winter and summer tourist destination.
