3rd stage : Skalka-Kremnica; 16,75 km / 5:30 hr

Kremnické Bane-the symbolic geographical center of Europe

Kremnické Bane is a small village on the boundary line between Pohronie and Turiec, north of the mountains Kremnické vrchy, at an elevation of 700 to 800 m. That German settlement is first mentioned in writing in 1361 under the name “Villa Johannis” when it was the property of Kremnica. Kremnické Bane was then named Johannesberg, and later renamed Piargy. Its first inhabitants were German settlers (in the 14th century) who began digging for gold in the mountains Kremnické vrchy. The village belonged to the “Gold Mint of the city of Kremnica.” The village also had a school known for learning how to make lace, mainly for bobbin lace, and all its women were known to produce lace. So it was a mining settlement with a tradition of producing lace. After the war, that activity ceased to exist. Most residents had been of German nationality but, with the Presidential Decree of Edvard Beneš at the end of the Second World War, many were expelled to Germany. The Turček hydraulic system is a protected mining monument, built at the turn of the 16th century. It captured waters from the Turiec basin and transported them through Kremnické Bane to the Hron basin. For centuries, this unique system was bringing water to drive mining machinery used to process ore in grinder mills and smelters. The Kremnické Bane cadastral area contains the symbolic geographical center of Europe, located in the gothic church of Saint John the Baptist. That church was built in the 14th century by five neighboring villages. With its mountainous surroundings and thick forests all around, the village is perfect for active recreation in nature, hiking, and cycling.

Subsidence Šturc

The Šturc mine subsidence was created in 1443 when mining works caved in during an earthquake centered near Žilina. It is 700 m long, up to 250 m wide and 170 m deep. According to the legend, that earthquake was God’s punishment for people who dared work in the mine, searching for gold, during the third largest Christian celebration (Pentecost). Miners even got a final warning from “permonik“ (a demonic guardian and protector of minerals and treasures) who repeated this sentence three times in German: “Schicht aus, alles heraus”, meaning: “Shift’s over, everybody out!”. Those who obeyed survived, but most of them, entwined in Mammon (i.e., searching for unrighteous riches) were buried alive. In their honor, a memorial ceremony is held every year, on the day of Pentecost, at the monument of the Unknown Miner in Turiec.

The Mint of Kremnica

The Mint of Kremnica (Mincovňa Kremnica) was established in 1328, and for nearly seven centuries it has continuously been producing mint articles that rank, in many terms, among the world’s top products. The seven centuries long experience in minting creates capacity to produce a wide variety of extraordinarily high-quality products, and thus satisfy hundreds of customers every year.
Kremnica Mint is one of only few mints whose production focus extends beyond coins and medals. Our high-standard technological plant, combined with the talents of our people, make us capable of manufacturing high-quality plaques, tokens, badges, pendants, tie pins, stamps, labels, awards, Mayor’s chains, orders and many other articles.

Kremnica town

Kremnica was one of those medieval cities which stood at the center of attention of its rulers, at the time of its fame. Rich gold mines had spurred its ruler’s interest. It is believed that gold and silver, in Kremnica and its surroundings, have been mined since the 10th century. King Charles Robert gave his approval for mining to be increased. Arriving from far and wide, miners brought to Kremnica new knowledge and technologies of extraction which spurred the development of mining. Gold production was growing and gold became a major metal, not only for the king but especially for the town. [The mining galleries located around Kremnica and Kremnické Bane were for drainage as well as for extraction.]
Prosperity lasted until the mid-15th century. It then declined due to a shortage of good-quality ore near the surface. That meant searching more deeply for ore. Administratively regulated gold prices, inflation, rising costs of extraction and processing, and especially the declining yield, caused economic problems. All these factors gradually led to fluctuations in the prosperity of the mines, and finally, to a complete shutdown in 1970. Renewed efforts to mine the Šturec gold-silver surface ore were successful between 1986 and 1992. Additional geological surveys confirmed that about 40 tons of gold and 300 tons of silver remain in that area.