Banská Bystrica Region

The Banská Bystrica Region (Slovak: Banskobystrický kraj, pronounced [ˈbanskɔbistritskiː ˈkraj]; Hungarian: Besztercebányai kerület, pronounced [ˈbɛstɛrt͡sɛbaːɲɒi ˈkɛrylɛt]) is one of the eight regions of Slovakia. 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.

Banská Bystrica Region Banskobystrický kraj
Region
From the top to bottom-left; Low Tatras, Banská Bystrica, Špania Dolina, Hronsek, Svätý Anton Manor House, Banská Štiavnica, Telgárt viaduct, Poľana mountain over Detva
Flag Coat of arms
Banská Bystrica Region
Country	Slovakia
Capital	Banská Bystrica
Government
• Body	County Council of Banská Bystrica Region
• Governor	Ondrej Lunter (Independent)
Area
• Total	9,454 km2 (3,650 sq mi)
Highest elevation	2,046 m (6,713 ft)
Lowest elevation	135 m (443 ft)
Population  (2024)
• Total	614,356
• Density	65/km2 (170/sq mi)
GDP [1]
• Total	€7.121 billion (2016)
• Per capita	€10,917 (2016)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	SK-BC
Website	www.vucbb.sk

Geography

It is located in the central part of Slovakia and has an area of 9,455 km². 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. Major rivers are the Hron in the northern half, Ipeľ 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

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1970	598,697	—
1980	636,192	+6.3%
1991	659,341	+3.6%
2001	662,121	+0.4%
2011	660,563	−0.2%
2021	625,601	−5.3%
Source: Censuses[2][3]

The population density in the region is 68.14/km² (176.5/sq mi) (2020-06-30/-07-01),^[4] which is the lowest of all Slovak regions and much lower than the country's average (110 per km²). 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, as well as smaller minorities of Roma (2.3%) and Czechs (<1%).^[5]

Politics

The governor of Banská Bystrica region is Ondrej Lunter (Independent). He won with 48.5 %. In election 2022 was elected also regional parliament:

County Council of Banská Bystrica region
Type
Type	Unicameral
Houses	County Council
Leadership
Governor	Ondrej Lunter, Independent
Structure
Seats	49
Political groups	Independent group (14)   Centre-right group (11)[6]   Voice (11)   Alliance (9)   Non-affiliated (4)
Elections
Last election	29 October 2022
Meeting place
Governor's office, Banská Bystrica
Website
Council of Banská Bystrica region

In 2013, Marian Kotleba of the Far Right People's Party Our Slovakia won the election of Governor of Banská Bystrica Region. Kotleba's win was described as a "shock" by political analysts, who attributed it to deep anti-Romani sentiments in the region.^[7][8][9] Kotleba was defeated in the Slovak regional elections of 2017 by an independent candidate, Ján Lunter.^[10]

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

• 
  Šomoška Castle
• 
  Banská Bystrica
• 
  Banská Bystrica
• 
  Banská Bystrica Castle
• 
  Museum of the Slovak National Uprising, Banská Bystrica
• 
  Zvolen Castle
• 
  Hronsek Castle
• 
  Hronsek wooden articular church (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• 
  Kremnica
• 
  Kremnica
• 
  Kremnica mint
• 
  Hronský Beňadik monastery
• 
  Banská Štiavnica (UNESCO World Heritage site)
• 
  Banská Štiavnica
• 
  New Castle, Banská Štiavnica
• 
  Banská Štiavnica calvary
• 
  Svätý Anton manor house
• 
  Lučenec Synagogue
• 
  Fiľakovo Castle
• 
  Medieval church in Rimavské Janovce
• 
  Medieval church in Kraskovo
• 
  Medieval church in Kyjatice
• 
  Medieval church in Rákoš
• 
  Predná Hora mansion
• 
  Railway viaduct in Telgárt
• 
  Špania Dolina
• 
  Bystrianska Cave
• 
  Low Tatras National Park
• 
  Muránska Planina National Park
• 
  Greater Fatra National Park
• 
  Cerová vrchovina Protected Landscape Area - Stone waterfall
• 
  Štiavnické vrchy Protected Landscape Area
• 
  Poľana Protected Landscape Area

See also

• Former Zólyom County of the Kingdom of Hungary