SNP Square (Banská Bystrica)

Banská Bystrica (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈbanskaː ˈbistritsa] , also known by other alternative names) is a city in central Slovakia, located on the Hron River in a long and wide valley encircled by the mountain chains of the Low Tatras, the Veľká Fatra, and the Kremnica Mountains. With approximately 76,000 inhabitants, Banská Bystrica is the sixth most populous municipality in Slovakia. The present-day town was founded by German settlers, invited by the Hungarian Árpád-kings, during the Middle Ages (as part of the Ostsiedlung), however it was built upon a former Slavic/Slovakian/Avar settlement. A part of Zolyom county after the Hungarian conquest. During the reign of Béla IV of Hungary it obtained the municipal privileges of a free royal town of the Kingdom of Hungary in 1255 and resettled with Germans from Thüringen. 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 (more specifically Banská Bystrica Region) and the okres (Banská Bystrica District). It is also the home of Matej Bel University. As a historical town with an easy access to the surrounding mountains, Banská Bystrica is a popular winter and summer tourist destination.

The Diocese of Banská Bystrica (Slovak: Banskobystrická diecéza, Latin: Dioecesis Neosoliensis) is a Latin Church diocese of th Catholic Church in central Slovakia. Its seat is in Banská Bystrica. On Tuesday 20 November 2012, according to biographical information in a press release from the Holy See Press Office's Vatican Information Service (VIS), Pope Benedict XVI appointed Auxiliary Bishop Marián Chovanec of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nitra (based in Nitra, Slovakia), Titular Bishop of Massita, as Bishop-elect of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Banská Bystrica. Bishop Chovanec was born on 16 September 1957 in Trenčin, Slovakia, a part of the Diocese of Nitra. He was expelled from the Seminary in Bratislava, Slovakia, because he had refused to cooperate with the Government-backed Association "Pacem in Terris" (Peace on Earth). He then worked as a laborer. After seven years, he was able to conclude his theological studies and be ordained a priest in 1989; he became an Auxiliary Bishop of Nitra in 1999 and Vicar General in 2003 and is active in the Slovak Bishops' Conference.

The Francis Xavier Cathedral, Banská Bystrica (Slovak: Katedrála svätého Františka Xaverského, usually called Kapitulský kostol meaning "Chapter Church") is a cathedral at Slovak National Uprising Square in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. There was a first mention of a gothic chapel at this spot in the so-called Königsberger's testament from 1503. It was the only place of Roman Catholic worship during the 16th century, when Banská Bystrica was in the hands of the Protestants. In 1647 a few Jesuits settled here and started the Catholic reform of the town and its neighbourhood. During the years 1695–1701 they built their own college on the Königberger's site. They started the building of the church in 1702 as a copy of the Church of the Gesu in Rome.The construction came to a halt when in 1703 when the town was occupied by the anti-Habsburg troops of Francis II Rákóczi. The building resumed in 1709 and on 24 September 1715 the church of St. Francis Xavier was consecrated. At that time, the church was a baroque building with a single nave and six chapels. The façade lacked a tower. In 1773 the Jesuits had to leave the church when in July 1773 the Order was suppressed by Pope Clement XIV. The cathedral has been the seat of the Diocese of Banská Bystrica since 1776.The two onion-shaped towers were added in 1844 during an extensive rebuilding. The nave of the church and the side galleries were lengthened and a consistory was added to the church. Another modification was performed in 1880. The towers were rearranged and a romantic balustrade was added. In the 1970s the interior was refurbished and, together with the façade, was painted. The exterior was renovated in 1999. In 2003 a new pipe organ was installed.

Matej Bel University (commonly referred as Matej Bel or UMB), (Slovak: Univerzita Mateja Bela) is a public research university in the central Slovak town of Banská Bystrica. The university was established in 1992. It bears the name of Matthias Bel, a Hungarian-Slovak Lutheran scholar of the 18th century. UMB comprises six faculties that differ in character and history, each retaining substantial autonomy on financial and institutional affairs. The university provides undergraduate and graduate instruction in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Throughout its existence, UMB alumni, faculty, and staff have included one prime minister of Slovakia; four justices of the Constitutional Court of Slovakia, two of whom currently serve; numerous Fulbright Scholars; and multiple senior EU and Slovak officials. Additionally, students and alumni have won 4 Olympic medals (2 gold).

The Faculty of Political Science and International Relations at Matej Bel University (commonly referred as FPVMV), (Slovak: Fakulta politických vied a medzinárodných vzťahov Univerzity Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici) is the international relations school of Matej Bel University. FPVMV offers bachelor's degrees in International Relations and Political Science and, master's degrees in International relations, Security studies, and Political science and also grants doctoral degrees in International Relations, and Political Science. It conducts research in subjects relating to international affairs, security and government. The faculty is recognized as one of the leading international relations teaching and research institutes in Central Europe.FPVMV is noted for having an active student body, various organisations founded by students during their studies at FPVMV went on to become major national and international non-governmental organisations active in the field of international relations and security studies. Since 2009 the faculty headquarters the National Center of Excellence for International Security Studies funded through the RD Program of the EU. FPVMV's alumni and faculty have included multiple ambassadors, diplomats, politicians, and public figures.

Banská Bystrica mesto railway station (Slovak: Železničná stanica Banská Bystrica mesto) serves the city of Banská Bystrica in central Slovakia.

Zólyom county (in Latin: comitatus Zoliensis, in Hungarian Zólyom (vár)megye, in Slovak Zvolenský komitát/ Zvolenská stolica/ Zvolenská župa, in German Sohler Gespanschaft/Komitat Sohl) was an administrative county (comitatus) of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is now in central Slovakia.

Banská Bystrica District (Slovak: okres Banská Bystrica, Hungarian: Besztercebányai járás) is a district in the Banská Bystrica Region of central Slovakia. Until 1918, the area belonged to the county of Zvolen within the Kingdom of Hungary.

Tipsport Arena is an indoor ice hockey arena in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. The arena, opened in 1956, seats 3,016 people, and is home to HC 05 Banska Bystrica.

Urpín is a mountain in the city of Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. It is situated on the left bank of the Hron river, above the old town. Despite its low elevation of 510 m AMSL (1,673 ft), Urpín dominates the cityscape due to its proximity to the city center. The mountain offers a panoramic view of the Hron basin from the easternmost outskirts of Banská Bystrica to the town of Zvolen, as well as of the surrounding mountain ranges of the Low Tatras and the Veľká Fatra. It is accessible by several hiking trails from the center of Banská Bystrica. Historical monuments located on Urpín chart the turbulent history of the city built underneath this mountain. However, in defiance of its urban environs, the largely forested mountain is characterized by the surprisingly diverse fauna and flora.

The Národný atletický štadión (National athletics stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. It is currently used mostly for athletics and football matches and the home ground of MFK Dukla Banská Bystrica. The stadium has a seating capacity of 7,030.

Banská Bystrica railway station (Slovak: Železničná stanica Banská Bystrica) serves the city and municipality of Banská Bystrica, seat of the Banská Bystrica Region, central Slovakia. Opened in 1873, the station is a junction between the Vrútky–Zvolen railway and the Banská Bystrica–Červená Skala railway. The station is currently owned by Železnice Slovenskej republiky (ŽSR); train services are operated by Železničná spoločnosť Slovensko (ZSSK). Banská Bystrica railway station is situated at the southern end of 29. Augusta, on the edge of the city centre.