Banská Bystrica Region

Geography

It is located in the central part of Slovakia and has an area of 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.

Population

|1970|598697 |1980|636192 |1991|659341 |2001|662121 |2011|660563 |2021|625601

It has a population of  people (31 December ). The population density in the region is {{Slovak municipality|d}} PD/km2 ({{Slovak municipality|y}}), 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.

Ethnicity

Religion

Politics

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

: Centre-right group (11) : Voice (11) : Alliance (9) : Non-affiliated (4) Governor's office, Banská Bystrica|website=|leader3_type= }}

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.{{cite news |publication-date = 2013-11-25 |access-date = 2016-02-22}} Kotleba was defeated in the Slovak regional elections of 2017 by an independent candidate, Ján Lunter.

Administrative division

The Banská Bystrica Region consists of 13 districts (okresy).

There are 514 municipalities, of which 24 are towns, where 56% of the region's population lives.

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

File:Somoskő - castle.jpg|alt=|Šomoška Castle File:Banska Bystrica SNP Square.jpg|Banská Bystrica File:Banska Bystrica farsky kostol 01.jpg|Banská Bystrica File:Banská Bystrica - Barbakán - Mestský hrad v Banskej Bystrici 005.jpg|Banská Bystrica Castle File:Múzeum SNP v Banskej Bystrici 2015.JPG|Museum of the Slovak National Uprising, Banská Bystrica File:Zvolen hrad.jpg|Zvolen Castle File:Hronsek - Vodný hrad - 01.jpg|Hronsek Castle File:Hronsek - Drevený artikulárny kostol - 01.jpg|Hronsek wooden articular church (UNESCO World Heritage Site) File:Kremnica v zime.jpg|Kremnica File:Kremnica - Štefánikovo námestie (1).jpg|Kremnica File:Mincovňa.JPG|Kremnica mint File:Hronsky benadik.jpg|Hronský Beňadik monastery File:Banská Štiavnica zhora.jpg|Banská Štiavnica (UNESCO World Heritage site) File:Banská Štiavnica, 2018 (50).jpg|Banská Štiavnica File:Nový zámok - panoramio (1).jpg|New Castle, Banská Štiavnica File:Banska stiavnica kalvaria.jpg|Banská Štiavnica calvary File:Svaty anton1.JPG|Svätý Anton manor house File:Lučenec - synagóga (2016) A.jpg|Lučenec Synagogue File:Fiľakovo, hrad.jpg|Fiľakovo Castle File:Rimavské Janovce - Kostol sv. Jána Krstiteľa.jpg|Medieval church in Rimavské Janovce File:KostolKraskovoBrana.jpg|Medieval church in Kraskovo File:Kyjatice6.jpg|Medieval church in Kyjatice File:Vultus Trifrons Rákoš.jpg|Medieval church in Rákoš File:PrednáHora2.jpg|Predná Hora mansion File:Telgárt 17 Slovakia23.jpg|Railway viaduct in Telgárt File:Špania Dolina kostol 14.jpg|Špania Dolina File:Bystra Cave 5.jpg|Bystrianska Cave File:Kráľova hoľa 2NT5.jpg|Low Tatras National Park File:Muránska planina, Skalná brána, pohled SZ.jpg|Muránska Planina National Park File:Velka Fatra, Krizna.jpg|Greater Fatra National Park File:SF-IMG 0319-stoneWaterfall.jpg|Cerová vrchovina Protected Landscape Area - Stone waterfall File:Stiavnicke vrchy3.jpg|Štiavnické vrchy Protected Landscape Area File:Obec Strelníky leží na úpätí Poľany.JPG|Poľana Protected Landscape Area

References

• {{Cite book |display-authors=etal}}

References

1. [http://stats.oecd.org/ Regions and Cities > Regional Statistics > Regional Economy > Regional GDP per Capita], OECD.Stats. Accessed on 16 November 2018.
2. "Statistical lexikon of municipalities 1970-2011".
3. (2021-01-01). "Census 2021 - Population - Basic results". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.
4. [[Christian Democratic Movement. KDH]], [[Freedom and Solidarity. SaS]], [[Independent politician. Independents]]
5. "UPDATED: Five remaining regional leaders elected; extremist wins in Banská Bystrica". Slovakspectator.
6. "Far-right leader Kotleba wins in Banská Bystrica". Slovakspectator.
7. "Slovak neo-Nazi leader defeated in regional election". [[The Washington Post]].