Banská Štiavnica - Old Castle (Starý Zámok)

View of Banska Stiavnica from the Old Castle

The Watch Tower

Old Castle

The Old Castle is one of the enduring features of the former royal town. It came into being following the Renaissance reconstruction of the original 13th-century Romanesque Church of the Virgin Mary and its integration into the town fortification system during the 16th century.  This reconstruction into an anti-Turk fortress turned the main nave of the former church into a castle courtyard.  The perimeter walls were reinforced and on all four corners characteristic watchtowers were added.  From the castle, there are attractive views of the town and the surrounding hills.

Banská Štiavnica

Trinity Square

A preserved medieval town, once prosperous through the mining of gold and silver, Banská Štiavnica has been proclaimed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.  The cobbled streets, elegant squares, the castles, all bear testament to its rich cultural heritage.  On a crisp autumn day during the low season, Banska was a sleepy town, perhaps a touch too quiet for a city girl like me.

Vienna - Modes of Transport

Horse drawn carriages awaiting customers

Walking the basket

B-Day

Bridging the distance

Vienna - Franz Liszt

This year being the 200th anniversary of Franz Liszt's birth, the Kirche, Prälatensaal hosted a piano recital with Gert Hecher at the piano and Christoph Wellner doing the recitation.  Here, the padre gave an introduction.

Vienna - Signs of Autumn

Vienna welcomes a new season with a range of displays centred on the small marrows, which seem to symbolise autumn and the harvesting season.

Bratislava Series - Room at the Top

Two days ago, I moved up to the top floor of the hotel, to what is best described as a roomy apartment, with a balcony running the length of the room.  The view of Bratislava to the north, on an early autumn morning, is reassuringly familiar.

Slovak National Theatre

Skyline to the north of the city

The road leading to the commercial centre