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| View of Banska Stiavnica from the Old Castle |
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| The Watch Tower |
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| 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.
