Pohronské museum in Nová Baňa

The building of the museum is originally a four-story Gothic structure of a fortress character, built sometime after the year 1353. In the first half of the 18th century, it was rebuilt after a fire, during which the third floor was removed and a prism-shaped tower was added, which has a Baroque dome. One of the three bells in the tower dates back to the 18th century.

On the ground floor in the eastern wing, a Gothic ribbed vault has been preserved, and on the upper floors and the northern facade, there are Gothic and Renaissance details. In the assembly hall, Baroque wall paintings featuring portraits of Hungarian monarchs have been preserved. From the spaces beneath the building, vaulted with barrel vaults, underground passages (urban catacombs) emerge. 

There are numerous speculations about the original purpose of the building, as well as legends passed down through oral tradition. However, it seems most likely that the building was constructed as a royal house in accordance with the decree of Charles Robert from 1335, which mandated that such royal houses (domus regiae) should be built in all mining towns, where miners were to hand over precious metals.

The complex heritage restoration from 1965 to 1972 was ensured by the Slovak Institute of Monument Care and Nature Protection in Bratislava, Banská Bystrica center. The building is listed in the register of cultural monuments.

The Pohronské Museum offers visitors many interesting exhibitions, such as Potter's 'fire' machine, the History of the City exhibition, the Council Hall, Novobanské Reflections, Glassmaking, Bourgeois Interior, Historical Clocks, Naive Wood Carving, Volcanological Exhibition, Artistic-Historical Exhibition, and Ethnographic Exhibition.In addition, you can also take an unconventional guided tour called Brotherhood of Dragon Fire, which combines the history of Nová Baňa with mystification!

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