Slovakia
Calvary of Banská Štiavnica
I belong among the most beautiful baroque calvaries in Europe. I stand on the Scharffenberg hill and can be seen from all sides. I became one of the most visited places in the region. The initiator of the building was Father František Pereg from the local Jesuit community. He has built me thanks to the donations of rich miners, dignitaries and simple mining families. Donors are commemorated by coats of arms on the facades of individual buildings. Construction began in 1745 and was completed in 1751. Most calvaries have fourteen stops, but mine has 17. In addition to the chapels depicting the cross road, which begins with the condemnation of Christ and ends with the Holy Sepulcher, there are also 3 churches. The wooden reliefs in the chapels represent the key moments of Jesus' life up to his torturing and resurrection. The uniqueness and location in the country with a wonderful view make me one of the most visited attractions. In 2007, I was included in the list of the most endangered monuments in the world, and later a general reconstruction started on the initiative of volunteers. You can visit me all year round. During the summer, chapels and churches are open daily. There is also a small exhibition in the lower church, but you need to arrange a tour with a guide.