town, capital of Střední Slovensko kraj, Slovakia. It lies in the Hron River valley, surrounded by mountains. An ancient town, it has been an important mining centre since the 13th century, when it was chartered. Gothic and Renaissance-style buildings, including burghers' houses and the castle group (in the heart of town), date from the 15th and 16th centuries, when the silver and copper mines supplied much of the European market. On Aug. 29, 1944, Banská Bystrica was the scene of the Slovak national uprising against the Germans. The Old Town Hall (1479) contains a museum commemorating this event.

Since World War II, Banská Bystrica has developed as an industrial centre for the manufacture of textiles, paper, metal products, and cement. It is also a popular summer and winter resort. Pop. (1991 prelim.) 85,007.