History, Demography and Geography

Banská Bystrica Self – Governing Region has been created according the Act of the National Council of the Slovak Republic No. 302/2001 Col. On self – government of upper territorial units in 2001. The main roles of Banská Bystrica Self – Governing Region (hereinafter BBSGR) consist in insuring wide – broad development of its territory and the needs of its inhabitants as well as in providing responsibility for increasing of regional competitiveness, in compliance with the Act 503/2001 Col. on regional development support. The area is connected to the international roads and railway network.
The existence of thermal healing springs offers significant opportunities for the development of tourism. Nervous, kinetic, and digestive disorders and cardiovascular diseases are treated in the Sklené Teplice, Dudince, Sliač, Kováčová and Brusno spas. Natural and climatic conditions also create excellent chance for exploitation of the tourism, agro-tourism, winter, water sports and hunting resources. In the last two decades foreign visitors are attracted by renovated urban monumental reservations in Banská Bystrica, Banská Štiavnica and Kremnica. The Banská Štiavnica city, together with its surrounding was inscribed on the List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage of UNESCO. To other interesting places belong castles in Zvolen, Vigľaš and Slovenská Ľupča, fortification in Bzovík, wooden church in Hronsek, St. John´s church in Krahule, where the geographical centre of Europe is located, folk architecture of the former mining settlement Špania Dolina, attractive Čiernohorská narrow - gauge railway in Čierny Balog.
The deposits of ore raw materials, like gold, silver, copper, and zinc are historically known to be found around Banská Bystrica, Banská Štiavnica and Kremnica. The non-metallic raw materials play important role in the regional economy. There are several quarries of building stones in the region such as limestone, dolomite limestone, ceramic clay, brick earth, gravel and gravel sand, basalt and pearlite. Very important are also resources of wood substance. Thanks to exceptional natural features of the region, there are numbers of state natural reservations in which numerous protected natural creations and localities could be found. Geographically, the region includes National Park Low Tatras, protected scenic area Veľká Fatra, Poľana and Štiavnické Vrchy. The system of 338 elementary schools, 25 grammar schools and 61 secondary vocational schools provides the base for formal education in the region. There are also three universities. The Academy of Arts in Banska Bystrica, the Technical University in Zvolen and the Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica.
The industrial sphere is highly diversified in Banská Bystrica region. However, economic potential of individual districts has its own specifications. BBSGR is responsible for coordination of economic and industrial, cultural and social policy in the frame of Banská Bystrica region, creation of conception documents regarding economic development, focused on development of entrepreneurial ambience, innovation potential, tourism, human resources as well as on development of social, cultural and health care activities all over the region.

BBSGR is creator and provider for Economic, Social and Cultural Regional Development Programme. Following the Act on science and technique, BBSGR creates the proposals and has its share on the support and use of research and development results in favour of regional development.

BBSGR supports regional activities of inter - linking to international cooperation and use of support fund programmes of EU in the field of science, technique innovation and technology development, regional development, culture, education, social and health affairs.