Nová Baňa is in central Slovakia, halfway between Nitra and Banská Štiavnica,
with 7654 inhabitants. The original settlement of Seuniche - Saunicza existed
probably already at the end of the 11th century. Rich gold ore seams contributed
to its development and already in the middle of the 14th century it became
a medieval mining settlement caled Königsberg. The settlement was granted
town privileges by King Ludovít I Great in 1345 and thus became one of
the seven royal minings towns - Banská Štiavnica,
Banská
Bystrica, Kremnica, Ľubietová, Banská Belá
and Pukanec. The town population consisted of Slovaks and Germans. A remarkable
historical event was the first use of a steam machine in Europe in Nová
Baňa mines. The machine was constructed by the English constructor Isaac
Potter in 1772 to pump water from mining shafts. Gold mining continued
more or less sucessfully until the end of the 19th century when the local
mines were closed down.
Source: the
Nová
Baňa website.
Jarig Bakker
Nová Baňa Coat of Arms
from http://www.tatrahome.sk/revue/erby/ . (!Link does not work any more!)
![[Nová Baňa flag]](../images/s/sk-nbana.gif)
submitted through Rob Raeside, 26 July 1999
![[Nová Baňa Coat of Arms]](../images/s/sk)nbana.gif)
from http://www.tatrahome.sk/revue/erby/ . (!Link does not work any more!)
