The Square of the Slovak National Uprising in Banská Bystrica, much like many Slovak towns and villages, is characterized by a prominent tower. However, unlike the typical church towers, this one serves as a clock tower.
A ubiquitous feature in postcards of Banská Bystrica, it stands as one of the city's foremost landmarks. The Clock Tower provides a distinctive vantage point, offering panoramic views of Banská Bystrica and its surrounding area, rendering it one of the city's most popular tourist destinations.
Once upon a time, the Banská Bystrica clock tower formed part of a network of watchtowers designed to alert residents to imminent danger. In the event of a fire, trumpeters would sound the alarm directly from the tower. However, the tower also harbours a darker history: its ground floor room once housed a temporary prison. From there, a direct path led to the pillory and the stocks in the square—a place of public humiliation and punishment.
In the past, the tower bore several names: "Hodinová," from the time of its construction; "Vážnicová," because it stood adjacent to the city's scale building; "Green," owing to the colour of its copper roof; and from the late 19th century, "Leaning," due to its slight deviation. Relative to other ancient buildings in the city, it is relatively young. Construction commenced in 1552, originally in the Renaissance style, reaching a height of only 20.5 metres, the level of the current corridor. In the late 17th century, it was expanded in the Baroque style, with additional clocks added. Throughout its existence, the tower endured several fires and subsequent reconstructions. Its present appearance stems from the Baroque reconstruction following a devastating fire in 1761.
At the end of the 19th century, the structural integrity of the tower was compromised. By 1920, cracks had appeared on the adjacent building, and the tower had gradually deviated from the vertical axis by as much as 68 cm. Many attribute this deviation to the removal of the "butcher's house" addition in the early 1960s. It was not until 1959, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP), that the tower underwent structural reinforcement and stabilization. Since then, it has not tilted any further.
During the restoration of the historic square between 1993 and 1996, the tower also underwent extensive reconstruction. Since then, visitors have been able to ascend the tower via 101 wooden steps to reach the walkway, offering stunning views not only of SNP Square, Kapitulská Street, and the City Castle, but also of the surrounding hills of Veľká Fatra, Low Tatras, Kremnické, and Starohorské vrchy, where the crucial copper deposits that shaped the city's development were concealed. The square presents an impressive spectacle in the evening, as dozens of lights illuminate its paving, symbolising the permons - miner elves from the realm of treasures.
