Central Slovakia is home to a unique cultural and technical heritage rooted in its rich mining history. Despite its great potential, the region has not yet fully capitalised on its assets – especially in the field of sustainable cultural and creative tourism, which could bring new opportunities to rural and remote areas. This is exactly what the pilot project within the SECreTour initiative seeks to change.
A region of contrasts and potential
The Banská Bystrica self-governing region is highly diverse in terms of its social, economic and geographic structure. The north is more densely populated and mountainous, while the south, bordering Hungary, is predominantly rural and agricultural. The unemployment rate in the region (8.48% as of December 2022) is one of the highest in Slovakia – ranging from 3.9% in the Banská Bystrica district to nearly 20% in the Rimavská Sobota district.
Despite these challenges, the region has enormous potential: its mining history has left a deep imprint on local culture, architecture and identity – particularly in the towns of Banská Bystrica, Banská Štiavnica and Kremnica. These towns were historically centres of copper, gold and silver mining of pan-European significance. It is this unique heritage that forms the foundation of the UMB pilot project under the Horizon Europe SECreTour initiative.
What is the aim of the pilot project?
The pilot case aims to support the renaissance of mining-related cultural heritage in the region by developing creative tourism, strengthening cultural and creative industries, and reinforcing local community identity. The project builds on previous activities from the H2020 INCULTUM project, within which a participatory digital platform was created to explore the mining treasures of Central Slovakia: www.banickepoklady.eu.
Communities involved in the pilot project
The project has a participatory character and engages a wide range of actors, including: local communities in towns and villages along the Barbora Route, regional and local authorities, business entities including the IT sector, experts and students from universities and secondary schools, and tourism organisations.
Activities of the pilot project
Developing a unique business model for the Barbora Route
The Barbora Route is the longest educational and pilgrimage trail in Slovakia (193 km), linking historic mining towns such as Banská Bystrica, Kremnica, Banská Štiavnica, and many smaller municipalities and villages throughout Central Slovakia. It can be completed as a walking route over nine days or as a cycling route.
The aim of this activity is to create a hybrid business model that will: improve service provision and infrastructure quality along the route, enhance the appeal of lesser-known and peripheral segments of the trail, contribute to sustainable development, and boost the regional economy through tourism.
Empowering communities and developing creative industries in the region
The project supports the development of cultural and creative industries linked to mining heritage. It focuses on the creation of new products and services inspired by mining heritage, through an innovation hackathon for young people under the age of 30 – organised in cooperation with the Banská Bystrica self-governing region (BBSK) and the BBSK Development Agency, which runs programmes such as Innolabb, Get Started, and Show Your Talent.
The most innovative ideas will be given the opportunity to receive further support through a regional innovation scheme, enabling them to be developed further and to bring concrete solutions and new job opportunities.
Expected results of the pilot project
- Development of a unique business model for the Barbora Route.
- Promotion of inclusive and sustainable cultural and creative tourism through original products and services that respect the needs of local communities and the carrying capacity of the area.
- Strengthening regional cooperation in the field of cultural tourism with the aim of supporting the socio-economic development of areas along the Barbora Route.
The pilot project shows that even regions facing challenges such as unemployment and depopulation can find new momentum in their cultural heritage and identity. The mining past of Central Slovakia has the potential to become a source of innovation, employment and pride – when connected with creativity and community engagement.
For more information about the UMB pilot project and the SECreTour project as a whole, please visit: SECreTour
