Barbora route
The Barbora route is the longest educational and sightseeing route in Slovakia. It combines mining monuments and attractions in central Slovakia. The road is divided into sections between villages and can be crossed on foot or by bicycle. The road is strategically divided into sections between individual villages. After crossing the section, visitors can recharge in one of the local accommodation facilities, where luggage transfer is also provided. During the trip, catering services are available with the opportunity to taste local traditional dishes.
The 186.2 km long pilgrimage route starts and ends in Banská Bystrica and can be completed in 9 days. It is divided into 9 stages, and at the end of each stage there is an overnight stay. Longer and shorter stages alternate regularly. The name already implies that the path is connected to St. Barbora, the patron saint of miners. The route is thus dedicated to places that are connected with the mining history of not only Slovak but also European significance. There are 29 symbolic stops on the Barbora route because Saint Barbora died at the age of 29. These are places that are significant in terms of mining, historical, natural, religious, cultural, and technical values and are worth stopping by. During the entire trip, the visitor can collect and record stamps in the bedekr and at the end of the trip with all the stamps, get a certificate of passing the Barbora route.
Despite the fact that there are no official historical sources about the life of Saint Barbora, we learn about her from various legends. Barbora was the daughter of the merchant Dioscurus from Nicomedia, who lived in the period of the third century. She was not only beautiful but also educated and interested in natural sciences. Her relationship to nature, to exploring the stars and her natural curiosity predestined her for great deeds.
Legend has it that thanks to her knowledge of metals, she helped local fishermen build iron rods with a gilded tip to protect them from storms (lightning). Knowing her led to the discovery of the Christian faith. As much as her father wanted to protect her from the Christian influences of society, he imprisoned her in a tower. However, he furnished the tower luxuriously so that Barbora lacked nothing materially. Despite the fact that Barbora was locked in the tower, she managed to be baptized secretly. Barbora therefore converted to the Christian faith and, as a sign of this, had the third window in the tower demolished as a symbol of the Holy Trinity. She later managed to escape from the tower. In Slovakia, St. Barbora was worshipped by miners because according to legend, when her father was chasing her and St. Barbora was running, the rock opened in front of her and St. Barbora hid in it. However, a shepherd betrayed her and she was brought to court. On the day of her trial, she was beheaded by her father with a knife before being executed. After this act, he was struck by lightning.
