Banska Bystrica remains one of the country's leaders in terms of the diversity of historical sights and cultural centers. In the city, you can see architectural monuments of various periods. One of the oldest local buildings is Thurzov dom. The first Gothic-style houses were built on its site over 600 years ago. In 1495, they were bought by one of the wealthy local entrepreneurs, Jan Thurzo, who decided to build a luxurious secular house on the site of dilapidated buildings. The building you can admire today is a striking architectural monument in the Renaissance style featuring original facade decoration. Currently, the historic building houses a museum. You will also notice its beautiful 15th-century frescoes and other unique decoration elements. The museum houses an interesting collection of paintings that belong to different periods, collections of old weapons and coins, as well as the most valuable archaeological finds ever discovered in the region. Be sure to explore the city's ancient fortifications. Of greatest interest here is the Barbakan Tower. Built in the early 16th century, it had been the city's main watchtower for many years. A bell chamber at its top has survived virtually unchanged to the present day. One of the largest bells in Slovakia weighing 6 tons is installed here. The tower stands on a small hill, so it serves as an excellent landmark for many tourists visiting the city for the first time. The tower is available for internal inspection. Many
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