Kalvária Banská Štiavnica, Sacred park in Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia
Kalvária Banská Štiavnica is a religious complex spread across the Scharffenberg hill with three Baroque churches, seventeen chapels, and an Ecce Homo station linked by pathways and stairs. The ensemble forms a connected devotional site that visitors can explore at their own pace.
Construction began in 1744 under Father František Perger's direction and the site grew into a major religious center during the 18th century. The buildings were expanded gradually over the following decades, eventually reaching the full layout seen today.
The pilgrimage route displays scenes from Christ's Passion and the Seven Sorrows of Mary, guiding visitors along a sacred path that connects these spiritual moments across the hillside.
The park is open year-round, with churches and chapels accessible daily during summer months and on weekends for the rest of the year. Good footwear is helpful since the site involves walking up and down slopes and climbing stairs throughout the complex.
The complex has more stations than typical calvaries found elsewhere, giving it a broader range of spiritual scenes for visitors to encounter. A small exhibition in the Lower Church displays objects from the site's restoration work.
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