Žiar nad Hronom, town in Slovakia
Heiligenkreuz an der Gran is a small town in the Žiar nad Hronom district in Slovakia, located in a quiet area with simple, short streets and a relaxed pace. It sits along the Hron river and covers about 39 square kilometers, with two neighboring settlements, Horné Opatovce and Šášovské Podhradie, that have been part of it since the 1960s and 1970s.
The first written mention dates to 1075 when a monastery was recorded here, and the name Cristur meant the Cross of the Lord at that time. It grew into a trade center in the Middle Ages with various guilds, and later a church and castle were built, both of which were affected by multiple conflicts.
The name comes from an old cross that was venerated here - Heiligenkreuz means the Cross of the Lord. People in the area keep this tradition alive today, visible in the church with its twin towers and in local festivals where history and daily life blend together.
You can reach the town easily by car or train, as the R1 expressway runs nearby and a railway line connects it to larger cities like Bratislava. Local buses link the town to surrounding villages, and the roads are well-maintained despite their simplicity.
The name of the place has changed multiple times over the centuries - it was once Szent Kereszt and later Žiar nad Hronom, meaning Gleam upon Hron river. This renaming in 1953 coincides with the beginning of aluminum production, which fundamentally changed the town's identity and economy.
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