Banská Štiavnica used to be one of the most important towns n the Medieval Europe, the Europe’s Eldorado, the richest gold and silver deposit. It was called “Silver Town”. The treasures hidden underground were used for the palaces in Vienna and Budapest and the town itself was the third biggest one in the Kingdom of Hungary. Banská Štiavnica had a top education and science, alchemy and Freemasons. Here was the place where gunpowder was used for blasting rocks for the first time in human history. The first technical university in the world – the famous Mining Academy was established here. One of the most sophisticated hydro-power systems was also developed in Banská Štiavnica: artificial water reservoirs called tajchy.