The Calvary of Banská Štiavnica is one of the finest baroque religious complexes in central Europe and, after the two castles, the most compelling reason to visit the town. It was built in the mid-eighteenth century on the hillside east of the historic center, financed by the wealthy mining community at the height of the town's prosperity. Altogether it consists of 22 chapels distributed across a forested hillside, linked by a processional path that leads from the lower station to the crucifixion scene at the summit.
The chapels contain carved wooden figures depicting the Passion of Christ, and the views from the upper reaches of the complex are outstanding — the old town below, the wooded volcanic hills all around. The Calvary was recently restored after decades of neglect under communist rule, and the Atlas Obscura community has noted it as one of Slovakia's most remarkable ecclesiastical sites. A visit takes one to two hours and involves some climbing on uneven paths.