The main square of Banská Bystrica is one of Slovakia's most attractive, a long Renaissance space lined with merchant townhouses in warm yellows and ochres. The Old Town Hall at the east end — a fine 16th-century building with a characteristic tower — now houses the Central Slovakia Museum. On the square itself, the 16th-century Benický House and the Preacher's House reflect the wealth that copper mining brought to the city.
The square has been continuously the heart of public life since the Middle Ages and remains so — markets, concerts, and political gatherings all happen here. On a warm evening the café terraces fill with students from Matej Bel University and the square has an easy, unhurried character.