The Banská Štiavnica Calvary is an impressive baroque sacral complex and a striking monument that dominates the local countryside, which is ranked among the most beautiful of its kind in Europe. Through the thoughtful harmony of the architecture and plastic works of art, paintings and handicrafts with the surrounding nature it literally draws its visitors into the last journey of Jesus.
The construction of the Calvary was initiated by father František Perger of the local Jesuit community. The foundation stone of the Upper Church was laid on 14th September 1744, with the project designed by Samuel Mikovíny, the entire complex was completed and consecrated in a ceremony seven years later, on 14th September 1751. This complex of sacral buildings situated on the top of the steep Scharffenberg hill was funded through contributions from rich mine owners, high officials and the families of simple miners. The individual coats of arms of the donors are displayed on the façade to remind visitors of their identities.
The concept of the Banská Štiavnica Calvary goes beyond the traditional depiction of the fourteen stations of the Cross. Using the structure, disposition and character of the scenes, it symbolises the legacy of the history of salvation in an original and generous way, with a high level of artistic merit. Thanks to this it dramatizes the story of the passion to such an extent that it gives an impression of a staged adaptation that is further accentuated by the surrounding countryside. The architectural complex includes seventeen stations, three churches (the Lower Church, Holy Stairway and Upper Church), the Prison (Ecce homo) station and the Holy Sepulchre station – the only building located on the other, eastern side, of the hill.
The artist who created the interior fresco decoration was Anton Schmidt and the sculptures came from the workshop of Dionysius Stanetti.
Every chapel depicts one of the crucial moments of the torture of Jesus, or other scenes from his life, as wooden reliefs with typical baroque theatricality.
Since 2008, the renovation, preservation and revival of the Banská Štiavnica Calvary has been managed by the voluntary organisation Kalvársky fond. After a gap of more than half a century, it began to follow the meritorious activities of the association of the same name that worked from the construction of the Calvary until the rise of communist regime.
Martin Macharik
