The castle had mainly a defensive function. The fortifications of the castle were built gradually. In the 13th century, the parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary began to be built, around which other sacral buildings were added later. The Pretorium (where the town governor and the town council rooms were located), Matej’s house and Kostol sv. kríža were also part of the complex. Underground there was a prison and a torture chamber. The town castle consisted of a fortification, which also consisted of 4 circular bastions. 3 of the original 4 bastions have survived to the present day. The barbican, which was completed in 1512, was also an important part of the castle. In the barbican, an entrance gate to the castle was built through two portals, to which a drawbridge led over a 4-metre-high moat. The entrance consisted of two separate portals – the smaller portal was used for pedestrians, the larger one for carriages.  Above the two portals in the center, you can still see the openings through which the defenders of the castle used to pour their bad luck on the enemy. The town hall was also incorporated into the town castle over time. The Barbican and the surroundings of the town castle were declared a national cultural monument and form a symbol of the historical center of Banská Bystrica. At present, the Barbican houses a restaurant.

In addition, visit the new THURZO – FUGGER interactive exhibition, which brings the mining history of Banská Bystrica and the surrounding villages and towns, especially from the times of the famous Thurzo-Fugger Company and the Copperworks, to life in an interactive and engaging way.