Staré Hory

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Staré Hory, also known as Óhegy in Hungarian, is a small village in central Slovakia. It sits in the Banská Bystrica Region, in the Banská Bystrica District, high in the Staré Hory Mountains between the Veľká Fatra and Low Tatras.

The village covers about 41.56 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of 539 meters. As of 2024, about 582 people live there.

History and economy
Copper mining has been part of the area since ancient times (around 2000–1700 BC), and tools from that era have been found near Staré Hory and nearby Špania Dolina. The village is first mentioned in records in 1536. In the 16th century, a smelting plant was built. When mining declined, the local economy turned to bobbin lace making. Merchants from Staré Hory sold lace across the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.

Landmarks and culture
A natural spring with a statue of the Virgin Mary is a traditional place of pilgrimage near Staré Hory. The village also has a Baroque church, built in the 15th century, which is now recognized as a minor basilica, the Basilica of the Visitation.