Kultúrne dedičstvo bývalých banských oblastí v zážitkovom lokálnom turizme

Abstract

Mining activities in the territory of central Slovakia have left many monuments of technical, architectural, and urbanistic character. These are rich in socio-cultural traditions, too. They formed a significant component of cultural heritage. The study aims to monitor the heritage use in selected localities of Banská Bystrica and Špania Dolina in experience-based local tourism. The starting point was both institutionalized activitie (e.g. museums) and the activities of civic associations. We have used the techniques of participatory observation and semi-standardized interviews with local government representatives and administrators of the researched events in repeated ethnological research. The first part of the study mentions theoretical and methodological aspects of mountain sites usage in tourism. The second part presents selected examples of good practice - from expositions and exhibitions realized in interactive form, educational trails, animations to the elaboration of mining issue in festivals and the socio-cultural calendar of the village. Technical monuments enriched with experiences and stories with the possibility of involving tourists in old technological procedures, or in monitoring the underground working environment of miners, etc., together with consistent popularization, give the presumption that interest in this part of cultural heritage will increase.