Frequently taking daytrips abroad, booking 2 days in Slovakia wasn't of much significance, but a bit of research into the city of Kosice lead to us discovering some of the insane locations in or just outside the city.
Baňa Bankov, in particular, was the site of a huge magnesite mine in the northwestern outskirts of Kosice, the availability of information online is relatively scarce, and all that is available is mainly in Slovak
making research relatively difficult, however I was able to gather some level of relevant information.
With the knowledge of the huge magnesite deposits, the region was used by Czechoslovakia as a source of magnesite, and eventually became one of Kosice's biggest employers during the Soviet era.
Towards the end of the millenium, large industrial changes were made, with large silos, mining towers, processing buildings, etc. being constructed on site.
Eventually, likely in the 1990s, with the decrease in resources, the fall of the Soviet union and likely other factors, the mine became unused and eventually abandoned.
In 2011, the site and surrounding area became packed with solar panels, a 7MW power plant constructed.around the area.
Access to the interior of buildings has been made difficult, with doors/gates welded closed, leaving the only likely access points to be through the roofs or windows,
something we weren't willing to risk as tourists, and luckily enough we were able to capture some nice photos through gaps in the entrances regardless.
All photos are taken on phone, so although definitely not flawless, hopefully the quality and clarity is sufficient.
A few minutes away from the main structures on foot, not sure what the purpose of this hole is, or whether it is even related.
Unfortunately access was limited, but we concluded that this standalone building must've been some kind of storage warehouse, seemingly for some
kinds of machinery based on the contents inside (photo taken through a gap in window bars), but limited online information makes this difficult.
It was quite difficult to understand the purpose of these tubes, as there were lots of them, and whilst most seemed suited for
transportation of goods, some seemed adapted to walkways for people etc., although thinking back it may have been a mix of both.
The first monstrous structure, unfortunately no suitable entrance, a misleading set of stairs behind plenty of removed asbestos
leading to the platform visible in the third photounder the tower - although no actual door at the top.
I have no idea what this could be, however I'm sure somebody else is wiser.
A few big buildings and a nice set of stairs to climb as we finished our lap around the main structures of Bana, reaching our phones through the doors (evident in one of the last photos) to manage to capture some of the equipment inside gave a new perspective, but the sheer size of the structures we were walking through was truly humbling.
As stated, I was using my phone for photos, and I'm by no means a photographer, heavy sunlight also not helping, but such an incredible site is impossible to share effectively with photos, as the structures are simply unimaginable.
Baňa Bankov, in particular, was the site of a huge magnesite mine in the northwestern outskirts of Kosice, the availability of information online is relatively scarce, and all that is available is mainly in Slovak
making research relatively difficult, however I was able to gather some level of relevant information.
With the knowledge of the huge magnesite deposits, the region was used by Czechoslovakia as a source of magnesite, and eventually became one of Kosice's biggest employers during the Soviet era.
Towards the end of the millenium, large industrial changes were made, with large silos, mining towers, processing buildings, etc. being constructed on site.
Eventually, likely in the 1990s, with the decrease in resources, the fall of the Soviet union and likely other factors, the mine became unused and eventually abandoned.
In 2011, the site and surrounding area became packed with solar panels, a 7MW power plant constructed.around the area.
Access to the interior of buildings has been made difficult, with doors/gates welded closed, leaving the only likely access points to be through the roofs or windows,
something we weren't willing to risk as tourists, and luckily enough we were able to capture some nice photos through gaps in the entrances regardless.
All photos are taken on phone, so although definitely not flawless, hopefully the quality and clarity is sufficient.
A few minutes away from the main structures on foot, not sure what the purpose of this hole is, or whether it is even related.
Unfortunately access was limited, but we concluded that this standalone building must've been some kind of storage warehouse, seemingly for some
kinds of machinery based on the contents inside (photo taken through a gap in window bars), but limited online information makes this difficult.
It was quite difficult to understand the purpose of these tubes, as there were lots of them, and whilst most seemed suited for
transportation of goods, some seemed adapted to walkways for people etc., although thinking back it may have been a mix of both.
The first monstrous structure, unfortunately no suitable entrance, a misleading set of stairs behind plenty of removed asbestos
leading to the platform visible in the third photounder the tower - although no actual door at the top.
I have no idea what this could be, however I'm sure somebody else is wiser.
A few big buildings and a nice set of stairs to climb as we finished our lap around the main structures of Bana, reaching our phones through the doors (evident in one of the last photos) to manage to capture some of the equipment inside gave a new perspective, but the sheer size of the structures we were walking through was truly humbling.
As stated, I was using my phone for photos, and I'm by no means a photographer, heavy sunlight also not helping, but such an incredible site is impossible to share effectively with photos, as the structures are simply unimaginable.
