Svätý Anton

Svätý Anton
Village
The manor house in St. Anton
Country	Slovakia
Region	Banská Bystrica
District	Banská Štiavnica
River	Stiavnica
Elevation	435 m (1,427 ft)
Coordinates	48°25′26″N 18°56′22″E / 48.42389°N 18.93944°E / 48.42389; 18.93944Coordinates: 48°25′26″N 18°56′22″E / 48.42389°N 18.93944°E / 48.42389; 18.93944
Area	22.64 km2 (9 sq mi)
Population	1,172 (2008-01-01)
Density	52/km2 (135/sq mi)
First mentioned	1266
Mayor	Simona Guláková
Postal code	969 72
Area code	+421-45
Car plate	BS
Location of Svätý Anton in Slovakia
Location of Svätý Anton in the Banská Bystrica Region
Website: Municipality of Svätý Anton

Svätý Anton (Hungarian: Szentantal, translation: St. Anthony) is a village in Banská Štiavnica District in the Banská Bystrica Region of central Slovakia. It is situated near the historic town of Banská Štiavnica. During the period of Communist Czechoslovakia, the village had to use a "non-religious" name: Antol. The first mention of Svätý Anton in written sources dates to 1266, when the village was owned by the Hont-Pázmány family of the Čabraď Castle. The last private owner was Ferdinand I of Bulgaria.

The manor house was originally built in baroque style as a two-wing building with arcades surrounding an open courtyard with a baroque stone fountain. In the middle of 18th century, Earl Andrej Kohary completed the process of re-building the manor house into a wealthy four-wing noble residence. The Kohary and Coburg families made an essential contribution in the history of the manor house. Here, they concentrated beautiful pieces of artwork and crafts from various parts of the world (18th – 20th centuries). The manor house has served the purpose of a museum since 1962; currently it is a museum of art, history and hunting.

A park that melts into a forest is part of the manor house estate. Currently, remnants of regular baroque type of treatment can be seen on the terraces near the main building. They loosely melt into landscape park and forested park. The preserved water system of the park is supplied with water from the Kolpassky brook through some kilometres long water gang with aqueducts. Until 1995, the meadow in front of the cage was dominated by an almost 120 years old Giant Sequoya (Sequoiadendron giganteum). Phillip Coburg planted it there in 1878 when his only son Leopold was born. In spite of many attempts to save it, the Sequoya dried. A new and healthy tree was then planted at the entrance to the park in 1996.

The church was originally built in latebaroque style in 1754 – 1755. In the middle of 18th century was re-building and get currently classicistic looks. The most valuable masterpieces are Madonna Sculpture and monumental panel painting signed by master M.S. from 1506.