Banská Štiavnica — The Water Code
Decipher the secret Water Code of Schemnitz! Uncover how miners outwitted rising floods with hidden hydraulic systems and solve the enigma that saved the silver empire.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the 17th century, Banská Štiavnica—known then as Schemnitz—was the glittering heart of Europe's silver rush, nestled in the Metal-bearing Mountains
Banská Štiavnica — The Water Code
You are Samuel Mikovíni, an 18th-century hydraulic engineer in Banská Štiavnica, tasked with deciphering the mysteries of the Water Code.
Your
Delve into the mystery of the Water Code in Banská Štiavnica, a UNESCO World Heritage mining city where the secrets of black gold and hydraulic engineering lie beneath its Baroque cobblestones.
The story that haunts this land
Your journey in Banská Štiavnica begins at the Morový stĺp, the Plague Column, erected in 1743. This 30-meter monument, sculpted by Jonáš Perger, commemorates the over 2000 victims of the plague of 1739-1740 and symbolizes divine gratitude under the statue of the Virgin Mary. It is here that the first enigmas of the Water Code await you, hidden in the details of the ex-voto, inviting you to observe the city from a historical perspective and decipher the signs of an era marked by faith and survival. The square, surrounded by 18th-century Baroque buildings, is an ideal starting point for exploring the UNESCO city center.
Continue to Kammerhof, the largest Gothic-Renaissance building in Banská Štiavnica, built in 1544. This former residence and administration of the imperial mining chamber, covering approximately 2000 m², now houses a mining museum. Here, you will discover exhibitions on 16th-century gold mining, crucial for understanding the economy of the Banská Štiavnica region. The clues to the Water Code are revealed in the accounts of engineers and miners, highlighting the ingenuity required to extract the earth's riches and manage water resources.
Your quest then leads you to Starý zámok, the Old Castle. Originally a 13th-century church, it was fortified between 1565 and 1571 to defend the city against Turkish invasions. From the top of its 45-meter main tower, an exceptional panorama unfolds over Banská Štiavnica and its surrounding hills. This site, which once included a prison for rebellious miners with torture instruments, confronts you with the challenges of security and control of mining resources, key elements for the stability of the hydraulic system you are studying.
The exploration continues at Slovenská banská akadémia, the world's first technical mining school, founded in 1762 by Empress Maria Theresa. This Baroque building, constructed between 1735 and 1740, is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its educational role. It was here that engineers were trained to design and manage the complex hydraulic system of the tajchy, essential for mining. The archives and plans of this academy will provide you with crucial pieces of the Water Code, immersing you in the heart of 18th-century technological innovation in Banská Štiavnica.
Your journey concludes near Kostol svätej Kataríny, St. Catherine's Church, erected around 1488 and dedicated to the patron saint of miners. Its 60-meter bell tower dominates the landscape, visible from 1 km away. The interior, with its 1730 Baroque altar and medieval frescoes depicting mining life, reveals the final keys to the Water Code. By following this thematic circuit through Banská Štiavnica, you will have not only solved the enigma but also discovered the exceptional heritage of this city, from the fortified Piargska brána to the engineering of the tajchy, a unique interactive tourism experience.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Mining Engineering
Discover the technical prowess that enabled the extraction of silver from the bowels of the earth.
Masters of Water
Explore the complex system of tajchy and hydraulic machines that tamed underground waters.
The Academy of Enlightenment
Dive into the legacy of the world's first mining academy, a cradle of scientific innovation.
The engineer's spirit lives on in stone and water.
Reconstruct the secret plan that defied the depths.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
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Your turn to play
Delve into the mystery of the Water Code in Banská Štiavnica, a UNESCO World Heritage mining city where the secrets of black gold and hydraulic engineering lie beneath its Baroque cobblestones.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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