Leutschau: UNESCO Old Town, Architectural Heritage and Cycling Route

Leutschau, known as Levoča in Slovak, combines a medieval old town with significant ecclesiastical buildings, museums, a traditional pilgrimage site and a designated cycling route. If you would like to combine culture with an active addition on your trip to Slovakia, the town offers several clearly distinct points of interest for this purpose.

UNESCO Old Town and Fortifications

The historic old town of Levoča is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. It was founded within a fortification system in the 13th and 14th centuries. The fortifications are 2.5 kilometres long and are considered the best-preserved in Slovakia; two-thirds of their original length remain. This makes the town’s history visible not only in exhibitions but also in a tangible architectural landmark.

The centrepiece is St. James’ Basilica, dating from the 14th century. It contains 11 Gothic and Renaissance altars. Particularly remarkable is the world’s tallest late Gothic winged altarpiece, measuring 18.62 metres, from the workshop of Master Paul of Levoča. The House of Master Paul of Levoča preserves its appearance from the 15th to the 16th century; it is associated with an exhibition of the Spiš Museum about his life and work. During the reconstruction of the house, this exhibition is temporarily being shown in the historic Minorite monastery, in the cloister and the chapter house.

Those who do not shy away from climbing 216 steps can look out from the basilica tower over the historic old town of Levoča, the High and Low Tatras, Slovak Paradise and Mariánska hora. Two free visitor car parks are available within the fortifications for orientation on site.

Churches, Courtyards and Town History

Levoča’s history also reflects several periods of construction beyond the basilica. The Old Minorite Church was built together with the adjoining monastery in the first half of the 14th century. The Baroque Church of the Holy Spirit and the Minorite monastery were built between 1748 and 1755. The arcade passage of the Minorite monastery is considered the only one of its kind in Slovakia.

The Historic Town Hall houses a permanent exhibition on the history of Levoča. The oldest core of the burgher’s house with the Breuer printing works consists of two hall houses from the 14th century. The Máriássy House has a Renaissance courtyard with arcades typical of Levoča; the Levoča City Gallery is located there on Námestie Majstra Pavla. The town theatre is considered the second-oldest theatre in Slovakia and dates back to the 13th century. Another special feature is the medieval pillory, known as the cage of shame. A family from the town of Levoča donated it in 1933.

Museum, Pilgrimage and Cycling Route

The Museum of Special Education in Levoča is an experiential and interactive museum with a nationwide focus. To gain a deeper understanding of the town, you can also use the tourist information centre: it offers guided city tours with qualified guides and, on request, arranges tours with external guides, including for ordinary visitors.

Mariánska hora, one of Slovakia’s oldest and most significant pilgrimage sites, lies above Levoča. This gives the town a religious dimension in addition to its secular and ecclesiastical architectural heritage. For a sporting option, a 21.7-kilometre cycling route leads from Levoča via Zbojnícka lúka, Brezová, Hradisko, Tvarožná and Ľubica to Kežmarok. The route adds a designated connection through several places to your stay, without blending the town’s cultural highlights into a mere list of sights.

Further destinations for your comparison: Spišské Podhradie, Granč-Petrovce, Bijacovce, Korytné, Dravce.

To the main travel overview: Levoča District.