Kežmarok - trips to the surroundings
The town of Kežmarok came into existence on the foundations of several original Slavonic settlements and of the settlements of Saxon colonists who came in the 13th century. In 1380 the town Kežmarok was nominated as a free royal town. The inhabitants of the settlement were guarding the important trade route („via magna“) connecting Orient and the north of Europe. In the 15th and 16th century the trade was the most important for all inhabitants whereas more than 30 gilts and crafts were working in the town. In the 19th century the most important was the textile industry.
Kežmarok – Ľubica 2,5 km:The large historic core of the former free royal town has preserved its shape with burgher’s, craftsmen’s and peasant’s houses. There is a biggest double nave church in Spiš built in the 13th century – the parish Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Kežmarok – Vrbov 7 km: Its origin dates back to the year 1251. The village became famous for a recreational site built near the village –a favorite holiday resort for tourists.
Kežmarok – Strážky 5 km: Originally Strážky a village that served as a guard point on the road to Poland. There is a church built in a Renaissance style, the belfry and the chateau with the park, both built in Renaissance style too. The chateau was proclaimed the national cultural memorial in 1970.
Kežmarok – Spišská Belá 8 km: The first record is from 1263 and 1271 it was granted a municipal rights by King Štefan V. Canvas of a good quality was exported from Spišská Belá to Turkey. In the 18th century destillery and the canning factory were built here.
Kežmarok – Tatranská kotlina – Belianska jaskyňa 19 km: The only karsts cave in the Tatras, long 1752 meters, open to public 1135 m. Cave is used by patients from sanatory in Tatranská Kotlina for spoleotherapy.
