Levoča - sights and attractions
The town of Levoča is on the crossroad of cultural and historical towns and creates a part of Gothic Routein the region Spiš – Gemer. The surroundings of Levoča prove settlements in the Neolithic times already. Urnal fields of wendic culture and splinters form the Halstatt period prove the presence of civilized settlements. The first preserved written records on Levoča date back to the year 1249. The extraordinary development of the town was influenced also by its location. There was a crossing of the main road east-west and side road north-south. In the 13th century the town benefited form the arrival of German settlers from Saxony, whereas in the 1271 the town became the capital of German settlers. In 1317 the king Robert named Levoča as “his free royal town” The cause of a small amount of written records was enormous fire of 1550 that destroyed the whole town including the Town Hall Archives. The town historical centre was proclaimed a historical town reserve in 1950.
Master Paul′s square is one of the greatest medieval squares in Slovakia. It is surrounded by more than 60 town and patrician houses form the 14th – 15th centuries.
St. James church The most precious monument of Levoča is St, James Church and its highest Gothic altar in the World –the work of Mater Paul of Levoča. It is the second largest church in Slovakia with measures of 60 x 27 m. There are 11 valuable altars in the church as well.
Town Hall The original town hall was built in gothic style. Town hall got its basic renaissance shape at the end of the 16th century after the fire in 1550 and 1599. At the end of the 17th century the town hall building was connected with the belfry. The belfry has the first tower clock in Hungary.
Lutheran church It was built in 1825 – 1837 by the architect Anton Povoľný in the shape of a Greek cross in the classicistic style. Three sides have galleries with organs, benches, archives and a valuable library.
In the town Levoča there are other valuable sights like Master Paul′s house, Hain′s house with permanent exhibition of Spiš museum called Culture of Fine Arts in Spiš, Thurso′s house, Small and Great County house, Holy Spirit church, Old Minor church, Theater, Cage of shame, Fortification system and other.
