320 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp328–9 and pp330–31
Spiš Castle 8
Spišskỳ hradThe ruins of Spiš Castle are part of a historic complex,
along with the small town of Spišské Podhradie (pod-
hradie means “below the castle”) and Spišská Kapitula
to the northwest; all three are on the UNESCO World
Cultural Heritage list. Spiš Castle was the administrative
capital of the Spiš region, a historic province populated
by Saxon settlers. Its oldest parts date from between the
11th and 12th centuries. In 1780, the castle burned
down, but it is now gradually being restored. Most
impressive from a distance, it is nonetheless worth a visit
for its spectacular views.Gate
The entrance gate leads to a
vast lower courtyard, nearly
300 m (985 ft) long and
115 m (380 ft) wide.Fortress
Occupying an area of 4 ha (10 acres),
Spiš Castle is the remains of the larg est
fortress complex in Central Europe.
In the 17th century it had
2,000 inhabitants.Impressive Church of the Holy Spirit
in Žehra near Spišská Kapitula
Spišská Kapitula 7
400 km (249 miles) NE of
Bratislava. @
The walled, one-street town
of Spišská Kapitula is located
on a ridge, west of Spišské
Podhradie. Since 1776 it has
been the seat of the Spiš bish-
opric and the ecclesiasti cal
capital of the Spiš region.
Dominating the town is the
late-Romanesque, twin-
towered St Martin’s Cathedral,
(katedrála šv Martina) dating
from 1245–75, with two
Romanesque portals and the
statue of a white lion at the
entrance. The interior has
unique medieval frescoes in
the central nave. The interest-
ing burial chapel of the
Zápolya family, by the south
wall, dates from the 15th cen-
tury. Further along the street
stand the imposing Baroque
Bishop’s Palace with a clock
tower, and a row of Gothic
canon houses. Spišská
Kapitula has been on the
UNESCO World Cultural
Heritage list since 1993.
Environs
The village of Žehra lies 6 km
(4 miles) southeast of Spišská
Kapitula. It features the historic
UNESCO-protected 13th-
cen tury Romanesque Church
of the Holy Spirit (šv Duch),
a white building with a tower
and a bell, topped with onion-
shaped wooden cupolas.
Inside, 13th–15th-century fres-
coes cover the presbytery and
a wall of the nave, and there
is a 13th-century stone font.
R St Martin’s Cathedral
# 10am–5:30pm Mon–Sat, Sun
11am–5:30pm. & 8