Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

318 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp328–9 and pp330–31

Levoča 6

396 km (246 miles) NE of Bratislava.

• 14,000. £ @ n Námestie
  Majstra Pavla 58, (053) 451 3763.
  http://www.levoca.sk

The former capital of the
Spiš region, a historic prov-
ince populated by Saxon
settlers, Levoča is situated
between the High Tatras and
the Slovenské Rudohorie
Moun tains. The town has a
well-pre served historic cen tre,
full of mag nificent Gothic,
Baroque, Renaissance and
Neo-Classical buildings. Its
main square, námestie Majstra
Pavla, features the Gothic
Church of St James (šv
Jakub), con taining a set of 18
altar pieces and a splendid
collection of medieval and
Renaissance sacred art. The
main altarpiece, 18.6 m (61 ft)
high, is the world’s tallest
Gothic altar. The tall statues
of the Madonna, St James and
St John the Evangelist are by
Master Pavol of Levoča, an
outstand ing sculp tor of the
late-Gothic period. To the
south of the church lies the
former Town Hall.
The most striking historic
houses around the main
square are the Thurzo House
(Thurzov dom), crowned with
a Renaissance attic, and the
House of Master Pavol of
Levoča, now a museum devot-
ed to the sculptor’s life and
works. At the edge of the his-
toric district, the 14th-cen tury
Old Minorites’ Church (Starý
kláštor minoritov) has
a dazzling Baroque interior.

E House of Master Pavol

of Levoča

Námestie Majstra Pavla 20.

Tel (053) 451 3496. # daily (by

appt Mon). &

. Arcades
The original Town Hall did not
have any galleries. The two-tier
arcades were added to the central
part of the building in 1615.

One of Levoča’s most distinguished buildings,

the Town Hall was erected in 1550 in Gothic

style, replacing an earlier building that

had been destroyed by fire. In the early

17th century it was remod elled along

Renaissance lines. The bell tower

dates from 1656–61, with Baroque

decorations added in the 18th century.

The Neo-Classical pediments were

added in the 19th century. The

Town Hall is still used for civic

func tions, and it also houses

the main branch of the Spiš

Museum on the first floor, with

exhibits on regional history.

Levoča: Town Hall

Radnica

The striking Renaissance Thurzo
House in the old centre of Levoča

Town’s Coat of Arms

The town’s striking coat

of arms consists of a red

shield with a double cross

supported by two lions.

The wrought-iron cage by

the south wall of the Town

Hall is the 16th-century Cage

of Disgrace, in which women

who had committed minor

crimes were locked up and

put on public display. It used

to stand in a park belonging

to the Probstner family, who

gave it to the town in 1933.

CAGE OF DISGRACE

The infamous 16th-century

Cage of Disgrace