Holiday apartment in Levoča: UNESCO Old Town and pilgrimage site

Levoča leads into a historic Old Town that was founded within a fortification system in the 13th and 14th centuries and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town combines important sacred buildings, museums, historic burgher houses, pilgrimage and a cycling route.

Culture

The fortification system of Levoča is 2.5 km long and is considered the best-preserved in Slovakia; two thirds of its original length remain. The historic complex also includes the Minorite monastery with an arcaded walkway considered the only one of its kind in Slovakia.

A central attraction is the 14th-century Basilica of St. James, with 11 Gothic and Renaissance altars. It also houses the world’s tallest late Gothic winged altar, measuring 18.62 metres, from the workshop of Majster Pavol z Levoče. After climbing 216 steps, the tower offers views over the historic Old Town of Levoča, the High and Low Tatras, the Slovak Paradise and Mariánska hora.

The House of Majster Pavol z Levoče preserves its appearance from the 15th to 16th centuries and houses an exhibition of the Spiš Museum about his life and work. The Historic Town Hall contains a permanent exhibition on the history of Levoča. During the reconstruction of the House of Majster Pavol z Levoče, its exhibits are temporarily being displayed in the historic Minorite monastery, in the cloister and in the chapter house.

Other buildings also document the town’s development. 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 oldest core of the burgher 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. This building on Námestie Majstra Pavla in Levoča houses the Levoča City Gallery. Levoča’s town theatre is considered the second-oldest theatre in Slovakia and dates back to the 13th century. The townscape also includes the medieval pillory, the so-called cage of shame; a family donated it to the town of Levoča in 1933.

Pilgrimage and panoramic views

Mariánska hora lies above Levoča and is one of the oldest and most important pilgrimage sites in Slovakia. For the 2026 pilgrimage season, regional bus connections were planned to serve the Levoča bus station, the Levoča, Košická brána stop, and Mariánska hora.

Visits and routes

The Levoča Tourist Information Centre offers guided city tours with qualified guides. On request, it also organises tours led by external guides, including for regular visitors. Two free visitor car parks are available within Levoča’s fortification system.

The Museum of Special Education in Levoča is an experience-oriented and interactive museum with a nationwide focus. For active days, a 21.7 km cycling route leads from Levoča via Zbojnícka lúka, Brezová, Hradisko, Tvarožná and Ľubica to Kežmarok.

Other places in the selection: Dravce, Korytné, Granč-Petrovce, Bijacovce, Spišské Podhradie.

To the higher-level travel overview: Levoča District.