Levoca Off The Beaten Path

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In 1473, Zapolsky's Chapel was built to the church. It is one of the highlights of Gothic architecture in Slovakia. Originally it was intended as the funeral chapel of the Zapolsky family. It has winding stairs with the upper part. An underground passageway connects the chapel with the convent. In the upper part, a suspension choir with railing stands out.
It is really amazing to find such a "high-Gothic" sturcture in village like this one in the middle of Slovakia. Gothic architecture is well perserved in Slovakia but this is something exceptional.

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Spissky Stvrtok is an small village on the important crossroad in the region. Main attraction of the village is an beautifull church on the top of the small hill. The oldest enduring written mention of the village is from 1263. It is mentioned under the names Stwertek, Čtwrtek and later Štvrtok (Thursday), in accordance with the market that took place in the village on that day. In 1412 it became the seat of the Province of the 16 Spis towns (those which were not a part of the pledge by the Polish King).
St. Ladislav's Church was built before Tartars' raid. It is known this due to the Romanesque windows on the church's tower. In 1402, a new Gothic church with one nave was built. The tower is built in both Romanesque and Gothic style. This is my favourite church in whole Slovakia... really beautifull, ancient, excellent position... it's great just to be there... even on an very windy day as we did.

This magnificant castle, one of the largest in central Europe, truly looks like something out of a gothic horror film. It stands on a rocky outcrop above the town of Spisske Podhradie.

The castle is about a 2km walk up the hill from the town of Spisske Podhradie. Coming here from Levoca, catch the bus from namestie Stefana Kluberta.

I'd recommend getting off the bus a moment or two earlier at Spisska Kapitula. From here you can get some great initial views of the castle framed by this old ecclesiastical settlement.

As we were exploring Levoca we noticed a church on a hill in the distance overlooking the town. We hoped to find time to visit the church but we did so many day trips from Levoca that it wasn't possible. Such a pity as the views of the town must be amazing. The church is about 2km north of Levoca, on Marianska Hill. I've also read that every year, on the first weekend in July, there is a religious pilgrimage to the church. There are great views of the church from Vetrova street, just north of the main square, and from the restaurant in Hotel Barbakan.

Levoca is surrounded by town walls and there is a walkway around the walls below the road. We did parts of this walk a few times every day on our way to and from the bus station and one of the nicest things we saw was this lovely looking house (see picture), build into the eastern walls, which looked forgotten and abandoned.

The old ecclesiastical settlement of Spisska Kapitula lies on a ridge just above the town of Spisske Podhradie, about a 15 minute bus ride from Levoca.

Catch the bus from namestie Stefana Kluberta, just by the north east city gate of Levoca. Make sure you ask the driver to let you off at Spisska Kapitula or ask a friendly local on the bus. You stop the bus by pressing the white button in the ceiling.

Spisske Podhradie is an easy 5 minute walk down the hill from Kapitula.