Levoča

A favorable situation at the crossroads of trade routes ensured to Levoča a leading position in Spiš. Royal privileges, particularly the right of storage at the turn of the 15^th century raised the town to a peak of its wealth.

In the centre of Levoča is an oblong lavish square. Amidst the square stands a parish church composed of a nave and two aisles, the construction of which completed before 1400. Its interior is adorned with works by the foremost medieval sculptor master Paul of Levoča. They include the main Gothic altar which is the highest in Central Europe (17 m). Other noteworthy churches comprise a formerly Minoritian church built in the first half of the 14^th century and later converted into a Jesuit church and monastery.

Humanism and the renaissance found favorable conditions at Levoča. This became manifest also after the fire of 1550 in the construction and rebuilding of burgher houses. The Gothic-Renaissance town-hall located south of the parish church now houses a museum. Its southern façade is adorned with Renaissance murals illustrating townsmen´s activities.

Levoča played an important commercial and cultural role up to 1873 (also in the Slovak revival movement). Because the new railway missed the city, Levoča lost its position.

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