St. James, Levoča, Gothic church building in Levoča, Slovakia.
St. James is a Gothic church in Levoča built from brick with a distinctive architectural structure that defines the town's skyline. The interior holds twelve medieval wing altars, intricate stone carvings, and wall paintings spanning several centuries.
Construction began between 1307 and 1342 under Hungarian king Charles Robert, replacing an older Romanesque church that no longer suited the town's growing needs. The extended building period reflects the community's increasing prosperity and desire for a grander house of worship.
The name ties this place to the pilgrimage route toward Santiago de Compostela, reflecting its role as a spiritual destination for the region's faithful. Visitors can observe how people interact with the ornate altars and religious artworks that fill the interior.
The interior is open to visitors who can examine medieval frescoes, Renaissance tombs, and ecclesiastical treasures such as chalices and monstrances. Allow time to walk through and observe the fine details in the stone carvings and altarpieces.
This church preserves twelve original Gothic altars in their initial positions, a distinction shared within Slovakia only with Bardejov. This complete arrangement is rare, making it particularly valuable for understanding how such spaces functioned centuries ago.
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