Spiš Castle and Surroundings
UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites - Spiš Castle and Surroundings (1993)
The dominant historical site in Spiš is the complex of buildings made up by
- Spiš Castle,
- Spišská Kapitula
- and Spišské Podhradie.
Spiš Chapterhouse, the only one from the group of four monuments on the UNESCO World Heritage list, is located in the Prešov region. Remaining three monuments are located nearby.
Spiš Castle
Covering an area of more than 4 hectares, Spiš Castle is considered to be one of the largest castles in Central Europe. It is most extensive riuin castle in Slovakia as well as in the Middle Europe. The castle ruins lie next to the road going from Prešov to Levoča.
Spišská Kapitula
the so-called ‘Slovak Vatican’, was, in medieval times, a European rarity by being an exclusively ecclesiastical settlement. Formerly the seat of the Spiš priory, it then became, in 1776, the seat of the Diocese of Spiš.
Žehra
The complex of buildings making up the heritage site is completed by the Church of the Holy Spirit in the nearby village of Žehra, which is famous for its unique frescoes from the 13th century.