Slovak UNESCO World Heritage Tour

Itinerary

UNESCO World Heritage organization aims to preserve and protect unique natural and historical monuments in the world for the next generations.

There are five cultural-historical localities from Slovakia included in the UNESCO World Heritage List:
- Spis castle and its environs, Banska Stiavnica town, and Vlkolinec since 1993
- The historic town of Bardejov since 2000
- Wooden churches of the Slovak part of the Carpathian Mountain Area since 2008

Slovakia's natural phenomena are represented in the UNESCO list by:
- Caves and Abysses of Slovak Karst since 1995
- Dobsinska Ice cave since 2000
- the Carpathian primeval beech forests of the Bukovske and Vihorlatske Mts. in the east of Slovakia since 2007

Fujara is a traditional Slovak folk musical instrument. It is included in the UNESCO List of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

1. Day 1 Arrival in Bratislava, Slovakia.

   - Arrival in Slovakia; Bratislava city
   - Accommodation
   - Free time
   
   

2. Day 2 Bratislava old town visit, transfer to Banska Stiavnica town - sightseeing.

   - Breakfast
   - Bratislava Old town sightseeing
   - Transfer to Banska Stiavnica
   - Afternoon sightseeing of Banska Stiavnica
   - Accommodation in Banska Stiavnica
   
   Bratislava castle dominates the center of Bratislava, and its four towers became the symbol of the city. The castle hill was inhabited from the neolithic Hallstadt and Roman eras. It reached its highest importance during the reign of Austro-Hungarian Queen Maria Theresa. In 1761 - 1766 the fortress was rebuilt into a typical royal residence. Today, after reconstruction, the castle shelters a historical part of the Slovak National Museum.
   
   Old town tour includes many monuments. The top visited sites are:
   St Martin's Cathedral, the Primates' Palace with historic Hall of Mirrors and the famous Bratislava tapestries, and Michalska Gate with a panoramic view of the Old town.
   
   Banska Stiavnica is a former mining town and lies amid the forests of the Stiavnicke mountains. Banska Stiavnica is one of the most beautiful and historically one of the most beautiful towns in Slovakia. The town is on the list of the World Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.
   Banska Stavnica progressively became the dominant mining center in the Habsburg Monarchy in the 18th century. Banska Stiavnica monument town reserve comprises as many as 360 structures. Together they present a unique set of high cultural and historical value, placed into the pleasant environment of the Stiavnicke mountains.

3. Day 3 Visit to the wooden articled church in Hronsek village, Monument Reserve of Folk Architecture in Vlkolinec village. Transfer to Kezmarok.

   - Breakfast
   - Wooden church in Hronsek
   - Monument Reserve of Folk architecture in Vlkolinec
   - Transfer to Kezmarok
   - Accommodation in Kezmarok
   
   Wooden articled church in Hronsek is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2008. The wooden church and wooden belfry originate from 1726. The capacity of the church is 1,100 chairs.
   
   Vlkolinec village - Monument Reserve of Folk Architecture is the extraordinary and remarkable oasis of folk architecture and on the UNESCO list since 1993.
   The first written record of the community is from 1376. Originally it was the settlement of loggers, shepherds, and farmers. Its unique compound of original folk buildings remains untouched by modern construction.
   ICOMOS (International Council for Monuments and Settlements) classified it as the best-reserved settlement of this time within the Carpathian Arch.

4. Day 4 Sightseeing: Levoca town, Spis Castle, Spisska Kapitula.

   - Breakfast
   - Spis region UNESCO sites: Kezmarok wooden church, Levoca town, Spis Castle, Spisska Kapitula
   - Return to Kezmarok
   
   One of the best-preserved Slovak wooden sacral buildings is the articled Evangelical church in Kezmarok. The church originates in 1717, built next to an older sacral stone building from 1593, which is a sacristy today. This unique wooden building is of yew and red spruce wood without using a single metal component. The Baroque interior of the church and the organ are also of wood.
   
   The historic Levoca lies in the east of the Spis region. The town represents a true cultural and historic jewel among the Slovak towns compounding numerous historical architectural monuments. The dominant part of Levoca is a large rectangular square with the Roman-Catholic St James church from the 14th century, one of the most important sacral buildings in Slovakia.
   The late Gothic wooden main altar of St James with 18.6 m is the tallest of its kind in the world. It was made of lime wood in 1507 - 1517 in the workshop of Master Paul of Levoca.
   
   Spis Castle is the largest medieval castle in Central Europe located on a travertine rock hill. The castle hill was populated as early as the 5th century BC; it is one the most unique archaeological and historical gems of Central Europe and is under UNESCO protection.
   
   Spisska Kapitula is sometimes also referred to as the Slovak Vatican. Church life not only in Spisska Kapitula (Spis Chapter) was organized from here by the bishops, provosts, and canonists.
   The most important building of Spisska Kapitula is the Late-Romanesque St Martin cathedral from the 13th century.

5. Day 5 Visit to the wooden church in Hervartov village, Bardejov historic town sightseeing.

   - Breakfast
   - Wooden church in Hervartov
   - Transfer to Bardejov
   - Sightseeing in Bardejov
   - Accommodation in Bardejov
   
   The Roman Catholic wooden church of St Francis of Assis in Hervartov originates from the end of the 15th century. It is the oldest and best-preserved wooden church in Slovakia. Gothic pictures and wall paintings from 1655 and 1805 are the most valuable parts of its interior.
   
   Bardejov town, one of the oldest Slovak towns, rightly awarded the European award, the gold medal of ICOMOS Foundation of UNESCO in 1986.
   The buildings in the historic center create the Town Monument Reserve (UNESCO). Bardejov is known as the Most Gothic town in Slovakia. Its center consists of historical buildings arranged in the area limited by a belt of town fortifications.
   The most significant monument of the square is the Roman-Catholic Basilica of St Egidius from the 15th century, located in its northern section

6. Day 6 Greek Catholic wooden churches in Bodruzal and Ladomirova villages. Transfer to Snina.

   - Breakfast
   - Wooden church in Ladomirova
   - Wooden church in Bodruzal
   - Transfer to Snina town
   - Accommodation in Snina
   
   Greek Catholic wooden church of St Michael the Archangel in Ladomirova is from 1742, built without a single metal nail. Independent belfry with column construction stands by the church. Valuable iconostasis and altar are from the mid-18th century.
   It is a five-row wooden architecture filled with icons partially destroyed in World War II.
   
   Greek Catholic wooden church of St Nicolas in Bodruzal dates to 1658. The log building consists of three parts. Its shingle roof is dissected and has three little towers. Preserved remains of wall paintings from the 18th century decorate its interior. The iconostasis and several icons are from the end of the 18th century.
   The church underwent a complete reconstruction in 2004.
   
   

7. Day 7 Visit to the wooden church in Ruska Bystra, Viticultural region of Tokaj.

   - Breakfast
   - Wooden church in Ruska Bystra
   - Wine tasting in Tokaj viticultural region
   - Accommodation in Kosice
   
   In Ruska Bystra is the Greek Catholic wooden church of St Nicolas the Bishop. The log building originates from the beginning of the 18th century, consists of three interior parts, and has a shingle roof. The interior in the Baroque and Rococo style is from the beginning of the 18th century.
   
   Tokaj viticultural area lies on the southwestern ridges of the Zemplinske mountains, south of Trebisov town. It is very exclusive and yet the smallest wine-growing region, including seven townships in the Slovak part.
   It is one of the few areas worldwide where grapes can be grown to produce natural sweet wines. The area also reaches out into Hungary.

8. Day 8 Kosice historic town sightseeing, Dobsinska Ice cave or Orchtinska Aragonite cave visit.

   - Breakfast
   - Kosice city sightseeing
   - UNESCO cave visit (Dobsinska Ice Cave or Ochtinska Aragonite Cave)
   - Return to Kosice
   
   Kosice city, as the first in Slovakia, gained the prestigious title of European Capital of Culture. Kosice is known for its rich history and interesting cultural life.
   Almost all city monuments concentrate in historic town center making it the largest Town Monument Reserve of Slovakia.
   Dominant of the main square and the city itself is the monumental Gothic Cathedral of St Elisabeth, the largest church in Slovakia and the easternmost situated Gothic cathedral of western type in Europe.
   
   Ochtinska Aragonite cave is a world rarity and unique natural phenomenon. It is interesting for the variety and abundance of aragonite formations and a rare development of underground space. Thanks to its significance and unique ornamentation, it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
   
   Dobsinska Ice cave is one of the largest ice caves in Europe. Thanks to its significance and unique ornamentation, it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

9. Day 9 Farewell.

   - Breakfast
   - End of the tour

Overview