Slovakia Gothic route
Spisska Kapitula, Spiss region
Slovakia Gothic Route, Itinerary, accommodation, included/excluded, price
About Spiss Region:
Spiš region is extraordinary rich in numerous historical and cultural monuments. It is a treasury of valuable, mainly the Gothic monument. Many of them, especially the sculptures and paintings, are considered to have the European quality.
Development and flourishing of the Gothic in the Spiš regions seems to be connected with the arrival to the area of colonists, mainly the German ones, in the 13th century; and this first of all due to the privileges, granted to them and contacts of new settlements with traditional centers of the art and crafts in the central Europe.
Thanks to the creativity of constructors, wood and stone carvers, painters and others, the Gothic Spiš remarkably contributed to establishment of the artistic profile of Europe. Wall paintings in Zehra and Dravce rank among the most appreciable Gothic paintings.
The Gothic sculpturing culminated in the period of Master Paul of Levoča, whose extensive works are predominantly concentrated in the region Spiš. The Gothic secular architecture is represented here by the castles and unique town hall in Spišské Vlachy.
The Gothic two-nave churches as special and rare architectonic type of construction, had nowhere in the central Europe found as huge application as in the Spiš region. Zápoľsky’s Chapel in Spišský Štvrtok as magnum opus of the Gothic Spiš architecture can be the start point of our journey via the Spiš region.
About Gemer Region:
The region of picturesque hills and valleys with beautiful nature and numerous well- preserved cultural monuments is situated in the south-eastern part of the Slovak republic. It covers major part of former Gemer county from the mountainous massifs of the southern Spiš till wavy and hilly country, in several sections converting into the lowlands, mainly on the border with Hungary.
Majority of the area is covered by mixed and coniferous forests of the Slovak Ore Mountains and the national parks Slovenský raj and Slovenský kras with numerous underground caverns. Rich history of the region has been since its beginning connected with mining and processing of raw materials – first of all the iron ore, which created conditions for development of the art, crafts and education. Medieval economic development contributed importantly to revival of cultural life in the area.
The region was thanks to the trade with iron appreciated as a crossroad of different styles of art, mainly of Italian origin, as many Hungarian rulers, especially clan Anjou, had been keeping close relations with Italy.
Numerous cultural monuments, such as the medieval Gothic churches with appreciable paintings in the quality of authentic fresco and precious furnishing, dominated by altars and pulpits with sophisticated sculpturing decorations symbolize the flourishing of mining a smeltery. Painted church emporas and cassette ceilings serve as an example of outstanding popular artistic creations of the Gemer region.
Valuable historical squares with the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque townsman houses, town halls and churches can be found well-preserved in Rozňava, the centre of the region and other towns like Revúca, Dobšiná, Jelša-va and Štítnik.
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DAY 1, Welcome to Slovakia !
Meet & greet by your private driver/guide & guide and transfer to your hotel.
Dinner & overnight in Bratislava
DAY 2, highlight: Bratislava - walking in the heart of the city centre
Breakfast from 8.00. We start today with VIP Sightseeing Tour with a professional guide focused on Gothic & History. This tour consists from 2hrs walking tour with a professional guide where you visit the highlights of the city such as Primate Palace (the largest palace in Bratislava where the Treaty of Pressburg in 1805 was signed), St. Martin Cathedral (one of the largest gothic construction of Bratislava where between the years 1563-1830 the coronations of 19 rulers including Austria-Hungarian empress Maria Theresa took place), Michael's gate - the only preserved gate from medieval times, Slovak National Theatre, City Hall, historical narrow streets, squares and lots more. You continue by minibus where you visit Slavin War Memorial (a cemetery is a place of reverence where 6845 Soviet soldiers are buried who perished during the liberation of Bratislava and its environs in April 1945),
Lunch break
Bratislava Castle (an important fortified settlement at the end of the 9th century. The first written reference to Bratislava from 907 is related to this period). You also know more about life under communist regime and see buildings from communist era.Around 01.30pm lunch in a recommended restaurant. Free Programm. Afternoon - transfer to Levoca (4hours drive). Dinner & overnight in Levoca
DAY 3, Slovak Gothic route: Levoca, Spisska Kapitula, Spisske podhradie
Breakfast from 8.00. We are now in the centre of Spiss region where we will spend 2 days admiring numerous historical and cultural monuments. We will start in Levoca with sightseeing tour & visit the Church of St.Jacub with its largest wooden altar of the world, followed by visit of the museum of Master Paul, fortification walls, gates. You will enjoy this beautiful, medieval, well-preserved town.
We will continue to Spiss castle, then to Spiss Kapitula & Spisske Podhradie.
Transfer to Gemer region. Dinner & overnigh in Gemer region.
DAY 4, Slovak Gothic route: Betliar mansion, Krasna Horka castle
Breakfast from 8.00. Visit of Betliar mansion, followed by Krasna Horka (castle) & mausoleum. Then We will continue to Spisska Nova Ves. Lunch break & sightseeing tour. Dinner & overnight in Spisska Nova Ves.
DAY 5, Relax
Breakfast from 8:00. Relaxing Day. We go to Pieniny National Park (50min drive) where you will be rafting (on wooden logs) on the Dunajec river which divides Slovakia and Poland. A marvellous, calm 5 km journey through gorges takes 1 hour 30 minutes. The raftmen will tell you interesting myths & legends during the journey.
Lunch break. On the way back stop in Red Monastery and visit a Carthusian monastery inhabited by Cartesian and Camaldulsian monks. It is situated on an ancient business route which led into Poland.
The Castle of Ľubovňa is situated on a hill northward from the town. Its oldest parts are the round watchtower and Gothic Palace. In 1555 the castle was renovated and enlarged. The last decade of the 16th Century was the most important epoch of the castle. In that time Polish count Š. Ľubomírsky obtained the entire castle with all its land. Together with his son Stanislav he made big renovations of the castle. In 1745 the castle became the property of the Polish King August III. In 1883 it was bought by a Polish count Zamoysky. He renovated the chapel and residential wing on the south terrace. The castle belonged to him until 1945. Today it is used as a museum. Dinner & overnight in Stara Lubovna.
DAY 6, Slovak Gothic route: Rimavska Sobota
Breakfast at 08.00. Transfer to Rimavska Sobota: The District town is settled in Rimavska Valley by the river Rimava.
Founding the Bronze values prove the settlement place from the Younger Bronz Age. The first written record about the town is from 1270.The historical town zone is representing by historical group of town houses from the 18th Century.
Transfer to Rimavske Janovce - the borough came into existence next to The Benedict Monastery and Abbey in the 13th Century.The Roman-Catholic Church Saint John Krstitel - originally roman basilica with massive double-tower was rebuilt in the 12th and 13th Century. Todays view was completed after the fire in 1857. Inside decoration respect middle age iconography in ideal variant with the parts of nazarenism.
The borough has been settled since the second half of the 13th Century, the first time was remained in 1925.Gothic Lutherans Refor. Church from the second half of the 14th.Century had been established on the older part of the sacral object. The Middle Ages wall paintings are kept in fragments. There are partly different by more important rustication from Gemer painting production form the end of 14th Century and beginning of the 15 Century. The next to two layers of paintings is a unique motive of imaginary painted altar. Transfer to Bratislava (3hrs 15min drive).
Dinner & overnight in Bratislava.
DAY 7, Farewell
Breakfast from 8:00, followed by free program until departure. Transfer to the airport.
Accommodation details:
- breakfast is included and provided in the hotels/pensions restaurant
- possibility to check your accommodation on the official hotel websites
- price is based on 2 people sharing a room
- single supplement available with a surcharge
- rooms are equipped with a bathroom- shower or bath with WC, TV, radio
What is included in the price
- your professional guide who will also be your driver, translator & advisor
- 6x accommodation in carefully selected & tested cosy hotels/pensions
- 6x breakfast at the hotels/pensions
- all transfers around Slovakia
- airconditioned luxurious limousines or minivans/minibuses Mercedes Benz equipped with a fridge on board
- diesel, all parking & motorway fees
- map of Bratislava & map of Slovakia, information material (brochures, leaflets)
- entrance fee in the mentioned wooden churches
- everybody gets a CD-ROM with Photos of Your Holiday
- present for the group - bottle of Slovak quality wine
What is NOT included in the price
- flights to/from Slovakia
- transfer from/to airport (will be arranged)
- lunch, dinner
- drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages)
- souvenirs, tips
- any other trips not mentioned in this itinerary
Price valid from 01.01.2012
- EUR 890.00 / USD 1135.00
- per person sharing twin/double room
- land-only price
- deposit-individuals: 25% is required
- deposit-groups: 50% is required
Clothing required for this tour
- no need for special clothing
This will depend which tour you will choose. As many tours start in Central Slovakia, the most convenient is to flight to the closest international airport in Krakow, Poland. However, for tours starting in Bratislava, Slovakia - undoubtedly the best is Vienna Schwechat airport. Not sure what's the best connection from your country ? Ask our travel consultant.
Hiking/Walking tours - Central Slovakia
- flight to Krakow, Poland, (recommended) transfer to the Central Slovakia only takes 2hrs
- light to nearest airport Vienna Schwechat, Austria, transfer to Bratislava only takes 30min
Best of Slovakia tours / Special interest tours
- flight to nearest airport Vienna Schwechat, Austria (recommended), transfer to Bratislava only takes 30min
- flight to Budapest, Hungary, transfer to Bratislava takes 2hrs
- flight to Prague, Czech republic, transfer takes 4hrs
- flight to Krakow, Poland, transfer to the Central Slovakia only takes 2hrs
Customer Testimonials
"Peter, We hope you made it home safely. Thanks for a really great tour !"
Paul & Yaffa Maritz, USA
April 11-13, 2012 - Short Trip to Slovakia
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