National cultural monuments in Slovakia

The Universitas Histropolensis (since the 16th century frequently - but incorrectly - referred to as Academia Istropolitana) in Pressburg (today's Bratislava) was the first university to be founded in the territory of present-day Slovakia. It was founded in 1465 by Pope Paul II on the request of King Matthias Corvinus. It was the only university in the Kingdom of Hungary at that time, although historically not the first in Hungarian territory. Many well-known lecturers from Austria, Italy end elsewhere taught at the school. The university ceased to exist around 1490 after the death of Matthias...

Benedictine monastery in Hronský Beňadik consists of a set of fortified sacral buildings in the village Hronský Beňadik in the district of Žarnovica in Banská Bystrica region. The monastic complex its stunning visitors with contemporary monumentality is a unique combination of sacred buildings and fortification as well as the symbiosis of different building styles - Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. The complex of buildings even today seems to be as a guardian of the crossroads. Benedictine Abbey in Hronský Beňadik was solemnly consecrated in 1075 in the presence of the founder of the...

Renaissance mansion in the city centre of Bytča is one of the most important and architecturally most impressive feudal settlements in Slovakia. The National Cultural Monument consists of a Renaissance palace so-called Wedding Palace as well as economic and residential buildings. Originally there was a small castle built in the 13th century, belonging to the Bishopric of Nitra. In 1563 Francis Turzo took possession of the Bytča estate together with the castle. He built on the site of an old Gothic castle new castle - fortified complex multi-functional structures in the years 1571- 74. In the...

Church of St. James in Levoča, originally in gothic style, is the second largest church in Slovakia, national monument and a building of a particular art-historical significance. Originally the church from around the year 1280 stands on its place. The current church was built from the first third of the 14th century. The church was modified at the end of the 15th and early 16th century, partly in the 17th century. In the temple you will find the ornamental late-Gothic painting, several frescoes groups: on the northern wall of the left side of the ship in two rows of seven works of mercy...

Greek Catholic Church of St. Luke the Evangelist from 1727 in the village Brezany, district Prešov is a historic wooden sacral building in Slovakia. Restoration of the church was made in the second half of the 18th century. It is currently also a branch of the Roman Catholic parish in nearby Bajerov. From an architectural point of view it regards as an atypical three-part log-house with a strong influence of Gothic Roman Catholic religious architecture. The windows are made by deep cuts in two adjacent beams. Glazed opening is provided with a simple iron grate. Baroque iconostasis dates from...

St. Nicholas Church is a wooden Greek Catholic Church of the Eastern rite in the village in Bodružal, in the district Svidník in the Prešov region. Since July 8, 2008 it is registered in the list of world cultural heritage by UNESCO under number 1273-007. It comes from 1658 and is one of the oldest sacral buildings of Eastern rite in Slovakia. The church has three towers. It has a log construction in a shape of three squares setup on one axis from east to west. Its exterior is lined with wooden boards. The layout of the various parts of cerkva symbolizes the Holy Trinity. Cerkva is located...

Csáky's castle in Prievoz (older Csákys manor house) is a manor house that Count Eugen Csáky had built as his summer residence near Bratislava, probably in 1902. The building is from a period of ripening romanticism, but shows elements of eclecticism and has an irregular disposition. In 1916, Pavol Žolnajov sold out individual parts of the french garden originally belonging to the manor house. In 1933 the building together with a small part of the park were bought by the nuns of the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Francis of Assisi, they established a monastery in the mansion and...

The St. Elisabeth Cathedral is a Gothic cathedral in Košice. It is Slovakia's biggest church. The record on the existence of Košice dating from 1230 in connected with that on the existence of the rectory church. In the process of the settlement's transformation from a rural community into a town, all its periods of success and failures had been reflected on St. Elizabeth's Cathedral. According to historic data the present-day cathedral was built on the site of an edifice of older date which was consecrated to St. Elisabeth as well. It was referred to in the document of Pope Martin...