Levoča (Hungarian: Lőcse, German: Leutschau) is a town in the Spiš region of eastern Slovakia with a population of 14,000. The town has a historic center with a well-preserved town wall, a Renaissance church with a unique wooden altar by Master Paul of Levoca, and many other Renaissance buildings.
Levoča is located at 49°2'0" North, 20°36'0" East 5 at an altitude of 571 meters.
History
The region was inhabited as early as in the Stone Age. After the Mongol invasions of 1241/1242, the area was settled by German colonists. The oldest written reference to Levoča dates back to 1249. In 1317, Levoča received the status of a free royal town. In 15th century the town, located on an intersection of trade routes, became a rich centre of commerce. The town has kept this status until the end of 16th century, in spite of two damaging fires in 1550 and 1599. In this period of prosperity several churches were built and the town had a school, library, pharmacy and physicians. There was a printing press in Levoča since 1624. Levoča was a centre of Protestant Reformation in Slovakia. The town started to decline during the anti-Habsburg uprisings in the 17th century. The economic importance of the town was further diminished in 1871 when a new important railway line was built, bypassing Levoča and leading through the nearby town of Spišská Nová Ves.
On July 3, 1995 Levoča was visited by Pope John Paul II. He celebrated a mass for 650 thousand people at the traditional pilgrim site of Mariánska hora just outside the town.
Levoca is situated in the north-western part of Eastern Slovakia, in the Spis region, and on the southern foot of Levocske mountains.
This significant square is one of the biggest of this sort in Europe and together with conserved renaissance houses, it gives you a typical picture of the town in the Middle ages.
Levoca, together with other towns situated in Spis and Gemer region, is an important part of tourist trail called “The Gothic Path” which is 267 kilometres long.
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