The 15th-century bust of a noblewoman has been identified as the work of the leading Renaissance sculptor the Bust of Cecilia Gonzaga likely arrived in Slovakia due to historical ties between the noble Gonzaga family of Mantua and the Csáky family Its rediscovery is a major event for the Slovak art world yet the public has never seen the piece and debate is continuing about how it should be securely exhibited The bust was originally housed in the Csáky family's manor in Spišský Hrhov the mansion became a girls' reformatory "We know the girls played with it – sometimes they even used it as a ball – and once even drew eyeliner around its eyes," recalled former Spiš Museum director Mária Novotná it was initially catalogued as a 19th-century imitation the more I became convinced that it could be an original." The key clue was an inscription on the lower part of the bust which matched Donatello’s known signatures The artist signed only a handful of his works the bust would be just the eighth work by Donatello that is known to have been signed refused an arranged marriage and entered a convent at 16 and it is extraordinary that this bust was created," said art historian Mária Pötzl-Malíková Portrait busts were rare in Donatello’s time making this discovery even more remarkable How the bust arrived in Slovakia remains a mystery The Csáky and Gonzaga families had connections dating back to the 17th century and some Gonzagas were prominent at the Viennese court making several possible routes for its arrival plausible Since its identification, the bust has been stored under strict security and the general public can now see it only by means of a 3D presentation While experts want it to be displayed in Levoča concerns have been raised about the Slovak museum system’s ability to protect such treasures "We see museum collections in the hands of political appointees without expertise," warned Ivana Rumanová from the Open Culture The recent dismissal of the museum’s director without explanation has only added to the uncertainty "Whoever takes on this role must ensure the highest level of protection for this priceless work – and ideally make it accessible to the public," Rumanová stressed thousands of people have flocked to a Marian pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Visitation in Levoča Basilica of the Visitation in Levoča (Wikimedia / Karelj) On July 6 and 7, the town of Levoča in northern Slovakia witnessed one of the most well-attended Marian pilgrimages in Europa More than five hundred thousand people have attended the religious ceremonies and activities of the pilgrimage In a country with a population of five million this influx highlights the deep devotion and spiritual significance that the pilgrimage has for Slovaks the sacrament of confession has played a prominent role with numerous priests available to offer this service to pilgrims both day and night The program of the pilgrimage was varied: on Saturday there was a mini festival of Christian music that attracted many young people On Sunday there were events such as the Stations of the Cross a solemn Mass presided over by the Bishop of Spiš Bishop Trstenský encouraged those present to be faithful to the Gospel and to proclaim it with joy; he stressed that this joyful attitude is a necessity of our times: "Let us not be afraid to live our faith with joy Our Slovakia does not need sad proclaimers who have themselves experienced the joy of proclamation" which is held annually around the feast of St Methodius (celebrated in Slovakia on July 5) is one of the oldest and most significant pilgrimage events in Slovakia when in 1247 the first chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built in Levoča (in the north-eastern region of Spiš) This act was a response to the numerous miracles that allegedly occurred at this place The pilgrimage quickly became an important spiritual event that attracted believers from all over the region and even from neighboring countries The Levoča pilgrimage continued even during the Turkish invasions when believers sought refuge and spiritual support a Baroque basilica was built on Mariánska Hora hill which still serves today as the main pilgrimage church This basilica is a true architectural gem that offers its visitors not only a spiritual experience but also an aesthetic delight with its magnificent architecture and decoration The significance of this pilgrimage site did not go unnoticed in Rome Pope John Paul II elevated the church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary to a minor basilica (basilica minor) on January 26 This title recognizes the importance and spiritual significance of this place the largest pilgrimage in the history of Levoča was held in which more than 650,000 people participated in the presence of the Pope himself The Marian pilgrimage to Levoča has attracted many prominent personalities from various areas of public life. Among the most important of these is Pope John Paul II, who visited Levoča during his. apostolic journey to Slovakia in 1995 His presence gave the pilgrimage a special significance and strengthened its international dimension the pilgrimage is regularly attended by bishops priests and other spiritual leaders who strengthen with their presence the spiritual significance of this event Among other prominent personalities who have visited Levoča during the Marian pilgrimage are various Slovak politicians who come not only in search of spiritual inspiration but also to support tradition and cultural heritage The Marian pilgrimage to Levoča acquired special significance during the communist era when the regime repressed and policed religious life the pilgrimage became a symbol of resistance and spiritual strength for many believers People made pilgrimages to Levoča despite the risk of persecution or punishment The pilgrimage represented a refuge and a place where believers could freely express their faith and obtain spiritual support This spiritual and moral strength that the pilgrimage represented helped to maintain hope and strengthen people's inner strength at a time when fundamental rights and freedoms were being systematically violated Pilgrims met with clandestine priests and religious who provided spiritual support and encouragement the Marian pilgrimage to Levoča is an event that annually attracts tens of thousands of believers Preparations for the pilgrimage begin several months before the event In addition to the main religious ceremonies the pilgrimage is accompanied by various cultural and social events The Levoča pilgrimage is today a modern spiritual event that combines traditional values with new forms of spiritual expression Many young people take the opportunity to go on pilgrimage to find inner peace and strengthen their faith The organizers ensure that the program is rich and varied offering various forms of spiritual and cultural enrichment One of the highlights of the pilgrimage is the night procession which begins at the basilica and ends at the top of Mariánska Hora hill This procession symbolizes spiritual pilgrimage and a deep inner experience for many pilgrims which creates an unforgettable visual and spiritual experience a large number of believers participate in the Marian pilgrimage to Levoča During the weekend when the main pilgrimage takes place approximately 500,000 to 600,000 pilgrims flock there especially significant in a country with a population of five million testifies to the importance and popularity of this spiritual event which transcends the borders of Slovakia and attracts believers from various countries The Marian pilgrimage is of great importance not only for believers which has a positive impact on the local economy restaurants and stores experience an increase in demand and footfall during the pilgrimage bringing financial benefits to local residents the pilgrimage also has cultural and social importance It maintains and strengthens traditional values such as faith the pilgrimage is an opportunity to reunite with old friends and family which contributes to the strengthening of social ties the Marian pilgrimage to Levoča faces challenges One of the main ones is ensuring the safety and comfort of all participants The organizers collaborate with local authorities to ensure sufficient possibilities for accommodation Another challenge is to maintain and develop the tradition in the context of the modern world With the growing influence of digitalization and globalization it is important to find ways to attract young people and maintain their interest in the pilgrimage the organizers are looking to use social networks and modern media to promote the pilgrimage and attract a wider audience The Marian pilgrimage to Levoča is a significant spiritual and cultural event that brings together believers from all over Slovakia and abroad the presence of prominent personalities and its modern form make this pilgrimage a unique experience that attracts thousands of people annually Despite the challenges posed by the contemporary world the Marian pilgrimage to Levoča remains a strong symbol of faith Subscribe to Omnes magazine and enjoy exclusive content for subscribers The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international community’s efforts to protect and preserve World Heritage partnerships for conservation Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in today’s complex world where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development Our Partners Donate Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information Spišský Hrad has one of the largest ensembles of 13th and 14th century military political and religious buildings in eastern Europe and its Romanesque and Gothic architecture has remained remarkably intact The extended site features the addition of the historic town-centre of Levoča founded in the 13th and 14th centuries within fortifications Most of the site has been preserved and it includes the 14th century church of St James with its ten alters of the 15th and 16th centuries a remarkable collection of polychrome works in the Late Gothic style including an 18.6 metre high alterpiece by completed around 1510 by Master Paul C’est l’un des ensembles de bâtiments militaires politiques et religieux des XIIIe et XIVe siècles les plus étendus d’Europe orientale dont l’architecture romane et gothique est demeurée remarquablement intacte L’extension porte sur le centre historique de la ville de Levoca fondée au cours des XIIIème et XIVème siècles au sein d’une enceinte fortifiée L’essentiel du site a été préservé et on y trouve l’église Saint-Jacques avec ses dix autels du XVème et XVIème siècles une collection remarquable de retables en bois polychromes de style gothique tardif dont le maître-autel à retable édifié vers 1510 par Maître Paul يُمثل الآن الموقع الموسع في سلوفاكيا مركز مدينة ليفوكا التاريخي الذي أنشئ في القرنين الثالث عشر والرابع عشر داخل تحصينات وتم الحفاظ على معظم أجزاء الموقع الذي يضم كنيسة سان جيمس التي تعود إلى القرن الرابع عشر، مع مذابحها العشرة المقامة في القرنين الخامس عشر والسادس عشر، وهو ما يُعتبر مجموعة رائعة من الأعمال المتعددة الألوان التي تتسم بالأسلوب القوطي المتأخر، وتشمل حجرة مذبح يبلغ ارتفاعها 18.6 متراً استكمل بناءها النحات ماستر بول حوالي عام 1510 está rodeada de fortificaciones y presenta un buen estado de conservación Entre sus edificios figura la iglesia de Santiago con sus diez altares de los siglos XV y XVI una notable colección de retablos de madera polícroma de estilo gótico tardío que incluye el retablo mayor realizado en torno al año 1510 por el Maestro Pablo Spisský Hrad es uno de los conjuntos de edificios militares políticos y religiosos de arquitectura románica y gótica de los siglos XIII y XIV más vastos en Europa Oriental y se ha conservado admirablemente intacto the associated sites in Spišské Podhradie and Žehra constitute a remarkable group of military of a type that was relatively common in medieval Europe but of which almost none have survived in such a complete condition with equivalent integrity and the associated cultural monuments is one of the most extensive groups of military and religious buildings from the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance in Eastern Europe the Romanesque and Gothic architecture of which has remained remarkably intact in Spišský Hrad It is a group belonging to the same Saxon colonial settlement in the Middle Ages of which it illustrates the material and cultural successes and cultural centre of the first order over a long time-span in Eastern Europe Spišský Hrad and the associated cultural monuments of Spišské Podhradie extended to Levoča and the works of Master Paul in Spiš constitute an outstanding example of a remarkably well preserved and authentic group of buildings which is characteristic of medieval settlement in Eastern Europe The Romanesque and Gothic architecture of Spišský Hrad and its associated cultural monuments one of the most extensive groups of 13th and 14th century military The degree of authenticity of the property is satisfactory be given to the quality of the maintenance and restoration work on the private buildings of Levoča The protection of the property and the management plan and its practical organization are adequate they need to be strengthened and improved in certain respects and the management plan needs to be published There has been much discussion in recent days about the possible attribution to Donatello of a long-neglected marble bust found in a small museum in a small town in Slovakia: we are talking about a portrait of a young woman kept at the Spiš Museum in Levoča according to the institute’s director yesterday came the cold shower from experts at theOpera del Duomo in Florence however.The bust in question has long been thought to be just another 19th-century imitation: it is not uncommon to come across 19th-century marbles imitating Renaissance works When Mária Novotná spotted Donatello’s name on the marble bust of a young woman in the museum’s collection she sent it to theSlovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava for further examination According to the Slovak Spectator newspaper led by 19th-century sculpture specialist Marta Herucová would be “almost certain” that the sculpture is an original by Donatello And they believe it to be a portrait of the noblewoman Cecilia Gonzaga (Mantua who was not included in the family’s marriage policies as was the fate of so many young women of the time who were not supposed to go as brides to scions of other families entered a convent in 1445 and remained there until the end of her days) the work came to Slovakia through strong ties between the Gonzaga family of Mantua and the Csáky family The connection between the two families has been traced back to the 17th century although it is unclear when the sculpture changed hands The work has been preserved in the Csáky mansion in Spišsky Hrhov for centuries the mansion was turned into a reformatory for girls The bust was rolled around like a ball and even made up It was only in 1975 that the sculpture arrived at the Spiš Museum where it was initially catalogued as a 19th-century imitation and left to languish in storage Only by paying closer attention to the “Opus Donatelli” inscription on the base (and similar to that found in other works by Donatello) did Novotná begin to question the work’s true identity Most of the research into the authenticity of the Gonzaga bust has been conducted by art historian Marta Herucová yellow relative to the role of the Opera del Duomo of Florence some media outlets have reported that Herucová allegedly enlisted the help of the Opera del Duomo of Florence and Giovanni Serafini in particular (it was even said that the Slovak work would be compared with some known works by the artist found in Florence) But the Florentine institution has dryly denied any involvement: in particular the Slovak scholars would only be accompanied on a visit aimed at a direct viewing of Donatello’s works preserved in the Santa Maria del Fiore complex But no scholar affiliated with the institution has commented on the attribution “With regard to recent reports concerning the marble bust depicting the Italian noblewoman Cecilia Gonzaga preserved in the Spiš Museum in Levoča (Slovakia),” the institution announced in a note sent yesterday “the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore categorically denies that an opinion has ever been expressed on the attribution of the work to Donatello the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore welcomed scholars engaged in research on the bust guiding them in direct observation of Donatello’s masterpieces preserved in the Cathedral Baptistery and Museo dell’Opera del Duomo in Florence a general conversation was held about Renaissance sculpture and the artist an employee of the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore clarified the following: ’I have not expressed any opinion on the Donatello autography of the Levoča bust.’” the work under investigation has not yet been put on public display and can only be seen in a 3D scan and Slovak media speculated whether such a work would be safe in the country’s current museum system Which language would you like to use this site in Millions of Roma across Europe experience prejudice lack of access to essential services and hatred that can lead to violence How do they deal with discrimination on a daily basis and still keep going What motivates them to hope that the future is going to be better Here are four Romani activists talking about their fight for their human rights the rights of their children and their communities Fighting segregated education: ‘You gave us enough power’ they recently won a fight against their children being segregated in Roma-only school classes I don’t like to be marked as Roma or Gypsy They attend mixed classes – they have more opportunities and they have a different approach to school It’s good that people will read about it – if you don’t talk about it So it was certainly good working with Amnesty because in Levoča and elsewhere things have changed now.” I would be so happy if the Ministry of Education abolished all separate schools and classes Working with Amnesty International gave me a lot of power and energy If you weren’t with us I wouldn’t know where to start You gave us enough power to go on with our fight.” Fighting forced evictions: ‘I can’t give up’ Claudia Greta and her community were forcibly evicted from Cluj-Napoca in December 2010 and resettled on the city outskirts Their story was featured in our 2012 Write for Rights letter-writing event Claudia and other activists are now campaigning with Amnesty International to be moved back into the city and into adequate housing “The eviction day marked me for the rest of my life Since then we have fought to show people that we should enjoy the same legal rights as everyone else I want to show the whole world that we will not give up I don’t want our children to spend their childhood in hell “I want people to see that we are normal people: we send our children to school We do normal things like any other ethnic group “Going to Warsaw with Amnesty International had a big impact on me A 10-year-old boy showed me the letter he wrote for us Each letter shows that others are fighting beside us I will leave someone in my place to continue Jews and all other ethnic groups living here If the EU sees discrimination in our country She is now the UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues when I’ve had to give my mother’s name for official documents it was always clear that I belong to the Roma group “When I was a student working part-time as an event organizer I heard my boss had found out that my mother was Roma and he couldn’t have the company represented by a Roma woman was clean and polite; the only thing that mattered was that my mother was of Roma origin and joined the European Roma Rights Centre my organization in Hungary just established a Roma women’s club talented Roma women working for their communities “I think what’s missing really is clear language about what’s going on allowing people to digest what’s happening Politicians are often too scared to use words such as “segregation” or “violence” or “killings of Roma” not only against Roma but also other groups But Roma stand out because we are targets in almost all the countries where we live The big difficulty is that we lack political So it’s important to find platforms to show solidarity There is always a way to reach out to these communities “We must act now to prevent another lost generation of Roma whose only expectations are lives of poverty Together we can fight for human rights everywhere Your donation can transform the lives of millions If you are talented and passionate about human rights then Amnesty International wants to hear from you the United Nations Secretary-General stressed the importance of the role of the local community and the importance of living harmoniously and in a sustainable way “I am honoured and pleased to visit this historic city of Levoca and I’d like to thank you for all your efforts to preserve this historical culture and heritage and civilization and proud history of your country,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters at the town’s City Hall Scientific and Cultural Organization] has designated this historic city as world cultural heritage site,” he added The UN chief said he was “deeply impressed” while entering the city due to the many historical buildings “These may belong to your citizens and city but I believe that these are common heritage of humanity,” he continued it would be very important to preserve all these cultural heritage and assets Ban also noted that he was “very much inspired by such a stunning beauty and history,” and said he hopes the many people who visit will also be inspired “Taking this opportunity I’d like to stress the importance of the role of the local community and the importance of living harmoniously and in a sustainable way,” he declared came to the United Nations and adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) alongside all world leaders These goals are part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development fight inequality and tackle climate change over the next 15 years “I hope you will ‘own’ these Sustainable Development Goals as your city’s Sustainable Development Goals and implement them,” Mr “It is important to take all necessary measures to address climate change which may affect your own city and country.” “Let’s work together to make this world and your country better for all,” the Secretary-General concluded Ban also met with the President of Slovakia Via UN News Centre Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform United Nations Sustainable Development Group United to Reform United Nations homepage SDG Media Zone UNESCO World Heritage Sites are protected places that have an outstanding cultural and natural value Various international bodies united during the Word Heritage Convention of 1972 in order to protect these places for future generations to enjoy them as they are today Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) ensures that World Heritage Sites are protected all over the world The town of Banská Štiavnica is the oldest mining town in Slovakia and was established in the 13th century This beautiful historical town is located in the mountains of Štiavnické Vrchy and represents mineral wealth and prosperity which is abundant in the surrounding landscapes The town center is surrounded by remains of the original mining town and metallurgical activities of the past The ministry of environment of the Slovak republic and ministry of culture are responsible for the protection of the property within the historic town of Banská Štiavnica This site is protected by UNESCO for its outstanding universal value Other world heritage sites in Slovakia include Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians, Vlkolínec and the Wooden Churches of the Slovak Carpathian Mountains. Currently, the protection and management of the sites is adequate. However, management plan needs to be published for the various historical, cultural and natural sites in order to strengthen and improve protection. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com Here are our picks for the most beautiful Slovak towns Located in central Slovakia in an area crisscrossed by mountain ranges, you’ll find Banská Bystrica which originally gained fame as a copper mining town in the late Middle Ages As this was a period of great wealth for the city the majority of the buildings you’ll see in the historical center will reflect the architectural character of that time it was also the site of the Slovak National Uprising the Slovak resistance movement launched an attempt to overthrow the Slovak collaborationist government that was in charge at the time The beautiful main square in Banská Bystrica is named after the uprising Although the town dates back to at least the 13th century, a couple of major fires in the 16th century effectively rid the town of the Gothic architecture that had once been dominant. The town was rebuilt, then, in the Renaissance style. Because of a number of notable constructions and how well preserved they are, Levoča has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list One interesting thing to look for are the woodcarvings of Master Paul of Levoča an impressive example of which you can find in the Church of St this eastern Slovak town is well worth a visit Lukáš Kulla / Unsplash One of the oldest towns in Slovakia Nitra was first mentioned with a version of its current name in the ninth century when it became the capital of the Principality of Nitra This was the first known independent Slavic state in the area It later fell under Hungarian control and so eventually became a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire it has the same kind of ethnically diverse history of many of the cities in the region Even in a strong Catholic country like Slovakia the Church is particularly strong in Nitra so you can expect to find a number of gorgeous religious structures The colorful church with the mountains in the background is a truly stunning sight Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy is a perfect place to walk around any time of day import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_3"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(window.canRunAmazon) { const amazonService = new AmazonBidService(); promises.push(amazonService.fetchBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Banská Štiavnica Natural Feature You can walk more than a kilometer underground in a mine from the 17th century bring your swimsuit and check out one of the many artificial reservoirs that were built to power the mining industry there are still a number of beautiful Gothic import PrebidBidService from "/v1/js/PrebidBidService.js"; import AmazonBidService from "/v1/js/AmazonBidService.js"; window.addEventListener('intersecting',async (e) => { const element = document.querySelector('[data-id="in_article_4"]'); const slot = element.getAttribute('id'); if(e.detail.slotName !== slot) { return; } let promises = []; if(window.canRunPrebid) { const prebidService = new PrebidBidService(); promises.push(prebidService.requestPrebidBids(null [slot])); } if(promises?.length) { await Promise.all(promises).then(() => { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); }); } else { googletag.pubads().refresh([window.addSlot[slot]]); } }); Bardejov Natural Feature Gabi Repaska / Unsplash There are a surprising number of areas to check out in Bardejov, a UNESCO site and town of only 30,000 Bardejov was home to a sizable Jewish community the history of which you can explore in the Jewish quarter the Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee has launched a major attempt to restore the town’s Jewish buildings is also impressive from an architectural standpoint and Renaissance buildings all finding their places here Don’t forget to check out Bardejovske Kupele the spa town just a mile north of Bardejov Gilberto Parada / Unsplash View Tours While Poprad as a town has much to offer any visitor it is primarily known as one of the main gateways to Slovakia’s famous High Tatra mountains Streams of people come through Poprad in summer and winter to take advantage of the city’s proximity to the mountains which are worth visiting at any time of the year for skiing or hiking the town itself has a charming historical center full of colorful buildings that date mostly to the 18th and 19th centuries Poprad really comes into its beauty in the winter when it’s covered in snow complete with the snowy Tatras in the background Lani is a freelance writer and translator currently living in Prague she went to university at Northwestern University in Chicago and then went on to live in Georgia See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Spring See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in August See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd The altar is the most prominent work by wood-carver It is the 500th year since the installation of the gothic altar by Master Paul in St Jacob’s Basilica in Levoča The anniversary celebrations will culminate with due to take place in the basilica on Saturday also to be broadcast live by the public RTVS will pay tribute to the work of the well-known medieval carver who made the altar It will focus on Master Paul and his contribution to the region with performances by musicians like Marián Čekovský Katarína Knechtová and others but the altar made by the Levoča-based carver It is 6.72 metres wide and was created between 1507-1517 “It was made of lime wood in the workroom of Master Paul who is considered to be the greatest medieval artist of Slovakia,” Zuzana Beregházyová of Levoča Town Hall told the TASR newswire there are three monumental sculptures of the Madonna and child Jacob’s Basilica is the third biggest gothic church in Slovakia It was built in the 14th century and preserved on its walls are mediaeval wall paintings The artwork by Master Paul has been restored several times The latest large-scale restoration started in 2012 and took almost three years for the monument to be returned to its original look Some €300,000 was spent on the restoration work of which approximately €220,000 was provided by the German Foundation and the rest was paid by the Roman Catholic Parish Office in Levoča Since 2009 the historical centre of the Foundation Messerschmitt Stiftung have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List There are several more altars by Master Paul and his workshop in the Spiš region but also in other parts of eastern Slovakia These can be found in bigger towns like Poprad and Kežmarok A NEW exhibition at the Spiš Museum in Levoča explores whether an 18th century noblewoman known as the “White Lady of Levoča” was a true historical figure or just a legend The Slovak National Museum opened the exhibition on November 12 and it will run until May 30 A NEW exhibition at the Spiš Museum in Levoča explores whether an 18th century noblewoman known as the “White Lady of Levoča” was a true historical figure or just a legend “This is a historical depiction of a legendary woman Throughout the centuries many have perceived her as a haunting ghost but in fact she never haunted anyone In the famous novel by Mór Jókai she is portrayed as a traitor to Levoča but the reality was different,” Mária Novotná The exhibition took three years to prepare and involved the collaboration of 19 institutions from Slovakia and Hungary said it was very difficult to find documents about the life of this novel-like personality in various archives and the researchers failed to find her marriage certificate “We had begun to doubt whether she really existed but shortly before the end of our research we received a file from Hungary about her interrogation and also her last testament and a prayer written one day before her execution,” Loerenčíková said The 45-page file about the interrogation of the White Lady of Levoča – her real name was Júlia Korponayová née Géczy – shows that she was cruelly tortured The testament and prayer were written in a Győr prison and is a unique document about the life of this noblewoman and politician who was sentenced to death by beheading on September 25 She is buried near the cathedral temple in the Hungarian town of Győr Novotná said Korponayová was the only woman in the history of the Great Hungarian Empire to be sentenced to death and executed as a result of a political trial at the Imperial Court in Vienna “Apart from the archival documents the exhibition shows a realistic portrayal of this noblewoman from 1706” said Dáša Uharčeková-Pavúková She added that museum visitors from Slovakia will now be better able to understand the complexity of this historical era of Rákóczy’s rebellion and the legend of this beautiful woman who pretended to love the insurgent Captain Štefan Andrássy while stealing the key to the Levoča town gate from him; permitting the imperial army to enter MASTER Pavol was a world-renowned sculptor and carver; his altar in Levoča has been reconstructed after almost three years of work Its original appearance is restored and is on display for locals and tourists in the St James’ Church with a special festive mass slated for June 6 The reconstruction/renovation started in autumn 2012 and had several phases with both architecture and statues being restored people were able to follow the works directly in the church The predella (the platform or step on which an altar stands) was renovated in studios from research and documentation to final touches cost almost €300,000 and were finished just after Easter “Renovating the work of Master Pavol (of Levoča) is undoubtedly one of the most important tasks of our restorers’ team,” head of the Regional Restoration Studio “It is the tallest Gothic altar in the world dating back to the 16th century which is among the crucial Gothic monuments globally One has to realise that Master Pavol belongs among the most respected woodcarvers of his times.” The expert work involved classical technologies with the use of precious metals restorers are working on the final documentation which will include several thousand pages The architecture of the altar extension was financed by the Roman-Catholic Parish Office in Levoča while the German foundation Messerschmidt Stiftung contributed with almost €220,000 for other works said that a restorer has to perceive each work with the same respect and serious concern for all monuments; but he added that the main altar of Levoča is “a cherry on the cake” and a dream come true there are some people who are not so happy about it and who expressed their fears already last June the Chamber of Restorers expressed doubts about the quality of the work – as on the altar a group of assistant restorers worked who are only secondary school graduates although led by Maták – who is responsible for the altar decoration – and Rudolf Boroš who is responsible for panel paintings who works at the Culture Ministry as general manager for cultural heritage as well as the reservation that there was no tender before the project started that it is hard to evaluate the work of restorers in Levoča until scrutinised thoroughly and that restoration work has become a sought-after field of business with the Levoča altar being a top attraction both because of the exclusivity and high-profile and because of the finances involved Members of the Chamber of Restorers get their direct orders also without public tender and though officially they are all top-level experts in fact assistants with just secondary education can work on their orders making their cases as non-transparent as the Levoča one “Let us admit that all orders for restoration works – including those made by Chamber of Restorers members – are assigned through direct commissioning,” he told Sme restorers get dozens of millions of euros through the grant programme “Let us renew Our Home” The duty to announce tenders has been bypassed successfully for years by all parties involved,” Lenhart concludes One of the conditions of the Messerschmidt Stiftung was also an accompanying book about the restoration as well as about 30 out of the total of 40 Gothic altars that can be found in Spiš – i.e It will be launched during the June 6 festivities Levoča strives to make itself more attractive for tourists who usually just hurry across the main square The town also wants to draw inspiration from Lourdes; the town with which they recently signed an agreement on cooperation The centre of Levoča is on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list thanks to its tallest preserved Gothic altar and almost completely preserved system of town walls with six bastions out of the originally 15 preserved it has one of the biggest medieval squares in rectangular form and 60 burgher houses dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries; as well as the Renaissance town-hall and the Marian Hill with the Church of Visitation of the Virgin Mary should stay intact and without need of further restoration for half The legacy of the pilgrimage is still alive today Thousands of believers came to Marian Hill near Levoča (Prešov Region) where one the biggest and oldest pilgrimages in Slovakia culminated on July 6 and 7 The organisers estimate that as many as 400,000 people came over the weekend “This place is so close to not only you but also those coming from neighbouring countries like Hungary and Poland,” said Polish Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko This place has been writing the history of the salvation of God’s people in this country for centuries reminding of several important milestones in its history and the fact that the pilgrimages also took place during the totalitarian regimes The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.skSubscribe now for full access Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail) PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk the wooden altar of St James’ Church in Levoča - the famous work by Master Paul of Levoča and the tallest Gothic wooden altar in the world – was made accessible to the public After being covered in scaffolding for a year the first phase of the altar’s renewal was completed in early December the wooden altar of St James’ Church in Levoča - the famous work by Master Paul of Levoča and the tallest Gothic wooden altar in the world – was made accessible to the public the first phase of the altar’s renewal was completed in early December The first phase involved removing thick layers of dust from the altar’s upper section This involved applying a solvent “to remove newer interventions and repairs and then we filled black traces and damaged parts with liquid silver,” head of the Regional Restoration Studio in Levoča we sprayed the surface with gold glaze.” “During the Christmas season and New Year’s both visitors and believers will be able to admire this artwork without the scaffolding,” Tkáč said a life-sized image of the altar was placed over it so that those visiting during the renovation could get a sense of how it looked During the renovation there were no interesting discoveries apart from letters and images on the rear of the altar The first phase of the renovation started in December 2012 and cost €123,00 – partly financed (€80,000) by the Roman-Catholic Parish Office in Levoča and partly by the Messerschmidt Foundation upper section of the altar should be safe for the next 100 years with no more maintenance and repairs needed for this period of time it is to be financed by the Messerschmidt Foundation “The first part was more demanding as for small details and filigree works has more compact space,” restorer Juraj Maták told TASR there will be a problem with three main statues which are huge and will be difficult to manipulate But the procedures themselves are always the same – to clean fill with putty and cover up.” The works in the church are part of the Levoča city complex and are expected to be completed by Christmas 2014 the scaffolding will only cover the main part The last time the altar was renovated was in the 1950s GOOD news came from the Spanish city of Seville to the little Slovak town of Levoča on June 28 when a selection committee decided that the town and the stunning works of its famous carver and sculptor would be included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List would be included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List Levoča did not get its own separate entry on the UNESCO list it was added to a previous 1993 listing for several world heritage sites within the Spiš region: the Spiš Castle and surrounding sites Spišské Podhradie and an early-gothic church in the village of Žehra Levoča is a small town of some 15,000 inhabitants in the Prešov region and is part of the Gothic Route with a picturesque historical square dominated by the town hall building and the Church of St is close to paradise for every admirer of gothic art and architecture It is one of the finest examples of the work of Master Pavol from Levoča who is now recognised as one of the most eminent carvers and sculptors during the 15th century in Europe The church has been undergoing reconstruction since 1992 The municipal office has been supervising it in cooperation with the local Roman Catholic parish office: the city is responsible for exterior reconstruction and the Church for interior work the head of the tourism department of the municipal office the upper third of the tower has been reconstructed as well as the roof in recent years Reconstruction of the northern façade of the church has also been launched “The deadline for finishing the reconstruction has not been set yet; everything depends on the financial resources since the renovation of the façade also includes restoration work,” Dunčko told The Slovak Spectator “We cannot rule out that the work will take another decade because no town has the potential to find financial resources for such a big project at one moment.” reconstruction of the exterior of the church has cost about €1.232 million since 2003 and another €2.5 million will be needed to complete the project Financing has been provided by the town of Levoča the SPP Foundation and the Prešov self-governing region “The interior of the church is waiting for completion of its renovation too,” Dunčko said “In the past years the church has paid for restoration of the side altars As the second biggest gothic church in Slovakia after the Dome of St the church and the town around it has now joined several other locations in Slovakia listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list: the mining town of Banská Štiavnica; the folk architecture village of Vlkolínec; the spa city of Bardejov; wooden churches in the Carpathians and in East Slovakia; the caves of Slovenský Kras; and the primeval beech forests in the Carpathians “It’s the start of a new era for Levoča as it is joining the other cultural sites of Europe and of world heritage,” Dunčko said which will require more responsibility when deciding about the town as a whole or about particular objects in it.” the new situation will bring Levoča under closer watch by not only UNESCO but also from Slovakia’s Culture Ministry and National Heritage Office it increases the town’s opportunities to receive additional financial resources for renovation of its sites through various grant schemes The UNESCO listing has brought satisfaction to all those people who worked for several years to prepare and file the nomination form it also brings the pride of belonging to an ‘exclusive club’ of world-wide sites which place protection of heritage first and which are well-worth visiting,” Dunčko said A medieval master whose works belong on a UNESCO list is being celebrated in the capital with an exhibition presenting the variety of his art as well as the context in which Master Pavol created his craft The works of world-renowned mediaeval artist and craftsman are being exhibited at the Bratislava Castle to mark the 500th anniversary of the completion of his biggest and most famous work the main altar of St James' Church in Levoča As it is not possible to bring the whole monumental alter to the Slovak capital Altogether 27 parishes as well as several museums galleries and secular archives contributed to the exhibition The idea to present Master Pavol outside his hometown came during the presentation of his mastery in Rome several years ago which administers the exhibition halls at the Bratislava Castle) Branislav Pánis noted There is an even older incentive for the current event When Master Pavol had an extensive exhibition in Levoča 50 years ago a successive event in the capital was planned but for various reasons Mária Novotná of the Levoča branch of SNM the display called Master Pavol of Levoča: Hands and Gold Serving the Spirit is a sort of “debt repaid” The concept of the latest exhibition is unique they wanted to present the work of Master Pavol both in its variety and in the context of the time period The idea to exhibit the work of Master Pavol in Bratislava has two aspects it is also meant to lure inhabitants and visitors of the capital to view the world-renowned originals of the mediaeval artist in the place where they prevailingly came to exist Master Pavol's works have been found and preserved not only in Levoča but also in some nearby municipalities in the Spiš region as well as in towns such as Banská Bystrica and other rich mining mediaeval towns or villages in the Gemer and Liptov historical regions His rich work is not just the pride of Slovakia but a part of the UNESCO world cultural heritage as well Unlike many mediaeval artists and craftsmen who are known only by their country and their works or the style of their workshop and school a relative number of facts about Master Pavol of Levoča are known He lived between approximately 1465-1480 and 1537-1542 (the range of estimations for birth and death) sculptor and author of the biggest wooden altar in the world the main altar of the St James' Church in Levoča Records show that he settled in the town some time after 1500 and had a carving and painting workshop there He married the daughter of a local respected burgher and his work was the completion and culmination of a 200 year tradition of woodcarving in the Spiš region Master Pavol is presented in the context of his times with an explanation of the main role of his works and other liturgical items the period situation he lived in including the incoming Reformation and descriptions of period methods and processes (e.g as well as with a portrayal of Pavol as a person humanism and Reformation impacted his work also historical items depicting mediaeval art religion and habits are presented at the Bratislava Castle Apart from eleven of his works – such as altars and other spatial wooden works – there are also mediaeval documents as well as the famous painting Mestercia from Rožňava “We tried to bring to our contemporaries the spirit of the times in which Master Pavol lived and to stress the elements which impacted him in both the material and spiritual sphere,” the second curator Alena Piatrová of the Historical Museum of SNM celebrating the 500th anniversary of completing the main altar of St James' Church in Levoč alongside a haptic and interactive zone for the visually impaired as well as a comprehensive catalogue in both Slovak and English MASTER Pavol Square in front of Levoča Town Hall will serve as the stage for a play every Thursday this summer And in the Cage of Shame - used in the past to publicly humiliate those who misbehaved - will sit the legendary White Lady of Levoča."Master Pavol and the White Lady of Levoča are the town's most famous legends," says Ladislav Péchy the programme director of the Days of Master Pavol.The wood-carver is most famous for the 18.6-metre high Jacob's altar Jacob's Church on Master Pavol Square is a historical figure that played a role during the Rákoczy uprising - a revolution aimed at freeing Hungary from Austrian rule LEVOČA's White Lady (inset) is said to still prowl Town Hall.photo: Ján Svrček And in the Cage of Shame - used in the past to publicly humiliate those who misbehaved - will sit the legendary White Lady of Levoča "Master Pavol and the White Lady of Levoča are the town's most famous legends," says Ladislav Péchy the programme director of the Days of Master Pavol The wood-carver is most famous for the 18.6-metre high Jacob's altar is a historical figure that played a role during the Rákoczy uprising - a revolution aimed at freeing Hungary from Austrian rule For three years both Master Pavol and the White Lady have been the inspiration for Levoča's annual Days of Master Pavol In addition to concerts of classical music the story of the White Lady of Levoča comes alive every Thursday at 11:00 and 14:00 The 20-minute show performed by the Divadlo na hradbách theatre company is inspired by the legend created by Hungarian novelist Mór Jókai Legend has it that the lady fell in love with a captain of the enemy army she let his soldiers into the town of Levoča through a secret corridor In doing this she betrayed her husband and her people She was sentenced to death and executed in 1714 Since then her ghost has been wandering the halls of Levoča Town Hall because for each performance we need a new actress as her head gets cut off," Péchy According to historian Pavol Dvořák the truth is that Korponay-Géczy was one of those who negotiated the settlement of the Rákoczy uprising The White Lady of Levoča remains immortal thanks to the legend which shows her in a white dress with a red scarf is one of the first things visitors to Levoča Town Hall see The programme of the Days of Master Pavol runs from Tuesday to Friday every week through August 29 For more information visit www.spisnet.sk/suzlevoca or call 053/4510-416 visitors will be able to charge their mobile phones A new shelter is set to enhance the Marčulina observation tower perched atop Marčulina hilltop in the Levočské vrchy hills of northern Slovakia Scheduled for completion in the spring of next year the shelter will offer visitors a cosy space to rest and folding beds within the lower part of the tower which stands at 1,225 metres above sea level Construction of the Marčulina observation tower began in 2020 While the final roofed level is still under construction it is expected to be completed by next summer bringing the tower’s total height to 35 metres visitors can already enjoy stunning views of the surrounding landscape the shelter will provide additional amenities such as charging stations for mobile phones powered by electricity generated from photovoltaic panels including Levoča and the village of Litmanová The Javorina-Marčulina mountain can be accessed by cyclists and hikers via the red and yellow markers from the Levočská dolina valley A helping hand in the heart of Europe thanks to the Slovakia travel guide with more than 1,000 photos and hundreds of tourist spots Our detailed travel guide to the Tatras introduces you to the whole region around the Tatra mountains Lost in Bratislava? It's impossible with our City Guide The works of the renowned Master Paul are not limited just to Levoča can also be found in tiny churches in inconspicuous villages Most of them are in the historical region of Spiš but some of the works of Master Paul (Pavol in Slovak) and his apprentices decorate places of worship in the adjacent Šariš and Gemer regions The picturesque centre of this borough of the town of Poprad which used to be a separate village in its own right The adornment of this church is the eponymous main altar made around 1513 by Master Paul The altar had already made an impact by the beginning of the Renaissance and it includes The Last Supper a tall relief with the motif of St George fighting a dragon and the Lord our Father on a throne with the kneeling Christ and Maria Master Paul also included himself among the Apostles – as he was wont to do – but we can only guess which one of them depicts him Another gem from his workshop is the statue of St Anthony the Hermit recent research has confirmed this altar statue bears the signs of Master Paul’s workshop The Holy Cross Basilica houses a cross with a statue of Jesus which dates back to the early 16th century It is placed in the altar case of the main altar but it is evidently too big for it; it seems to have been placed on a different altar originally This could be one of the first works of Master Paul The Kežmarok Basilica Minor is one of the biggest churches in Spiš a rococo confessional and many other precious historical items In the local Assumption of the Virgin Mary Church there is a baroque altar from 1709; but in its middle a gothic altar case from the original altar by Master Paul can be found His tender depiction of the Madonna is one of the most beautiful in Slovakia also bears the “handwriting” of Master Paul The historical rarity of Mlynica village at the foot of the Tatras is an originally romanesque church built probably in the mid-13th century it was rebuilt in the gothic style and received two new altars which seem to come from the years 1515 to 1520 and to be made by Master Paul of Levoča or his disciples The most prominent statue is that of St Margaret the Virgin of Antioch patron saint of the church which is definitely the work of one of the sculptors collaborating with Paul The gothic church of St Lawrence in Hrabušice is dominated by a late-gothic winged altarpiece dedicated to the patron-saint of the church Sts Lawrence and Stephen the Protomartyr were made in the workshop of Master Paul of Levoča and were placed in the altar case there are four panels with scenes from the life of St Lawrence the Diaconus and on the outer sides there is a depiction of the Passion cycle The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Spišská Nová Ves is notable not just for its tower – the tallest in Slovakia – but also for its sculpting group which belongs among the greatest gems of Master Paul it was placed on the beam of the triumphal arch but now and so they will not be available for public viewing in the near future believers gather in the Church of the Purification of the Virgin Mary It was built in the second half of the 14th century and although the dominant part of the church now contains a newer it still houses mediaeval statues of the Virgin Mary and St John that were originally in the Calvary on the triumphal arch The statue of the Madonna is among the most precious items in the church as it stems from 1510 and was made in the workshop of Master Paul The originally romanesque church of St Catherine of Alexandria has been rebuilt several times in the course of history – but the precious monuments were not destroyed One of them is the statue of Jesus on the cross by Master Paul which was originally part of the triumphal arch but during floods in the 19th century The Šariš Museum in the town of Bardejov holds the group of statues known as The Small Calvary which shows at first sight who is its author The typical signs of Master Paul can be seen in the type of scene stylisation of figures – and in each detail The Calvary from Bardejov is considered the last work of Master Paul and it has represented our cultural heritage at many national and international exhibitions It was last renovated almost half a century ago Master Paul also worked for the St Nicolas Church in Prešov where three statues have been preserved from his body of work One of them is the statue of Michael the Archangel which used to be the central figure of the altar which had ceased to exist by the end of the 18th century As the statue was preserved only in a torso state – arms missing – it was mistakenly considered to be that of Gabriel the Archangel that it is Michael the Archangel and that the statue had originally probably had a lifted right arm with a sword and scales in the left hand on which he weighed the souls of those deceased in mediaeval scenes The impressive Calvary of Master Paul in Spišská Nová Ves also used to contain the statue of St Maria Magdalena but it had a tumultuous fate It disappeared from the Spišská Nová Ves church and found a new home in the village of Stratená (meaning The Lost in Slovak) it spent a while in the wooden bungalow chapel near the railway station in a place called Na Špitáli (i.e The wooden structure vanished in the 1960s the statue was moved to the Stratená church Master Paul and his disciples also decorated the interior of St Martin’s Church in Lipany This was probably done at the order of the Tárczay family who had a family chapel there The Christ on the cross used to be part of a sculptural group but now it is placed separately in the nave to the left of the main altar They want their voice to be heard against growing extremism The ethnic Roma people in Slovakia enjoy undeserved advantages. Almost 80 percent of respondents in a poll conducted by the Slovak Academy of Sciences about the attitude towards the Roma minority said they believed that to be the case More than 60 percent of respondents identify with openly negative stereotypes about the Roma 51 percent consider the people of this ethnic minority a threat to national identity More than 40 percent of respondents do not oppose hostile rhetoric against the Roma The poll was carried out by the Institute for Research in Social Communication in June 2019 through an online panel of 1,033 respondents or abusing these sentiments toward the Roma minority for politics has typically been one of the election campaign tactics applied by many Slovak politicians much like the Hungarian card a decade ago or the anti-migrant rhetoric ahead of the 2016 parliamentary election That is not the case in the ongoing campaign when major parties running in the race are considered Even the far-right People’s Party Our Slovakia (ĽSNS) which used to have “dealing with parasites in settlements” among its main topics before elections does not make any such reference in the 10 points of their election programme It is the growing support for extremist parties that seems to have boosted the civic engagement of the Roma ahead of the 2020 election “It seems that we are witnesses of the greatest civic mobilisation of Roma in Slovakia,” Tomáš Hrustič an expert from the Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and National Democratic Institute These are not only well-known Roma activists but also ordinary people who have never felt the need for public involvement They now go out to the squares to express their opposition to fascism the Opre Roma initiative has emerged to translate that mobilisation into election turnout which tends to be lower than the average among the Roma voters as well as educate the Roma living in marginalised communities not to sell their votes “Part of Roma voters who live in marginalised communities will unfortunately only go to vote if someone offers them something,” Csaba Horváth Cases of vote buying in marginalised communities are reported during nearly every kind of election in Slovakia the police reported on February 7 that they arrested a person in an unspecified village in central Slovakia was to facilitate the buying of Roma votes in the upcoming parliamentary election “This is why the [Roma] voices have not been heard yet because they are viewed as votes that could be gained easily,” Horváth told The Slovak Spectator US Ambassador Bridget Brink shares what her year in Slovakia has been like since her arrival in August 2019 Ask Bridget Brink to name the downsides of life in Bratislava and her answer is simple: “I just don’t have any.” The US ambassador came to Slovakia more than a year ago “I can’t believe it’s been a year already.” Despite devoting her career to Europe and supporting Slovakia's entry to NATO between 2002 and 2004 her first hands-on experience with the country began with her arrival in Bratislava as ambassador last August Don't forget to download an episode of the podcast in case you would like to listen to it offline Subscribe: Thanks for reading The Slovak Spectator and listening to our 'Spectacular Slovakia' podcast.Subscribe to The Slovak Spectator and get a new episode of the podcast directly in your inbox “I have been to almost all other countries in Europe but Slovakia,” said Brink adding it was thus fitting to end up in Bratislava “I really love the beauty of the city,” she added which includes lots of trips and meetings in Bratislava and across the country she has managed to learn a lot about Slovakia did she learn about the efforts to rename Bratislava to Wilsontown - honouring US President Woodrow Wilson - in 1918 “Woodrow Wilson and the efforts by Slovak Americans to push for independence of then-Czechoslovakia are really important part of our shared history and something I wasn’t that familiar with until I became ambassador,” Brink claimed Even though she did not start her post with a list of places that she wanted to visit and prominent places in Bratislava and around Slovakia are included “I still have many places to go on that list,” Brink noted adding that the coronavirus pandemic has slowed her plans The American ambassador grew up in a city much smaller than Bratislava she sees cultural parallels between her town and the Slovak capital.“Community and family are very important because of her work though.It is the US capital that Bratislava reminds her of: “Washington D.C is a manageable place that feels like a small town [compared to bustling New York City] one of the things the ambassador likes to do is visit cafes and restaurants by the Danube she has not yet found her favourite.“It’s amazing to see how the city has been able to use the potential of the Danube,” said Brink.The history of Bratislava is another reason that she fell in love with the capital The ambassador especially feels the city’s past when strolling up and down the old Bratislava streets and squares.“I love how Bratislava has really wonderful pedestrian zones,” she said “I don’t know if Slovaks see that themselves the way I see it as an American.” Living now next to one of Bratislava’s public parks the Michigan-born ambassador said: “One of the things that I really like about Bratislava is there are a lot of green spaces.” She often sets out on walks and bike trips to the Bratislava hill of Kamzík and to the recreational area of Železná studienka - with rich history of mills - at the border of the Small Carpathians protected area “I really enjoy national parks,” Brink went on “It’s a very joyful memory of my childhood.” she has visited most of its national parks; a picture in which she poses with a ground squirrel in Muránska planina Her family also enjoys skiing in Slovak mountains and has become especially fond of Slovak ice-hockey The ambassador herself has been to some of the Slovan Bratislava ice-hockey games and her son is enthusiastic about playing ice-hockey “If he can become a professional hockey player that’d be probably his first dream,” she laughed Although Brink loves travelling out to Slovak regions to connect with locals It is the capital that provides her with plenty of opportunities to visit art museums and it’s something I’ve enjoyed in every place where I have served,” the ambassador said adding that the ship-shaped Danubiana art museum in Bratislava is special for its location and architecture she enjoyed the Andy Warhol Museum in Medzilaborce Brink is keen to discover art from Slovak artists and thus get to know the country from a perspective other than politics Continuing the search for her favourite artist she seems to have found Slovak bands close to her heart: Korben Dallas and Para of which current Bratislava Mayor Matúš Vallo is a member Brink has also fallen in love with Slovak cuisine steamed buns filled with jam and covered in poppy seeds and she would not show disdain for Slovak wine or beer the most delicious hamburgers in Bratislava are made The ambassador admitted that in comparison to other places where she has lived Bratislava has not been a difficult city to convince her friends and families to visit although many of them had not before put Slovakia on their itineraries “I can say it’s a hidden gem for Americans,” US Ambassador Bridget Brink claimed hoping to see more people from the USA coming to Bratislava and the rest of the country in the future The podcast, created by The Slovak Spectator, was supported by the Bratislava Tourist Board and implemented with the financial support of the the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic The current exhibition at the national gallery focuses on an unknown master of art from the Middle Ages who is known only by the style of his work The exhibition needed detective work to trace down and piece together parts of his art that no longer are together The items stem not just from its own deposit but also from a collection of Gothic works in a Slovak church the Hungarian national gallery and private collections The Master of Okoličné and the works from his workshop are the focus of the current exhibition in the Esterházy Palace in Bratislava The exhibit also includes an altar from a village close to Okoličné The exhibition is completed with some Gothic works of art from the region of Spiš where Master Pavol of Levoča especially stood out as a representative of this style “We tried to present an artist whose name is not known to us; thus as well as an altar which in reality does not exist,” curator Dušan Buran said at a lecture of the exhibition Buran went on to explain that the Master of Okoličné (a village in the Liptov area in northern Slovakia) and his disciples can be determined and detected only by the results and style of their work Unlike the better-known Master Pavol of Levoča no biographical facts are known about the Master of Okoličné not to mention his students or assistants from his workshop/studio “We managed to collect all existing and available parts of the former altar of the monastery church in Okoličné which was disassembled already in the 18th century and replaced by a baroque one,” Buran explained “In the roughly 170 years since then the parts have been scattered to many places some have been lost and many were found in poor physical state.” The parts have been preserved in several collections in Slovakia The master of the former Marian altar from the Franciscan monastery in Okoličné near Liptovský Mikuláš ranks among the best painters of the central-European late gothic era the Slovak National Gallery (SNG) wrote about the focal personality of the exhibition adding that he worked with other important Spiš sculptors The unknown Master’s work remains relatively unknown and the exhibition is one of the rare opportunities to learn about him Most paintings by the Master of Okoličné stand out by an attractive synthesis of Dutch gothic art and Italian Renaissance His work today is mostly church property (two side altars in Smrečany 1510 and painting of the Altar of the Visitation in St Elisabeth Cathedral in Košice 1516) SNG succeeded in acquiring one of the panels of the Okoličné altar in 2010 The recent completion of its restoration by Petra Hoffstädterová was an incentive to organise this exhibition The layout for the “Master of Okoličné and Gothic Art of Spiš around 1500” exhibition is quite unusual; apart from protecting the precious items it also tries to present the artworks in a way easy to understand Besides an analytical exhibition on the second floor of the Esterházy Palace containing about 40-50 gothic artefacts – altar triptychs sculptures and prints – it also includes the presentation of new knowledge from the restoration of the altar and the historical research directly in Okoličné as well as a blueprint of the Okličné monastery church as it may have looked in the time of the Middle Ages when it was built New media (virtual architectural reconstruction panel paintings) have been used to help visitors not just enjoy the medieval beauty but also understand art history and technology The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue (in Slovak) with several essays on the architecture of the monastery church and its original altar as well as on noble families from Okoličné and Smrečany There are also contributions by conservators and dendrologists The publication also includes an annotated catalogue of the exhibited works of all available works by Master of Okoličné “The altar from the monastery church in Okoličné was by its size among the biggest made in the region of Spiš around 1500,” Buran noted “The only bigger ones were the famous main altar of Master Pavol from Levoča in the Levoča parish church a similar altar which was probably placed in the Holy Cross Church in Kežmarok and in the Marian parish church in the nearby village of Ľubica.” The current exhibition representing the gothic art from Spiš can be visited for free daily except for Mondays until November 26 on the 2nd floor of the Esterházy Palace in Ľ Insightful information about UNESCO sites in Slovakia and the stories they tell This article was prepared for an edition of the Spectacular Slovakia travel guideand was published in the travel guide Slovakia Banská Štiavnica (historical centre and technical monuments in surroundings) Spiš Castle and sights in Spišské Podhradie and Žehra Wooden churches (Greek Catholic: Ruská Bystrá Bodružal; Roman Catholic: Tvrdošín Caves and gorges of the Slovak Karst (Caves accessible to the public: Dobšinská Ice Cave Ochtinská aragonitová and Silická ľadnica) Carpathian Primeval Beech Forests in Poloniny and Vihorlat (Havešová Source: Slovakia Travel Guide(www.spectacularslovakia.sk) Perched on the altar of the wooden articular church in Leštiny are two figures unique in Christian iconography a spate of looting in some of Slovakia’s historical monuments accounted for the original priceless versions of two statues of the brothers Aaron and Moses which had stood in the church for hundreds of years the villagers of Leštiny commissioned a local carver to replace the artefacts and he went to work to produce something vaguely akin to the prized and delicate whittlings of his artisan predecessors it mattered little to most parishioners that the carver had taken as models two slightly less than traditional forms The result was that when Leštiny was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008 the statues of Aaron and Moses became the only UNESCO-protected garden gnomes in the world not exclusively the gnomic figures that attracted UNESCO to Leštiny Rather the magnificent hilltop church in which they stand is one of eight Wooden Churches of the Slovak part of the Carpathian Mountain Area that in 2008 earned inscription on UNESCO’s prestigious list of cultural sites the UNESCO World Heritage List has offered conservation and preservation to sites both natural and man-made in 153 countries in all corners of the globe Inscription is an internationally recognised indicator of value and importance attracts tourists and can elevate even the smallest site to global significance “Some wooden churches listed with UNESCO are situated in villages of 50 people; little little villages,” said Milan Dudáš the historian who single-handedly persuaded UNESCO to inscribe Slovakia’s wooden churches “These people are very proud.” UNESCO does not come looking for its new inclusions but in fact forces potential bidders to persuade its committees that a site warrants consideration The process is arduous and expensive for even the most financially sound governments and organisations but it can sometimes be a process undertaken by far smaller groups often working voluntarily and driven only by personal passion “If I had known at the beginning how difficult this would be I would have never done this project,” said Dudáš who secured the wooden church inscription in 2008 “It was a lot of work and trouble… to fill in the UNESCO forms It was absolutely horrible at times.” Dudáš’s mission to get Slovakia’s wooden churches recognised by UNESCO took close to 10 years’ planning and necessitated an unquantifiable amount of research where Dudáš was studying wood conservation technology at the country’s only inscribed wooden church I was born in a village where there was a wooden church He became both an expert and an educator on the subject before launching a plan to have the churches recognised by UNESCO first deciding on his own criteria for consideration before wrestling with the organisation’s further detailed requirements “I decided to choose only living wooden churches,” Dudáš said a church is a building that was built for people.” Some parishes in Slovakia were keener than others for inclusion church officials worried they would be forced to cede autonomy or be discouraged from using the churches for their original purpose Others feared a return to the days of the previous regime when an invisible authority undermined individual control the retention of the much-loved gnomes even during the visit of inspectors from the advisory International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Eventually he finalised a list of eight wooden churches Ruská Bystrá and Leštiny The churches bridge three faiths and encompass 500 years of history showcasing precocious architectural skill and burnished with interior design that remains startling even by contemporary standards the churches have become some of Slovakia’s proudest and most iconic sites The country now has a legitimate voice in international discussions and knowledge exchange about wooden churches Although Dudáš’s tale is unusually centred on one man’s tireless efforts other UNESCO sites in Slovakia share similar stories of the exhaustive bidding process officials in the wonderfully preserved medieval town of Levoča began the process of bidding for the town’s inclusion on the list requesting that UNESCO expand the inscription of the nearby Spiš Castle and associated monuments to include the region’s de facto capital But even though Levoča was seeking merely an extension to an existing inscription not just one person,” said Ivan Dunčko former director of Tourism and Development in Levoča in an interview a few years after the town was inscribed on the list In his office overlooking the town’s pristine square Dunčko heaved from a shelf a monstrous red box stuffed with files of paperwork It is about the state of protection of monuments We checked everything from seismic activities to wind We moved these documents through the Foreign Ministry the Culture Ministry to the centre of the World UNESCO Heritage.” inspectors from ICOMOS visited Levoča both officially and incognito - “I got the impression they knew Levoča better than us and much like the restrictions on the upkeep of a church UNESCO also keeps close tabs on developments in Levoča Business and residence owners in the UNESCO zone are prohibited from making significant structural changes to their buildings and even something as ethereal as the panorama of the town Some critics claim that a prohibition on development can only inhibit the town’s progress And although hotel bookings and visitor numbers in Levoča have increased since the inscription there remains a lingering fear that UNESCO sites can lose their functionality Our Spectacular Slovakia travel guides are available in our online shop The fear of a living village being turned gradually into a museum is never more evident than in Vlkolínec the picture-book hamlet in the foothills of the Veľká Fatra mountain range A handful of permanent residents of Vlkolínec have grown frustrated by an influx of insensitive visitors apparently incapable of believing they are not in a particularly authentic with UNESCO praising its 45 or so timber cottages as “the best preserved and most comprehensive set of traditional vernacular buildings in the Slovak Republic” And its otherworldly charms are certainly more evocative of one of Slovakia’s countless skanzens than they are a habituated town: a gentle brook tumbles down its central street past a couple of benches and flanked by low wooden cottages outside of which are lined woodpiles and rickety fences and sometimes “villagers” displaying local crafts Satellite dishes might hang from the gables but the town store is predominantly a souvenir shop and adjoins a tiny museum of traditional artifacts UNESCO inclusion might guarantee a procession of tourists desperate to touch what is valued specifically for being untouched It is a problem shared by some of Slovakia’s caves which have been included on the UNESCO list since 1995 Cave management raises some particularly vexing quandaries most notably how to exhibit Slovakia’s spectacular underground treasures but also protect them from damage but unseen wonders might as well be trees falling unheard in the woods visitors are offered as close to an authentic spelunker’s experience as possible hard-hats and mining lamps and guided along balance wires through crevices and clambering up ladders until reaching the magnificent central stalagmite tourists exchange their euros for a bewitching float along a subterranean river gliding through Slovakia’s largest cave a smooth concrete path leads visitors past a series of fragile unique aragonite formations resembling the spindly tendrils of sea urchins or birds’ nests which have been known to carry away souvenirs It typically takes less than a second to break off a stalactite that has taken millions of years to form All Slovak UNESCO caves are located in eastern Slovakia and described in detail in our Košice region guide There is not much UNESCO can do to safeguard against such vandalism save to encourage education and continue to offer funding for conservation efforts author and pre-eminent authority on the conservation of wooden churches could offer only one uncertain method when asked how to defend Slovakia’s heritage from destructive forces such as fire Recent additions include archaeological finds from the ancient Roman period of Limes Romanus on the middle Danube these are localities in Bratislava-Rusovce and in the village of Iža The UNESCO website features a tentative list with monuments and sites once submitted for inclusion with some still awaiting their fate the Memorial of Chatam Sófer in Bratislava the concept of the lenticular historical town core of Košice City and the Geyser in Herľany A helping hand in the heart of Europe thanks to the Slovakia travel guide with more than 1,000 photos and hundred of tourist spots Our detailed travel guide to the Tatras introduces you to the whole region around the Tatra mountains Lost in Bratislava? Impossible with our City Guide with some of the finest gothic church architecture in the country and James’ favourite sight - the cage of shame The Spectacular Slovakia travel podcast is the latest addition to our range of travel-related products This programme is part of The Slovak Spectator subscription and our readers receive it every Thursday morning as part of their subscription More information:Print+audio: shop.spectator.sme.sk/newspaperOnline+audio: www.sme.sk/predplatne-spectator