In the east of Slovakia is Levoča, formerly, Leutschau. In 1317 the city became a free royal town with numerous privileges.

Kaschau Gate is the most beautiful of the three well-preserved city gates and the two and a half kilometre city wall once contained fifteen bastions. Levoča eventually became the capital of the region occupied by the Zipser Saxons.

The main square contains forty Renaissance-style buildings once owned by the Bourgeoisie and indicate the former wealth of the inhabitants of this city of trade.

Jakob Cathedral is regarded as a national treasure. Mighty buttresses support a beautiful net vault, the result, a mediaeval atmosphere. In the half-light, there are various side altars and many splendid murals.

In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the city was one of Europe’s most important centres of trade due to the trade routes that crossed here between Hungary and Poland.

A mighty ring wall, with only two exits, protected the nearby Spišská Kapitula Church. The Romanesque Martin Basilica is the most important building in the complex which was founded in 1198. Of the former thirteen Gothic altars, five remain.

Finally, both Levoča and Spišská Kapitula have managed to survive Turkish invasion, various sieges mounted by the troops of the Habsburgs, and numerous deadly plagues!