A 1717 wooden church built without a single metal nail
A Greek-cross wooden church built in 1717 from yew and red spruce without a single metal nail, standing next to an older 1593 stone sacristy, inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2008.
What to look for during your visit
4 highlightsSee a UNESCO World Heritage church built entirely without metal fixings
Learn how Habsburg-era building laws shaped the church's wooden Greek-cross design
View the elaborately painted wooden ceilings and galleries inside
Visit the adjoining 1593 stone sacristy, older than the church itself
A place shaped across centuries
Built in 1717 next to an older 1593 stone sacristy, the church reflects the strict building rules imposed on Protestant congregations under Habsburg rule, which forbade the use of stone, brick or metal fixings in new church construction. Built entirely from yew and red spruce in a Greek-cross floor plan, it was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2008 as part of the Wooden Churches of the Slovak part of the Carpathian Mountain Area.
What to expect when you arrive
Inside, the church's wooden construction and Greek-cross layout create an interior unlike most Slovak churches, with elaborately painted wooden ceilings and galleries built to seat a large Protestant congregation under the era's restrictive building laws.
A closer look
4 photographsPlan your visit
Address
Hviezdoslavova 18, 060 01, Kežmarok
Telephone
Email
Best time to visit
May to October gives daily opening hours except Sunday; November to April the church opens Tuesday to Friday only.
Getting there
The church stands a few minutes' walk from Kežmarok Castle and the town's main square.
Accessibility and terrain
The wooden interior includes uneven historic flooring and gallery stairs; contact the parish in advance for accessibility needs.
Combine it with
Continue exploring nearby
Kežmarok Castle's town museum stands a short walk away.
