Levoca and Spis Castle

Continuing east towards Ukraine, we bused to Levoca just an hour away. Our program included touring St James Church which sits on the square in Levoca and is known for its many magnificent wood altars which are a treasure guarded so closely that that I do not have a photo. ;-) You can see them here...On our one full day we day-tripped to Spiš Castle with a long walk to another UNESCO monument.

After our first half-day and evening stroll we had that ho-hum feeling about Levoca, but after a great daytrip and our second evening stroll, on a Friday evening, we began to like the place. While it's not lively on a Friday evening, it's not quite dead either. Teenagers are hanging out in semi-secluded spots on the city wall, while at least one restaurant on the business side of the wall is busy. We hear singing from the Mass at St James. A man walks his small dog with a large bark. Three young women ask me to take their photo. And a young man is teaching, with not much success, his girl friend to drive a stick shift.

The Square with (left to right) St James Church, Town Hall and Lutheran Church.


On the Square.




The only Pilsner Urquell so far this trip. Tasty.


The German-built Gymnazium sits on the City Wall.


A quiet Levoca back street, just inside the northern section of the city wall.


City Wall with Tower and facing graffiti.


Sunset over the western side of the Town Square.


The Walk.

We got off the bus at the Spisska Kapitula, on old walled monastery. With views of Spiss Castle behind.






We are headed to Zehra and its UNESCO Monument church. The sign says Zehra can be reached by walking in 1 hr 55 mins, but it will take us 4 hours as there are many viewpoints and photo ops. ;-)


Leaving Kapitula and into Spisske Podhradie to the Castle beyond.


Spisske Podhradie Town Square.


Up to Spis Castle.




And of course there is a tourist bus parking lot at the top. ;-)






Bonus: Three guys were flying their remote control gliders on the hill opposite the Castle. Watching them slowed us down a bit. One guy had his glider doing barrel rolls and loop de loops.


Bonus: And 10 minutes later, rock climbers.




Viewpoint.


On the yellow trail to Zehra.


And down to Zehra's old onion dome church, a UNESCO Monument.




Turnip fields on the walk back.








Up the west side.


Down the east side towards the bus stop.


Final look at Spiss Castle.