Levoča

Sister cities

• Litomyšl
• Keszthely
• Łańcut

History

Levoča is located in the historical region of Spiš, which was inhabited as early as the Stone Age. In the 11th century, this region was conquered and, subsequently, became part of the Kingdom of Hungary and remained such until 1918. After the Mongol invasions of 1241/1242, the area was also settled by Germans (later known as Zipser Germans). The town became the capital of the Association of Spiš Germans, with a form of self-rule within the Kingdom of Hungary. The oldest written reference to the city of Levoča dates back to 1249. In 1317, Levoča (at that time generally known by the German name of Leutschau - see Chronology below for lists of changing names) received the status of a royal town. In 1321, a wide-ranging right was granted, enticing merchants, craftsmen, and mine owners to settle in this town. In the 15th century, the town, located on an intersection of trade routes between Poland and Hungary, became a rich center of commerce. It exported iron, copper, furs, leather, corn, and wine. At the same time, the town became an important cultural centre. The English humanist Leonard Cox taught around 1520 in a school in Levoča. The bookseller Brewer from Wittenberg transformed his bookstore into a prolific printing plant that lasted for 150 years. Finally, one of the best-known medieval woodcarvers Master Pavol of Levoča settled here. The town kept this cultural and economic status until the end of the 16th century, despite two damaging fires: the first in 1550 destroyed nearly all of the Gothic architecture and another in 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 as early as 1624. Levoča was a center of the Protestant Reformation. The town started to…

Geography

It is located in the northern part of the Hornád Basin at the foothills of the Levoča Hills, at the stream Levočský potok, a tributary of Hornád. Poprad is away to the west, Prešov to the east, Košice to the southeast and Bratislava to the southwest. Nearby settlements include: *Levočská Dolina (=English: Levoča Valley). About out of town, on the way to Závada. *Levočské Lúky (=English: Levoča Fields). Settlement on the road to Spišska Nová Ves. *Závada. Village in the hills above Levočská Dolina.

Most-observed species

• Beech

  Fagus sylvatica L. · Magnoliopsida
  415
• Norway Spruce

  Picea abies (L.) H.Karst. · Pinopsida
  412
• Sycamore [tree]

  Acer pseudoplatanus L. · Magnoliopsida
  340
• Scots Pine

  Pinus sylvestris L. · Pinopsida
  300
• European Silver-fir

  Abies alba Mill. · Pinopsida
  289
• Hazel

  Corylus avellana L. · Magnoliopsida
  260
• Rowan

  Sorbus aucuparia L. · Magnoliopsida
  223
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  222

Most recent

• M 5 — 2023-10-09
  15 km SE of Stropkov, Slovakia
• M 3.3 — 2020-04-23
  7 km SSW of Strážske, Slovakia
• M 3.1 — 2006-06-25
  10 km S of Bukowina Tatrza?ska, Poland
• M 2.6 — 2005-08-24
  6 km N of Ko?cielisko, Poland
• M 2.8 — 2005-06-02
  7 km S of Czarny Dunajec, Poland
• M 3.6 — 2005-01-29
  2 km NNE of Czarny Dunajec, Poland