Kezmarok Church, Kežmarok, Slovakia

The Wooden articular church in Kežmarok was built by the local Lutherans during a period of religious persecution, when they were allowed to erect only wooden churches. That is why even nails were made exclusively of wood. The construction was financially supported by Protestants from various countries, including Sweden and Denmark.

The only stone part of the church is its sacristy, originally built in 1593 as a pub outside the city walls. In the 17th century, the Roman Catholic dynasty of Habsburgs persecuted Protestantism in the Habsburg Monarchy, which included territory of present Slovakia at that time. The number of churches was limited to one in each free royal town, Kežmarok being one of them. The construction material had to be the cheapest possible (wood at that time) and a church had to be completed in 365 days. Furthermore, the site of a new Protestant church had to be chosen by a royal commission. In Kežmarok, a royal commission deliberately chose an ancient pub as a place of worship, in order to humiliate the local Protestant community. The pub was subsequently incorporated into a hastily constructed religious building as a sacristy.

The oldest parts are an epitaph from 1688 and a Renaissance baptistery from 1690. They are the only remaining parts of the first church. The second wooden church, erected in the Baroque style in 1717, completely replaced the first building. It has the shape of an equal-armed Greek cross. The space can accommodate 1,541 worshipers. According to a legend, circular windows were made by Swedish sailors contributing to the construction. The organ, completed in 1729, is known for its perfect sound despite having only wooden pipes.

The church is one of only five Lutheran wooden churches remaining in Slovakia. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wooden Churches of the Slovak part of the Carpathian Mountain Area.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

M. H. (11 months ago)
I'm only evaluating the construction of the church. I won't judge the behaviour of the lady in the church, the building is not responsible for her mood.:-) A distinctive building, which can be seen from a distance, in the red colour, which I love. We couldn't get in, even though it was open, because a lady rather rudely threw us out saying it was closed. It was open. :-) And the same in 4 other places in this town. :-) No photos allowed. The church is a national cultural monument.

Pio (3 years ago)
The New Evangelical Church Church in an eclectical style with Byzantian, Romanesque, Renaissance, Moorish, and even Oriental elements. A strict symmetry hides behind a red façade. In the church there are two pulpits situated against two rows of benches. The church was finished and consecrated in the year 1894. The Church has only one tower, which violates its symmetry

Dusan Babel (4 years ago)
Very interesting and quite unusual architecture for the area . Also worth to see beautiful old wooden church next to this one and old town just walking distance from church.

Matt Pierson (5 years ago)
Far from the coolest one, most of the wood is covered. If you're driving through... Sure. Don't make a special trip for it though.

Martin Hruska (5 years ago)
Plan the visit, opening hours are short. Don't miss the place.

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