Basilica of St. Giles, Bardejov, Slovakia Verified listing

Basilica of St. Giles, Bardejov, Slovakia

The Basilica of St. Giles in Bardejov, Slovakia, stands at the northern end of Radničné námestie, the historic main square. Located in the Šariš region near Prešov, it represents one of the best-preserved Gothic churches in the country.

Cistercian monks from Koprzywnica, Poland, arrived in 1206 and built a monastery dedicated to Saint Giles. Later, King Béla IV confirmed the church’s presence in a royal charter during the 13th century.

As the town grew, German settlers began constructing the Gothic basilica seen today. By 1427, records described it as a three-aisled church. Sculptures from around 1390 hint at an earlier religious structure on the same site.

In 1448, Štefán of Košice led a major expansion. He built the sanctuary, choir, sacristy, and the Chapel of St. Catherine. The following year, builders completed the vaulted presbytery with a rare stone pastophorium.

In 1466, Master James of Sacz crafted the main Gothic altar. Between 1482 and 1486, three southern chapels were added—St. Elizabeth, St. Andrew, and the Virgin Mary. The four-ton “Urban” bell, made in 1584, remains a key symbol of the church.

Meanwhile, in 1564, Italian artisans Louis and Bernard Pel redesigned the south façade in Renaissance style. Although disasters like fire struck in 1878, skilled architects Imre Steindl and Frederick Schmulek restored the structure.

Thanks to their efforts, Neo-Gothic features now enrich both the exterior and interior. Finally, in 2000, Pope John Paul II honored the church with the title of Minor Basilica.

Today, it continues to serve not only as a place of worship but also as a cultural and architectural treasure of eastern Slovakia.

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