Kežmarok offers several reasons to enjoy a culture-focused stay: the Historic Route takes visitors to the city’s most significant monuments, while churches and collections offer different insights into architecture and culture. There are also two cycling options with different focuses.
The Historic Route and Significant Monuments
The Historic Route through Kežmarok was established to guide visitors to the city’s most significant monuments. It is therefore aimed at travellers who want to focus their stay on the city’s buildings and cultural heritage. The route offers its own way to explore the sights; individual churches, collections and the castle also offer specific topics to consider when planning your visit.
Churches, Cemetery and Collections
The Drevený artikulárny kostol is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is open to the general public. Check the opening arrangements before travelling. The church also hosts large music concerts; individual event dates may vary. This means you can combine a visit with an interest in World Heritage and a look at the concert programme, provided a suitable date falls during your trip.
With its distinctive red colouring, the Nový evanjelický kostol is a prominent landmark in Kežmarok. The Basilica minor sv. Kríža offers another architectural point of interest: its present three-aisled form resulted from a Gothic renovation carried out between 1444 and 1498. It has net, star and cross-ribbed vaults. Those interested in church architecture will find three specifically named types of vault here, alongside the building’s history.
Since 2000, the Jewish cemetery has been a national cultural monument. Its 555 gravestones are arranged in 25 regular rows. The Lyceum Library holds 150,000 books and preserves 55 incunabula printed between 1470 and 1500. The figures offer two different points of reference for the library: the size of its book collection and the dated group of early printed books.
The Múzeum v Kežmarku presents exhibitions spanning archaeology to art. These include an exhibition on bourgeois domestic culture and a collection of historical weapons. The museum’s scope thus ranges from early traces of human history to art and insights into bourgeois life at home.
Castle and Cycling
Kežmarok Castle is in the city centre and can be reached by car. It has an observation tower and a permanent exhibition of historic automobiles; individual exhibitions may change. If travelling by car, it is advisable to keep an eye on current traffic conditions. The observation tower and automobile exhibition offer different highlights within a visit to the castle.
There are two cycling options, described in different ways. Cycling Route 014 runs through the historic centre, past the castle and onwards towards Zlatná. The cycle path between Kežmarok and Vrbov is a 4.5 km-long, asphalted, green-marked section suitable for mountain bikes and road bikes. When choosing between them, you can consider the difference: Route 014 describes a route through the city and onwards towards Zlatná, while the section to Vrbov is described in terms of its length, surface, markings and suitable bicycle types. Check current route conditions before setting out.
A Culture-Focused Stay or a Cycling Break
The sights covered offer a wide range of options for a stay focused on buildings, history and collections. If you also plan to go cycling, you can choose between the two options based on their routes or the specific details given about length and surface. This lets you put your own interests at the centre when choosing a destination and suitable accommodation, without assuming a fixed daily itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Veľká Franková, Jezersko, Majere, Reľov, Spišská Belá, Slovenská Ves, Lechnica, Matiašovce
Return to the broader travel overview: Okres Kežmarok.
