Bijacovce can be understood through several clearly distinguishable layers of cultural history. Written records date back to the mid-13th century; the castle, church and chapel display different architectural styles and later alterations. This focus can help with travel planning if you would like to make historic architecture and local heritage the centre of your visit.

Csáky Castle and its history

Csáky Castle is a two-storey late Baroque building, constructed between 1780 and 1785. A complex of agricultural buildings and a park adjoin the castle. This dating places the building considerably later than the village’s medieval landmarks: the castle represents a different era from the Romanesque origins of the religious buildings.

Bijacovce Park and its old English oaks

Bijacovce Park is protected as a national cultural monument. Three English oaks grow there, each reported to be 16 to 22 metres tall. Their trunk circumferences range from 313 to 343 centimetres, and their crown diameters from 18 to 19 metres; each tree is more than 250 years old. The reported measurements may change slightly in future surveys.

All Saints’ Church: Romanesque origins and Gothic alterations

All Saints’ Church was originally built before 1260 as a Romanesque church and was later altered in the Gothic style. A fragment of a mural cycle depicting the legend of Saint Ladislaus dates from the second half of the 14th century. Figures of the Apostles and Christ are also depicted on the north side of the presbytery, the chancel. The church is in good condition and continues to serve its religious purpose. The possibility of visiting may vary; check in advance.

The church also has a complete vertical square sundial with clipped corners. Its condition may change over time. Together, the mural and the sundial offer different insights into the church’s features, though their dates of origin should not be assumed to be the same.

The Rotunda Chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian

The Chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian originated as a Romanesque rotunda built of rubble stone. It was built in the second half of the 13th century and given a Baroque makeover between 1740 and 1757. The original circular form and the later alterations mark two different building phases. The chapel stands on a rise at the northeastern edge of Bijacovce, at the end of the village. It is in good condition and continues to serve its purpose. If you are planning a visit, check in advance whether this is possible.

Further landmarks: museum and family crypt

The Hunting and Forestry Museum displays trophies, historical objects and information about wildlife and hunters. It also presents traditions of hunting, forestry and nature conservation. If you are planning a visit to the museum, check its opening arrangements before your trip.

The Csáky family crypt is located in the Bijacovce cemetery. Albín Csáky (1841–1912) had it built in 1911; he, his wife and their two sons are buried there. Together with the first written mention of Bijacovce as terra Beth in the mid-13th century, the crypt adds to the village’s long historical perspective. At that time, Bijacovce belonged to Spiš Castle.

Discover more destinations: Spišské Podhradie, Levoča, Dravce, Granč-Petrovce, Korytné.

For the overview of the wider area, see: Levoča District.