Spišské Vlachy between the Heritage Zone and Nature

The historic center of Spišské Vlachy was declared a heritage zone in 1992. The town’s history also includes the former railway line between Spišské Vlachy and Spišské Podhradie: it was 9.5 km long, and the first train arrived in Spišské Podhradie on October 14, 1894. The town center and the history of transportation thus offer two clearly distinct perspectives: the heritage zone represents the historic townscape, while the former railway line represents the connection to Spišské Podhradie.

Culture and History

The parish church of St. John the Baptist contains a fully restored, richly decorated ensemble of late Baroque altarpieces with Rococo elements from the early second half of the 18th century by Dionýz Riesmayer. After the Basilica of St. James in Levoča, it is the second-largest church in the Spiš region.

The Evangelical church in Spišské Vlachy is a typical example of a Tolerance Church in the Baroque Classicist style and has a newer tower from the Classical period. Construction of this church began in 1787. It also preserves Baroque Classicist furnishings, including pews, an altar and an organ.

The former town hall, also known as the Little Church, preserves a late Gothic cabinet altarpiece. The Little Church also has a painted wooden ceiling and a choir loft. Together, the three historic buildings illustrate different focal points: restored altar furnishings, an Evangelical Tolerance Church and a former town hall with an ecclesiastical designation. This makes it possible to distinguish the town’s history by function, style and furnishings.

Nature and Trails

The Galmuská tisina National Nature Reserve has existed since 1982; it covers 55.96 hectares of natural forest stands. The Za huru recreation center lies at the foot of the Galmus plateau.

Natura 2000 sites have been designated in the area of and around Spišské Vlachy along the floodplain of the Svätojánsky potok, along the Jánsky potok and in the Galmus area. A local marked hiking trail connects Spišské Vlachy with Zahura and Biela Skala.

The Spišská cyklomagistrála No. 27 runs between Kežmarok and Spišské Vlachy and is 66 km long. In Spišské Vlachy, the nature reserve, Natura 2000 sites, hiking trail and cycling route can be considered separately when planning your day, without combining the hiking and route information into a single activity.

Local Life

Spišské Vlachy has a House of Crafts dedicated to promoting traditional folk crafts. The traditional summer horse show “Rodeo na Spiši” includes Western riding competitions. The House of Crafts and the horse show thus represent two different areas of local life: preserving craft traditions and a seasonal event featuring riding competitions.

Accommodation in Spišské Vlachy can be compared as part of trip planning by travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions. This information provides an objective basis when selecting among different options that fit your travel plans.

Other local destinations you can compare when planning your trip include Mlynky, Krompachy, Jamnik, Matejovce Nad Hornádom, Hnilec and Rudnany.

For the broader travel overview: Spišská Nová Ves District.