Old Town Hall, Levoča

The Old Town Hall (Slovak: Historická radnica v Levoči) in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Levoča (Slovakia) was originally built in the 15th century, and stands in the town's main square.

Old Town Hall, Levoča - view from south-west
Old Town Hall - view of eastern side
Painting of "The White Lady of Levoca" (c. 1860)

The original gothic building was destroyed in 1550 during a fire which ravaged the town, and only fragments of the original walls were preserved. It was further damaged by a fire in 1599. The town hall in its existing form was built in 1615 in a Renaissance style, with arcades on the ground and first floors, and a belfry was added in 1656–61. Wall-paintings on the southern facade represent the virtues of moderation, care, bravery, patience and justice. The whole was later reconstructed in 1893–95.[1]

The building is now maintained by the Spiš Museum, Levoča a department of the Slovak National Museum.[2] It contains the original town council chamber and a variety of exhibits relating to the town's history, including a popular 19th-century painting of the "White Lady", Juliana Géciová-Korponaiová, (1680-1714) who according to (inaccurate) legend betrayed the town to troops of the Austrian Empire in the early 18th century.[3]

References

Notes
  1. "Historical Monuments - The Town Hall". Levoča official website. Town of Levoca. n.d. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  2. "Spiš Museum". Slovak National Museum official website. Slovak National Museum. n.d. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  3. Lacika (1999), p. 60

Sources
  • Lacika, Ján (1999). Spiš. Bratislava: Dajama ISBN 8088975018

49.0257°N 20.5887°E / 49.0257; 20.5887


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