Unique elements of traditional folk building methods

Specific samples of sacred architecture in Slovakia are the wooden churches. Their folk builders expressed the perfect harmony of the human soul with nature and the effort to disengage from earthly worries. Among the oldest are the Gothic wooden churches (for example Hervartov, Tvrdošín). The “articled” churches are other type of wooden churches (for instance Sv. Kríž, Leštiny, Kežmarok, Hronsek). The “articled” churches are those built under the article of the law issued by Emperor Leopold I at the end of the 17th century.

There is also a third type of wooden churches built in eastern Slovakia, mostly in the 18th century. First they were owned by the Greek Catholic denomination, later some of them were changed into Orthodox churches. The special features of the East Christian rite are reflected in their interior decoration and furniture where the unique Carpathian icons dominate. They are normally fitted into iconostases ornamented in the Baroque and Rococo styles.

Wooden churches of the Slovak part of Carpathian Mountain Area, which were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2008, possess an extraordinary worldwide value. The churches include: Roman Catholic churches in Hervartov and Tvrdošín, Evangelical articular churches in Kežmarok, Leštiny and Hronsek, and churches of Eastern rite in Bodružal, Ladomirová and Ruská Bystrá. 

  • Bodružal – Church of St Nicolas

    The Greek Catholic wooden Church of St Nicolas (Chrám sv. Mikuláša) was  included in 2008, along with seven wooden churches of the Slovak part of Carpathian Mountain Area, on the UNESCO Word Heritage List.
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  • Hervartov – Church of St Francis of Assisi

    The Roman Catholic wooden Church of St Francis of Assisi (Kostol sv. Františka z Assisi) is in 2008, along with seven wooden churches of the Slovak part of Carpathian Mountain Area, it was included on the UNESCO Word Heritage List.
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  • Kežmarok – Church of the Holy Trinity

    One of the best preserved Slovak wooden sacral buildings is the articled Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity (Kostol sv. Tojice) in Kežmarok. In 2008, along with seven wooden churches of the Slovak part of Carpathian Mountain Area, it was included on the UNESCO Word Heritage List.
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  • Ladomirová – St Michael the Archangel

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St Michael the Archangel (Chrám sv. Michala Archanjela) was included in 2008, along with seven wooden churches of the Slovak part of Carpathian Mountain Area, on the UNESCO Word Heritage List.
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  • Miroľa

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God.
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  • Kalná Roztoka

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St Basil the Great.
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  • Lukov - Venécia

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St Cosmo and Damian.
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  • Nižný Komárnik

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God.
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  • Uličské Krivé

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St Michael the Archangel from 1718 log building of the Boyko type is divided into three spaces and it stands on low stone foundations.
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  • Brežany

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St Lucas the Evangelist from 1727. It consists of three parts and its architecture is atypical. This log structure bears traits of the Gothic Roman Catholic architecture. The independent tower standing apart from the nave is typical.
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  • Dobroslava

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St Paraskieva from 1705. It is a log building with three spaces and a new diagonal nave on tall stone masonry.
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  • Frička

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St Michael the Archangel is from the 18th century. It is a log structure consisting of three parts.

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  • Hrabová Roztoka

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St Basil the Great from 1750. This three-space log building is covered by shingle roof with two little towers.
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  • Hraničné

    The Roman Catholic wooden church of Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary from 1785. It is a single nave log building which serves to the Roman Catholic believers and those of eastern ritual.
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  • Hunkovce

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of the Sleeping Most Holy Mother of God from the end of the 18th century. It was repaired in 1947. It consists of three parts. This Baroque log structure stands on low stone masonry.
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  • Jedlinka

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of the Protection of the Saint Gods Mother is from 1763. It is the typical Lemko variation of three-tower and three-part log temple of the Ruthenian-Ukrainian region.
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  • Korejovce

    The Greek Catholic church of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God from 1764. The log building consists of three parts. It is covered by shingle roof with three little towers.
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  • Krajné Čierno

    The Greek Catholic church of St Basil the Great from the 18th century (probably from 1730). The log building consists of three parts and is covered by shingle roof with three little towers.
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  • Krivé

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St Lucas the Evangelist was built in 1826.
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  • Mikulášová

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God from 1730 was moved in 1931 to the Museum of Folk Architecture in spa of Bardejov.
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  • Nová Polianka

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St. Paraskieva from 1766. It consists of three parts and three towers. Iconostas is from the mid-18th century.
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  • Nová Sedlica

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St Michael the Archangel was built in 1764. It is a log building of the Lemko type, which consists of three parts and three towers.
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  • Príkra

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St Michael the Archangel from 1777. The log building consists of three parts. Iconostas is from the mid-18th century, some icons are from the 17th century.
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  • Ruský Potok

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St. Michael the Archangel from 1740. It is a three-space church of the Boyko type.
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  • Šemetkovce

    The Greek Catholic church of St Michael the Archangel from1752. The church consists of three parts. It also has a wooden belfry. The area was originally surrounded by log fence with a little shingle roof.
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  • Šmigovec

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of Lords Ascension from 1755. The interior walls of this log building are plastered with clay.
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  • Topoľa

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St Michael the Archangel from 1700. This log building of the Boyko type is divided into three spaces. It stands on a steep hill beyond the village. It is surrounded by the cemetery.
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  • Tročany

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of St Lucas the Evangelist.
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  • Vyšný Komárnik

    The Greek Catholic wooden church of Sts Cosmo and Damian from 1924. It is a three-space church with a three-tier tower.
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  • Zboj

    The Orthodox wooden church of St Nicolas was built in 1775. It consists of three parts and four spaces and is one the typical Lemko variant of the Ruthenian-Ukrainian three-part and three-tower churches.
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