UNESCO
The List of the UNESCO World Heritage
The long years of efforts to protect the most valuable natural and cultural objects and localities of our planet to a world-wide extent led, on the level of UNESCO, to acceptance of the international Agreement on Protection of the World´s Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1972. Even after a quarter of a century of the existence of this significant document the UNESCO List of the World Heritage is accessible only to those states that have ratified the stated agreement and the obligations following from it. The maintenance of the original value, good condition, convenient access, and the presentation of selected objects - all that is decisive in evaluating whether some aspects of a cultural or natural heritage are really world-class. The basic historical, cultural and natural attributes of selected localities in Slovakia predestine them for that status.
BANSKÁ ŠTIAVNICA
The rapid blooming and fame of the free royal town of Banská Štiavnica was directly connected with its rich ore veins and the opportunities for its exploitation. The direct proof of the significance of the city is found not only in its already considerable size during the Roman period, but also in its architectural beauty. The representative centre of the town that was formed in the 16th century is also characterized in addition to its large Gothic-Renaissance burgher (middle-class) houses by the town hall and the Late Gothic church of St. Catherine. During the same period, a fortification system was built - Piargská brána (gate), designated in the Baroque style, is still standing. Huge complexes of technical works that are connected with the excavation and processing of polymetallic ores are an inseparable part of the historical foundation of the town: pits, galleries, oil-rigs, and an ingenious water-supply system of channels and galleries, which formed part of the country´s environment as well as the structures of the first Mining and Forestry Academy in Europe.
SPIŠSKÝ HRAD
The ruin of Spiš Castle dominates the unique urban and rural complex of central Spiš. The castle belongs among the largest fortified medieval complexes in Central Europe. Its opposite pole was already a seat of church administration already in the Roman period - Spišská Kapitula (Chapter), which is characterized by the stately twin-tower cathedral of St.Martin. These centers of power and administration in Spiš are connected with a settlement round the castle with a built-up area, subsequently a little town with typical Renaissance - Baroque burgher houses - present-day Spišské Podhradie. The community of Žehra, with its early medieval church of The Holy Spirit and precious wall paintings are affiliated to the mentioned historical complexes. Intact preservation of historical complexes typical of the Middle Ages, together with neighbouring natural framework of travertine territory forms the unique urban and architectonic and artistic and historical composition unit.
VLKOLÍNEC
The Community of Vlkolínec represents a type of medieval village with wooden architecture of the alpine and sub-alpine regions with an undisturbed built-up area of log cabins in the middle of a rural setting formed by narrow strips of fields and meadows protected from the north by the Sidorov massif. A belfry from 1770, a well, a chapel of the Virgin Mary from 1875, and a school have been preserved in the centre of the traditional built-up area. The well and the belfry were constructed by a traditional technique and covered with shingles as are all the original roofs of the houses and out-buildings. Within the Carpathian region Vlkolínec has been evaluated as the best preserved representative of its kind. It is completed by the surrounding scenery of the protected rural region of Veľká Fatra.
Translator: Kristína Limbecková
Posledná editácia: 2009-11-29
