St. Elisabeth Cathedral (Dóm svätej Alžbety)

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About St. Elisabeth Cathedral (Dóm svätej Alžbety)

St. Elizabeth Cathedral (Dóm svätej Alžbety) stands in the middle of Hlavná Street, isolated in the square area, and is the largest church in Slovakia. It is also considered the western-type Gothic cathedral located farthest to the east in Europe. It measures about 60 meters long and nearly 40 meters wide, and the north tower reaches about 59 meters.

Construction began around 1380, under royal patronage, over an earlier church destroyed by fire, and progressed in several phases through the 15th century. The church is dedicated to St. Elizabeth of Hungary, the city’s patron saint. The carved portals of the north façade, featuring scenes of the Last Judgment, and the double spiral staircase inside are among the most studied elements.

The main altarpiece of St. Elizabeth, from 1474 to 1477, comprises 48 painted Gothic panels, the largest ensemble of its kind in Europe. In the crypt beneath the north nave are the remains of Francis II Rákóczi, Prince of Transylvania, brought from exile in the early 20th century. The north tower is climbed by about 160 steps to the viewpoint overlooking the city.

Beside the cathedral are the Urban Tower, a 14th-century bell tower, and the Chapel of St. Michael, a late 14th-century former ossuary, which together form a rare Gothic complex in the country. Tourist visits to the interior, the crypt and the tower follow specific schedules and are suspended during Masses.