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Cathedral · Trnava, Trnava
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Trnava)
Church of the former Jesuit university, built between 1629 and 1637, the first entirely Baroque work on Slovak territory. The wooden high altar, from 1640, is more than 20 m high.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Trnava)
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Katedrála sv. Jána Krstiteľa) is the largest church in Trnava. It was commissioned by the palatine Miklós Eszterházy and built from 1629 by the Italian masters Antonio and Pietro Spazzo on the site of a former Dominican convent. Consecrated in 1637 while still unfinished, it was the first entirely Baroque building in what is now Slovakia.
The church was part of the Jesuit university complex founded in 1635 by Archbishop Péter Pázmány, the only university in the Kingdom of Hungary at the time. In 1777 the university was moved to Buda, and the building continued as the city church. In 1978 Pope John Paul II raised it to cathedral status, and he visited it in 2003.
Outside, the two-tower façade is restrained. Inside, the single nave, 61 m long, is covered in stuccoes and paintings, and the wooden high altar, completed in 1640, reaches about 20 m in height and 15 m in width, one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Beneath the church are catacombs with tombs, including members of the Eszterházy family.
The cathedral stands on University Square (Univerzitné námestie) in the historic center, a few minutes from the City Tower.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
30 to 45 minutes.
Best time
In the morning or afternoon, outside service times. In summer the town organizes guided walks of the center that include the cathedral.
How to get there
It is on Univerzitné námestie, near Trojičné námestie, along Hlavná Street.
Tip
Stay at the back of the nave to see the whole high altar, then move closer to view the sculptures. Respect service times and check opening hours before you go.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Trnava)
Why is Trnava’s cathedral important?
It is the first building in the Slovak territory built entirely in the Baroque style and has a wooden high altar about 20 m high, dating from 1640.
Was Trnava’s cathedral the university church?
Yes. It was built as the church of the Jesuit university founded in 1635 and became a cathedral only in 1978.
How long does a visit to St. John the Baptist Cathedral take?
About 30 to 45 minutes to see the nave, the high altar and the side chapels.