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THOUGH it may, at first sight, look like a large barn, the building in this picture from the 1920s is actually one of the most outstanding monuments in the Tatra region.
It is a wooden Protestant church, built in Kežmarok in 1714.
Such Protestant "articular" churches were erected during the period of the counter-reformation in the 18th century.
However, a limit of two per royal city was imposed. They had to be built outside the city walls and were not allowed to have bells or a steeple. This church in Kežmarok was built with financial help from Sweden and Denmark. It is said that Swedish sailors helped construct it, which explains the upturned boat shape of the roof and the round windows in the lower part of the building.
The church was made totally of wood and had no foundations.
Despite that, it is now almost 300 years old. Visitors are still astonished by its exquisite rustic-baroque interior.
By Branislav Chovan,
Special to the Spectator
