Church of St James in Levoča (l) (source: Radka Minarechová)
The city of Levoča in Prešov Region will open the 70-metre tower of the Church of St James for both domestic and foreign visitors in mid-July.
“The number of visitors during the last season surprised us positively,” Kamil Tomčofčík of the tourism department of Levoča’s municipal authority told the SITA newswire.
During the two-month testing operation, the tour was visited by as many as 6,500 people, which is equal to the number of tourists visiting some of the regional museums, Tomčofčík added.
The opening date of the tower has not yet been specified.
“We do not know the date, as there is still some reconstruction work underway,” Tomčofčík told SITA.
The tours to the tower will be similar to those offered last year, and the university students who offered the tours last season will continue. Entry to the tower is offered every 45 minutes.
Visitors can earn a great view of the city after climbing the tower's 216 steps. The city's main objective of opening the tower is to support local tourism.
“The tower has its place in the tourism market, and it is attractive enough to bring visitors,” Tomčofčík said, as quoted by SITA. It is open until 19:00, which is later than most of the other attractions in Levoča, he added.
The original tower was built during the 14th century and was taller than the current one.
“In the 19th century it was rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style, and it is one of the oldest neo-Gothic towers in modern Slovakia,” tour guide Štefan Plačko said, as quoted by SITA, adding that it was built following the designs of Fridrich Mück.
