Early Gothic walls, a Neoclassical church building and preserved wooden houses dating from around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries give Plavnica a distinct architectural character. The EuroVelo 11 cycle route also passes through the village. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can consider whether the architectural history or the cycling connection is more important for your stay.
Churches with different architectural styles
The Kostol Obetovania Pána Church was built around 1325 in the Early Gothic style. The surviving features of the Early Gothic structure include the perimeter walls and a Gothic window on the east side of the presbytery. These features refer to different parts of the building: the wall surrounding the structure and a single architectural detail in the presbytery. The church also contains a late Baroque sculpture and a polychrome wood carving of Christ on the Cross. Both works of art date from the second half of the 18th century. Thus, Early Gothic architecture and later sacred art stand side by side in one building; their different dates help place these features in context.
The Evanjelický a.v. kostol was built in 1806 in the Neoclassical style and has the floor plan of a Greek cross. In the Šariš region, it is considered a valuable example of a church built under the Patent of Toleration. In addition to its architectural style, the cross-shaped floor plan provides a distinctive feature of its own. Compared with the Early Gothic Kostol Obetovania Pána Church, the two buildings differ clearly in their construction date and style. The unusual floor plan provides another point of comparison for the Evangelical church.
Chapels: construction dates, locations and art
The chapels also add a range of construction dates and architectural features to the picture. The Korunovania Panny Márie Chapel dates from 1857 and stands along the road towards Stará Ľubovňa. The sv. Jána Nepomúckeho Chapel was built at the end of the 18th century. It is a Baroque-Neoclassical building surrounded by a small park, and contains a colourful folk sculpture of Saint John of Nepomuk from the 19th century. Here, the date the chapel was built can be distinguished from the later date of the sculpture.
The Povýšenia sv. Kríža Chapel was built in 1826 in the Neoclassical style and is located in the cemetery. The sv. Cyrila a Metoda Chapel dates from the early 20th century. Together, the construction dates of these chapels range from the late 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century. They also differ in their architectural style, location and the artwork mentioned for each.
Wooden buildings and a distinctive location
Several picturesque wooden houses dating from around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries have been preserved in Plavnica. The Drevená zvonica, which was declared a national cultural monument in 2016, dates from a similar period. The wooden houses and the bell tower represent different kinds of surviving wooden architecture: several homes in one case, and a single bell tower with designated monument status in the other. Together, they add another architectural perspective to the churches and chapels.
The location of the Jewish cemetery is also described precisely: it lies on a hill west of Plavnica and north of the road to Stará Ľubovňa. This landmark adds another cultural site in the village’s surroundings to the buildings and works of art.
Cycling route and choosing where to stay
The EuroVelo 11 adds another kind of travel connection. The cycle route passes through Plavnica. At the regional level, it runs for 157 km through the Prešov Region, with Plavnica included along the route. If you plan to include the EuroVelo 11 in your trip, it is advisable to check the latest route details before travelling, as product information may change.
The different highlights offer clear guidance for planning your trip: in Plavnica, architectural history and sacred art are set alongside a cycle route that passes through the village. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can weigh up which of these interests will be the deciding factor for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Šambron, Lesnica, Nová Ľubovňa, Vysne Ruzbachy, Hajtovka, Mníšek Nad Popradom, Maly Lipnik, Kamienka.
For the main travel overview: Stará Ľubovňa.
