Gothic route in Gemer-Malohont

The Gothic evangelical church in Štítnik is a pearl among Gemer churches. The interior of the church hides great artistic wealth. Around 200 m² of frescoes represent the largest preserved example of medieval wall painting in Slovakia.

The frescoes of the Ochtiná church also depict non-traditional motifs, such as the Apocalyptic beast or the depiction of St. Trinity in the form of a head with three faces. Their author was given the epithet Master of the Presbytery of Ochtiná.

With an inner diameter of 11 meters, the Rotunda of St. Margaret of Antioch is the largest Romanesque rotunda of its kind in Slovakia and throughout Central Europe. Like many Gemer Gothic buildings, the interior of the rotunda is decorated with rare frescoes.

The Koceľovce paintings represent the largest continuous painted area of its kind among all Gemer churches. The most remarkable frescoes include the scene of the Crucifixion and the Entombment, where the painter managed to masterfully depict the deep sorrow and pain of the three Marys from the death of Jesus.

The plastic rendering of the halos of the apostles on the paintings of the Kameňany church is the most elaborate among the so far known medieval frescoes in Slovakia.

The church hides rare paintings not only in the interior, but also on the exterior walls. The painting of the Holy Trinity in the form of a seated God with three faces and four eyes deserves attention.

One of the most complex examples of Gothic art, combining the architecture of the 13th century, with wall paintings of the 14th century and a carved wing altar from the workshop of Master Pavol from Levoča from the beginning of the 16th century.

The church is an important document of advanced Gothic architecture in Gemer in the 14th century. The frescoes here were created by Italian masters who were probably invited to Plešivec by Juraj Bebek. In the interior, there is also a gothic tombstone of Ladislav Bebek made of pink marble.

The church is situated in a fortified area on a hill above the village. In the presbytery we can find scenes of the Last Judgment and relatively well-preserved frescoes of St. Barbara and St. George wrestling with a dragon. On the north side of the nave, an extensive depiction of the Ladislav legend from 1370 has been preserved. The paintings were only discovered in the 1950s.

On the walls of the interior of the Brezovo church you will find many unusual scenes, such as the blessing angel and St. Bartholomew carrying his own skin on his shoulder. The frescoes come from the 14th century and the workshop of the Master of the Presbytery of Ochtiná. In 2014, research brought new discoveries of wall paintings.

The church represents one of the most valuable examples of medieval wall painting in Slovakia.

The church with Romanesque and Gothic elements is particularly interesting with its rare frescoes. There is an archeoskansen of Kyjatice culture nearby.