For the fourth tourist season, the churches of the Gothic Route with the European Heritage Label have fixed opening hours. Thanks to the support of the Košice and Banská Bystrica self-governing regions, visitors will find open gates in eleven historical monuments during the summer months.
In the districts of Rožňava, Revúca and Rimavská Sobota there is a unique collection of sacral monuments, which are among the most significant manifestations of medieval art in Slovakia. Their interiors hide rare fresco paintings from the 13th and 14th centuries, which were created during the heyday of the region under the influence of noble families, German mining colonization, contacts with Italian city-states and later social and religious changes. The wall paintings with biblical and secular motifs still offer visitors an exceptional aesthetic experience, authentic testimony to the life of a medieval person and at the same time carry a deep spiritual message.
Regular summer access to Gothic churches has become a stable part of the cultural tourism offer in the Gemer and Malohont region in recent years. The Gothic Route Association, in cooperation with church owners, local governments and with the financial support of the Košice Self-Governing Region through the Terra Incognita program and the Regional Tourism Organization of the Banská Bystrica Region Tourism, continues in 2026 its long-term effort to make this unique cultural heritage accessible to the general public and to increase the quality of services for visitors.
In the Štítnik Circuit (Koceľovce, Ochtiná, Plešivec, Štítnik), gates will be open from Monday to Saturday in the season from 20th of July. to 18th of September from 9:00 to 16:00. The church in Štítnik is inaccessible due to ongoing renovation, but thanks to cooperation with the Gemer Regional Tourism Organization, a virtual tour of the nearby moated castle area is available. In the temporary information center, a guide will show you the church using a digitized copy of the monument, and after putting on VR glasses, you will be able to see the interior like never before – in detail and up close, even examining frescoes that are inaccessible or at a great height.
In the districts of Revúca and Rimavská Sobota, in the Jelšava and Rimava circuits you will be able to visit the Evangelical churches in Rimavské Brezovo, Kyjatice, Kraskovo and Kameňany, and the Catholic churches in Šivetice, Chyžné and Rákoš from July 1st to August 29th, from Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00. Temple in Rimavská Bána will also be accessible again after the renovation is completed. For entry outside visiting hours, it is necessary to contact the church administrators in advance.
Visitors will be provided with information materials, audio guides via QR codes and, at selected locations, a commentary that will introduce the history, artistic value and interesting stories of individual sites. The entrance fee to all accessible monuments remains voluntary, at a recommended amount of €3 per person. The proceeds from the contributions are intended for the maintenance and protection of cultural heritage in individual church congregations and at the same time for improving the sustainability of the church opening service itself.
Additional services that make it easier to discover Gothic churches will also be available to visitors in 2026. During all Saturdays in the season, it is possible to complete the Štítnik Circuit in a comfort by a 22-seater minibus that departs from Plešivec; tickets can be purchased via www.vylety.kosiceregion.com. If visitors are unable to visit the region, they can at least view the churches virtually via www.gotickefresky.sk. Not only for children, the Štítnik Circuit offers an interactive educational game using the Geofun application, thanks to which guests can learn about the history of individual cities in an entertaining way.
“We are pleased that this summer we can also invite visitors to the medieval jewels of Gemer and Malohont. Each of these churches tells a unique story and combines the values of history, art and spiritual heritage. We believe that people will take away not only new knowledge, but also a strong personal experience,” said Peter Palgut from the Gothic Route association.
Current information about opening hours, events and other activities related to the Gothic Route is available on the website www.gotickacesta.sk, on the project’s social networks and on the communication channels of the partner tourism organizations Košice Region Tourism, Banská Bystrica Region Tourism or Gemer Region.