Basilicas in Slovakia

Basilica of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sastin, Trnava

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1964.

Pilgrims have come to venerate Mary at this site since 1564.  The current church was built in the 1730s.

The first two pictures are from local sources and the last is from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Visitation of Mary, Levoca, Presov

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984.

Located almost 2600 feet above sea level, the current church was built between 1906 and 1922.  It is a major pilgrimage site.  The first church at this location was a chapel used as a refuge from the Mongols in the 13th Century.  It was enlarged and rebuilt in 1470.  A third church was built in 1766 using a Baroque style.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Assumption of Mary, L’utina, Presov

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

A Marian icon was reportedly donated to a woman during an apparition of St. Nicholas in the 1850s.  Soon pilgrims started arriving to venerate Mary.  A wooden church was built and was replaced with the current Slovak-Rite stone church in 1908.

The first picture is from a local source and the second is from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Visitation of Mary, Stare Hory, Banska Bystrica

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul II in 1990.

The site has attracted pilgrims since the 16th Century.  A church was built in 1448 and has been renovated and expanded several times since then.

Both pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Kezmarok, Presov

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1998.

This Gothic church was built between 1444 and 1498 to replace an older Romanesque building.  The church was controlled by Lutherans during some of the 17th Century before Catholics regained control in 1670.  The church has a 15th Century crucifix.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica Cathedral of St. Emmeram, Nitra, Nitra

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1998.

The church is the cathedral for the Diocese of Nitra.  The church is part of a castle and dates primarily to the 14th Century.  Initially built in a Gothic style, it was later remodeled in a Baroque style.

The first two pictures are from local sources and the last from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Giles, Bardejov, Presov

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

The current church was completed in the 15th Century.  It has suffered through five fires, an earthquake, and a bombing, but has always been restored and rebuilt, most recently in a neo-Gothic style.  The church has a number of 15th Century sculptures.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Rajecka Lesna, Zilina

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 2002.

Pilgrims have come here to venerate the Virgin Mary since the 17th Century.  The current church was built between 1864 and 1866 to replace a smaller church.

 All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Vranov nad Topl’ou, Presov

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.

The church is part of a monastery that was built in 1441.  The church itself dates to the late 16th Century and is administered by the Paulines.  The church has an image of the Virgin Mary which is said to have shed tears in 1708.

The first two pictures are from local sources, the third is from Pinterest, and the last from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Nicholas, Trnava, Trnava

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008.

The Gothic church was built from 1380 to 1421 to replace an earlier Romanesque church.  For almost 300 years (1543 to 1820), it was the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Esztergom (now in Hungary).  It served as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Trnava from 1918 to 1977. 

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Marianka, Bratislava

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.

A wooden statue of the Virgin Mary has attracted pilgrims since the 11th Century.  The current church dates to 1380 and was once part of a monastery.  The church was originally Gothic but renovations have mixed other styles into it as well.  St. Theodora (an early Christian martyr) is buried in the church.

The first picture is from the basilica website and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Michalovce, Kosice

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.

This Slovak-rite church was built in a neo-Byzantine style between 1934 and 1935.  The government made the church an Orthodox cathedral from 1950 to 1990 when it was returned to Slovak-rite Catholics.

The first two pictures are from local sites and the last is from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. James (the Great), Levoca, Presov

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2015.

The Gothic church was built in the 14th Century to replace an older church.  The Gothic carver Pavel built the main altar in the early 1500s.  Over 60 feet high, it is the highest Gothic wing altar in the world.  The church has several side altars made in various styles as well as 14th and 15th Century murals depicting religious themes.  The church was controlled by Lutherans from 1544 to 1674.  The Lutherans added the Renaissance pulpit.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Andrew, Komarno, Nitra

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2017.

The Baroque church was constructed between 1723 and 1734 to replace an earlier church. 

The top two pictures are from local sources and the bottom picture is from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Benedict, Hronsky Benadik, Nitra

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2019.

A Benedictine monastery was built on this site in 1075.  Although some remnants of this Romanesque complex still exist, most of the current structure dates from the 14th Century.  Renovations over the years have left the monastery with elements of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural styles.  One renovation in the 16th Century was to fortify the monastery to protect it against Turkish invasions.  The monastery has a relic of Christ’s Precious Blood thought to be from Veronica’s vail.

All are from the basilica's website.