Basilica of St. Giles

About

Basilica of St Giles in Bardejov, Slovakia, is a Gothic sacral building, which is situated in the northern part of the Town-Hall square (in Slovak Radničné námestie). Bardejov is located in the larger area of town Prešov in the region called Šariš.

Around 1206, Cistercian monks of Polish Koprzywnica established a monastery that was eventually dedicated and named after Saint Giles. In the 13th century, The Royal Charter of King Bela IV was the first to mention the church in local documents. The temple is also mentioned by Karol's son and successor, Louis I of Hungary. The construction of the temple, that exists today, began in the mid-14th century when German colonists settled the territory. In 1427, the church is documented as having a three-aisled basilica with simple arcades. Sculptures on the altar of St Anna dating back to 1390–1400 may serve as proof that an earlier temple was indeed constructed in the 13th century. The rebuilding and expansion of the temple began in 1448. The royal builder, Štefán from Košice constructed the base of the sanctuary, the choir, the sacristy, and the tribune, which is also known as the Chapel of St Catherine. King Matthias's Oratory carried on the...