Evangelical articular church

In the picturesque village of Leštiny stands one of the most precious wooden churches in Slovakia. This articular church from 1688 to 1689 has a fascinating story, which begins with the 1681 Snrm of Sopron. At that time, articles of agreement were drawn up that allowed Protestants to build new churches, but under very strict conditions. They could only use wood, without a single nail or stone foundation, no steeple or bells, and the church had to look like an ordinary house. The church was built by Jób Zmeškal, the captain of the castle guard at Orava Castle. Originally it had a rustic façade, which gave way to boarding in the 1870s. Interestingly, the church has an elongated plan and stands on a steep slope, which has been levelled with a stone base. Spruce wood from the surrounding woods was used and covered with wooden shingles. The interior is a real jewel - it is decorated with a baroque altar with wood carvings and a rich pulpit from the early eighteenth century. The most beautiful, however, are the seventeenth-century floral murals. One of the greatest Slovak poets, Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav, was baptised in this church. Since 2008, the church has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.