The Basilica of St. Egidius is the dominant building on Bardejov's main square — a substantial Gothic church whose construction began in the early 15th century and continued for decades, producing a three-aisled interior of considerable grandeur. It was elevated to the status of a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 2000, the same year the town received its UNESCO inscription.
The highlight of the interior is the set of eleven late-Gothic carved altars from the 15th and 16th centuries. These are remarkable pieces — technically accomplished, beautifully preserved, and largely unknown outside Slovakia. The church is open to visitors throughout the day and entry is free; the altars alone justify a visit to Bardejov.