Ivan Gojdič, influential Slovak architect and heritage expert, dies at 78

Ivan Gojdič, a prominent Slovak architect, urbanist, researcher, and educator, has passed away at the age of 78. According to the Ministry of Culture, he died on September 27, 2026.

Gojdič dedicated much of his professional life to the protection, study, and restoration of Slovakia's cultural heritage. He served as the director of the Slovak Heritage Institute (now the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic) and played a key role in designating the historical center of Košice as a monument reserve. His work included the revitalization of several historical city centers and the restoration of significant landmarks, such as the Calvary in Banská Štiavnica, the Gothic church in Štítnik, the wooden articluar church in Kežmarok, and St. Elisabeth's Cathedral in Košice.

In addition to his practical work, Gojdič was a significant academic figure. He shared his expertise with future generations of architects and art historians at the Slovak University of Technology, the Academy of Fine Arts, and the University of Trnava, where he led the Department of History and Theory of Art from 2002 to 2010.