Vznikli
na starej Veľkej gemerskej ceste, ktorá spájala Spiš s Gemerom a Balkánom. Prvá
písomná zmienka o meste je z roku 1243. Vtedy sa tu po tatárskom vpáde usadili
kolonisti pochádzajúci pravdepodobne z Valónska. V 14. storočí patrili Spišské
Vlachy do Spoločenstva spišských Sasov. Podobne ako viaceré spišské mestá aj
Spišské Vlachy boli od roku 1412 do roku 1772 zálohované Poľsku. Najväčší rozmach
zaznamenalo mesto v 16. až 18. storočí. V chotári mesta sa ťažila aj medená
ruda a pracovala medenú huta.
V období 16. až 18. storočia na základe viacerých privilégií získaných od uhorských
panovníkov mali právo konať štyri výročné jarmoky v roku, aj týždenné trhy.
V období rokov 1778 - 1876 patrili do Provincie XVI spišských miest, potom boli
mestom so zriadeným magistrátom. Po vybudovaní košicko-bohumínskej železnice
našla veľká časť obyvateľstva svoje uplatnenie práve v tejto oblasti. V 19.
storočí bola v meste založená aj píla a tehelňa.
V roku 1992 bolo vyhlásené za pamiatkovú zónu.
Radnica tvorí dominantu a azda najkrajšiu stavbu námestia. Postavená
bola v 15. storočí. Časť stavby dnes slúži ako rímskokatolícky Kostol Nanebovzatia
Panny Márie.
Rímskokatolícky Kostol sv. Jána Krstiteľa. Jeho počiatky siahajú do polovice
13. storočia. V roku 1434 poškodenú budovu kostola zbúrali a prestavali v neskorogotickom
slohu. K vzácnym pamiatkam v kostole patrí krucifix pochádzajúci z dielne Majstra
Pavla z roku 1520 a dvojdielna bronzová gotická krstiteľnica z roku 1497.
Evanjelický kostol bol postavený v roku 1787. Neskôr k nemu dobudovali
vežu, čím stavba dostala charakter kostola. Mariánsky barokový stĺp pochádza
z roku 1728.
Neďaleko mesta sa nachádza rekračná lokalita "Za Huru" so súkromnými chatami a s rybníkmi. Obec Slatvina je známa svojou minerálnou vodou, ktorá sa v minulosti plnila aj do fliaš. Z obce Vojkovce vedie turistický chodník na hrebeň Braniska.
This
town was founded on the Big Gemer Route which joined Spiš with Gemer and Balkan.
The first written mention about the town is from 1243. The colonists who came
from Belgium probably settled down here after Tartar's raid. In the 14th Century
Spišské Vlachy was a member of the Community of Germans of Spiš. Like many other
towns of Spiš, from 1412 to 1772 Spišské Vlachy was deposited to Poland. The
town witnessed its biggest boom from the 16th to 18th Century. In the vicinity
of the town, copper ore was mined. Copper works were constantly in service at
that time.
From the 16th to 18th Century, due to many privileges obtained from Hungarian
rulers, the town had the right to organise annual fairs four times a year. Apart
from it, weekly markets took place in Spišské Vlachy as well.
From 1778 to 1876 the town was a member of the Province of 16 Towns of Spiš.
Later it was a town with self-organised municipal authorities. After the railroad
Košice - Bohumín was built, many people found employment in this profession.
In the 19th Century, a sawmill and brickfield were founded in the town.
In 1992 the town was pronounced a monumental zone.
The Town Hall is a dominating feature and probably the most beautiful
building of the square. It was built in the 15th Century. Nowadays one part
of the building serves as the Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption of the
Virgin Mary.
Roman Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist. Its beginnings go back
into the 13th Century. In 1434 the damaged building was pulled down and rebuilt
in late Gothic style. Precious monuments of this church are a crucifix which
comes from Master Pavol's workshop from 1520 and bronze Gothic font which consists
of two parts and is from 1497.
Lutheran Church was built in 1787. A tower was built to the church later
and thus the whole building got the character of a church.
Marian Gothic Post comes from 1728.
There is a recreational locality "Za Huru" with private cottages and ponds near the town. The village Slatvina is famous for its mineral water which was bottled in the past. From Vojkovce there is a tourist route to the ridge of the mountain region Branisko.