The origins of the temple date back to the 13th century. The patronage of the temple dates back to this period. Around 1206, Cistercian monks from Koprzywnica in Poland settled on this site and founded a monastery dedicated to St. Egidius. A royal charter from 1247, by which King Belo IV confirmed to the Order their extensive lands in the vicinity of Bardejov („Terra Bardfa“), contains the first mention of the existence of a church in this area. However, due to sudden changes, the Cistercians abandoned the site in the second half of the 13th century (around 1271). The construction of the church began in the middle of the 14th century and the construction of the basilical part was completed in 1415. Over the following centuries, the temple was damaged by fires, earthquakes and bombing in 1944. The temple has undergone many structural renovations. In 1990, the two church bells, Urban and John, burst and were replaced by the bell Joseph on the occasion of the declaration of the church as a Basilica Minor.
The most valuable exhibits include: The statue of St. Aegidius from the original main altar, the altar cabinet of the Altar of St. Elizabeth of Hungary or the Altar of the Nativity of the Lord (1480-1490), the Altar of the Crucifixion with painting - Veraikon, cast bronze font or the Altar of the Virgin Mary, St. Erasmus and St. Nicholas.
The interior of the church is decorated with a unique set of eleven late Gothic winged altars from 1460-1520. The most precious is the altar of the Nativity of the Lord (around 1480-1490).
On 4 January 2001, the Cathedral of St. Aegidius was granted the personal approval of Pope John Paul II to elevate the Cathedral of St. Aegidius to a smaller basilica. The consent was given by an apostolic breve (short letter). The Apostolic Breve was sent to the Archbishop's Curia by H.E. Cardinal Angelus Sodano on behalf of the Holy Father.
