The eastern part of Slovakia is certainly worth visiting. You will discover here a distinct landscape with precious wooden churches of the Eastern rite, the Andy Warhol Museum in the homeland of his parents, and the famed Tokay wine cellars. You will enjoy strolling around painstakingly reconstructed cities with beautiful main squares flanked by terraces of outdoor cafés.
Kosice is the metropolis of eastern Slovakia. The city is famed for its marathon, the prestigious Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Academy of Aeronautics and its giant metallurgical plant, now part of U.S. Steel. In the centre of the city stands the Cathedral of St. Elisabeth – the easternmost Gothic cathedral in Europe. It is the centrepiece of the city’s pedestrian zone; nearby you can also find a “singing” fountain in front of the State Theatre building. The Eastern Slovak Museum exhibits The Golden Treasure of Kosice.
Kosice
Presov was once the centre of Saris County; nowadays, it is the centre of the Presov Region. The city has experienced a turbulent history: in 1687, the imperial general Antonio Caraffa executed 24 prominent Lutheran citizens here. The fountain of Neptune in front of St. Nicholas’ Church recalls Marcus Hollander, the first Jew to settle in the city. He built the fountain as a symbol of truce with the city’s intolerant citizens. Nowadays, the city is calm. You can savour the friendly atmosphere with a glass of the delicious local beer – Smadny Mnich (Thirsty Monk).
Kosice
Bardejov is a real pearl among Slovak cities. In the Middle Ages, it was a rich commercial city that jealously guarded its monopoly for canvas bleaching, but its wealth suddenly declined in the 17th century. One happy result is that the atmosphere of a medieval city, city walls intact, has been preserved. Just take a seat on a bench on the main square, surrounded by burgher houses, and relish the view of St. Giles’ Church and the Gothic town hall. In recognition of its cultural significance, the city was in 2000 inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Bardejov