Košice is the second largest and must-see city in Slovakia. In the city you will find a large number of places to visit in the historic center, and the city leaves no one indifferent.
It is a relatively small city, but I advise you to spend a night here, since there are many places to visit. If you are thinking of making a route through the country, here is a complete guide to Slovakia.
In this post I will tell you about the 10 essential places to see in Košice and I will add some great places to stay.
10 ESSENTIAL TO SEE IN KOSICE, SLOVAKIA
1. Hlavna Ulica
This is the main street and avenue where practically all the historical monuments of Košice are located. In the north, you will find the monument of the Immaculate Conception, and from there the street divides into two parallel branches. On both sides of the street you will find many mansions and stately homes. There are several squares, fountains, garden areas...
You will also find the cathedral, the Urban Tower, the State Theater and the Chapel of San Miguel.
2. The Cathedral of Saint Elizabeth
On the main street you will find the westernmost gothic cathedral in Europe, and also the largest place of worship in Slovakia, dating from the year 1378. The cathedral is unusual in that its north portal, rather than its west or south, is the more ornate.
Not only is it striking from the outside, but inside, the frescoes date from the 15th century, as does the sensational double spiral staircase that leads to the King's Oratory.
3. The Chapel of Saint Michael
Around the Cathedral there is a set of Gothic monuments and the chapel built in the year 1300 stands out.
In the 17th century it became known as the “Slovak Church” as it was the only place of worship where masses would be held in the Slovak language.Despite its small size, the chapel has all the attributes of a church, including a sacristy, oratory and choir.
At the entrance to the sacristy is the oldest known coat of arms of Košice, dating from the 14th century.
4. The Urban Tower
Next to the cathedral is its old bell tower, built during the 15th century. Inside there is a small waxwork exhibition of famous people from Košice's past. The Urban's Tower is also Gothic in style, although there have been various modifications over the years, such as the arches dating from the 20th century.
5. The State Theater
In an alley in front of Hlavná Ulica there is a complex of two medieval houses, which in the early 1600s became the Košice city prison. The prison is a testament to the city's harsh penal system, in which more than 60 crimes were punishable by execution. It can be visited, and the exhibition shows how the prison was developed, you will visit the cells and you can even visit the torture chamber.
6. The Immaculata
In a small fenced compound at the top end of Hlavná Ulica you will find the Košice Plague Pillar. It is a Baroque column, surmounted by a sculpture of the Virgin and erected in the 1720s to praise her for putting an end to the plague epidemic that had struck Košice in 1709-10. Around the pedestal there are statues of Saint Sebastian, Saint Ladislaus and Saint Joseph.
7. The Beggar's House
The Beggar's House is a beautiful Art Nouveau house dating from the year 1898. Just below the pediment is a mural of Elisabeth of Hungary and above it is a statue of a beggar, taking the hats off of people in the street below.
According to legend, this career beggar grew rich from the generosity of citizens and never had to pay taxes on the money he received as gifts. With all his earnings, he was able to afford to build a house in this area, in the most prestigious part of the city.
8. Levocsky Dom
Next to the State Theater on Hlavná Ulica you will find the oldest inn in Slovakia, dating back to the 15th century. For much of its history it has been an inn. As a curiosity, the wedding of Gabriel Prince Bethlen of Transylvania and Catherine of Brandenburg was celebrated here in March 1626.
9. The Old Town Hall
The old town hall now houses the city's visitor center and tourist office. It is a beautiful building that was built in 1780 during the transition from Baroque to Neoclassical.
An outstanding curiosity is that Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov stayed here on his way home after defeat by Napoleon's army at the Battle of Austerlitz.
Across the courtyard from the town hall is the Slovan Cinema, which dates back to 1927 and is now used for concerts and plays.
10. The Košice Gold Treasure
The Košice gold hoard is the largest in Slovakia and one of the largest in the world.
This cache was found by chance while excavating the foundations of the Directorate of Finance in the year 1935, and contains coins from 16 different regions in Europe. The treasure dates back to the 17th century and is made up of 2,920 gold coins, two gold medals and an exquisite gold chain. Since 1970 it has been in the vault of this luxurious neo-Renaissance museum, a few blocks from Hlavná Ulica.
Strolling through the city is one of the best things to do. There are alleys full of plants, arches, parks… It is beautiful and it is worth spending a day to get to know Košice. If you want to take a tour of Slovakia, here is a guide with many destinations, curiosities...
WHERE TO STAY IN KOSICE
The city is relatively small and you can visit it in one day. If you are thinking of taking a tour of Slovakia, it is a good opportunity to make a stop here and also spend the night.
Some great accommodation options in Kosice are:
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Slovakia very much and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!