Historic places in Košice

Historic places in Košice

1. See

   Andrassy Palace

   Andrášiho palác

   A three floor Neo-Baroque building constructed in 1899, with the blazon of the family on the façade. Nowadays the building houses a tea house and a restaurant.

2. See

   Beggar's House

   Zobrakov dom

   For an interesting story you may look up the Beggar's House which is one of the historical houses on Hlavna (on the right between the Theater and Immaculata when walking up north). On forefront, at top of the house you will see a statue of a guy with a hat thanking/begging for alms. The story says the career beggar who had no other income had over years used generosity of rich Košice dwellers to build the house at what was then a very 'high-end' medieval (a.k.a. Hlavna Street) part of Košice. This kind of largess may seem to be perceived a bit strange by today's beggars rarely appreciating Košice inhabitants, but it still makes up for a good narrative.

3. Drink

   Bernard club

   Bar on the first floor of a house near the cathedral, often crowded.

4. See

   Bishop's Palace

   Biskupský Palác

   The archbishop of Eger was exiled in Košice for a long time in the 17th century, but in 1804 the city got its own bishop and four houses next to the cathedral was transformed into a bishop's residence. It burned down in 1841 and was rebuilt in its current form, later the library and left wing was added. The house was empty for much of the Communist Era, but returned to its former use afterwards. In 1995 the pope promoted the office of the bishop of Košice to the status of archbishop, so the building is the residence of an archbishop.

5. Eat

   Camelot

   Pub with a Medieval theme, traditional food such as pork knuckle or goulash, with quality beef from a known local supplier. Unpasteurised Pilsner Urquell on tap. A bit expensive but they have lunch specials on week days.

   €9-22 (April 2015)

6. See

   Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God

   Chrám Narodenia presvätej Bohorodičky

   Greek-Catholic church in Neo-Romanesque style built between 1882 and 1898. The iconostasis and chair were installed in 1901, and the church was elevated to cathedral status in 2008.

7. Do

   Children's Heritage Railway

   Detska historicka zeleznica

   3-km-long railway line in the forest. Three locomotives, Katka-named vapor locomotive, Danka and Janka diesel locomotives operating from the end of the suburbs to the recreational area of Alpinka.

   children: one way €3/roundtrip €4, adults: one way €5/roundtrip €6

8. See

   Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary/Dominican church

   Dominikánsky kostol

   The oldest building in Košice. The frescoes inside create the illusion that the building has no roof. There's a monastery adjacent to the church.

   Entrée libre

9. See

   Csáky-Dezőfi palace

   Čákiho-Dezőfiho palác

   Count Antal Csáky had this palace built in 1807. Count Abaúj-Torna, the county governor, resided here in the 1840s, then the Dezőfi family. One of the most pompous buildings in the city, it has hosted many important guests including Russian Tsars. In 1965 the palace was turned into an art gallery, and from 1993 to 2007 the Constitutional Court of Slovakia functioned here. Nowadays it's a major library.

10. See

    East Slovak Museum

    Vychodoslovenske muzeum

    Museum was established in 1872 and it is one of the oldest and most significant museums in Slovakia. From an architectural point of view, the buildings of the museum are interesting historical sights. In this museum, the following permanent expositions can be found: the nature of Carpathia, Hundreds of years of art, "Rodosto" – the memorial house of Franz II Rakoczy, Artistic metal founding in Eastern Slovakia and Centuries of Košice – Mikluš's Prison. Except these expositions, there are always some temporary events and expositions.

    Tue-Sat 09:00-17:00, Sun 14:00-18:00·€8 for four exhibitions including Mikluš's Prison, the house of Franz II Rakoczy, and the pharmacy (apothecary) museum. A further €8 for two more exhibitions

11. See

    Forgács Palace

    Forgács palác

    An Empire style building from the early 19th century with the blazons of the Forgács and Pongrá families on the façade, now a library. In the 1940s, when a bank functioned here, a glass roof was installed, this part is now accessible to the public.

12. See

    Hadik - Barkoczy Palace

    Baroque building from the 18th century, this palace too hosts a library.

13. See

    Holy Spirit Church

    Kostol Svätého Ducha

    The oldest building in the southern part of the city, built on the site of a medieval hospice that was demolished in the early 18th century. Built between 1730 and 1733, it has a tall tower - used for spotting enemy troops which was particularly important because it was outside the city walls and as such unprotected. The main attraction is its fresco depicting the city in the 18th century.

14. See

    Jakab Palace

    Erected in 1899 by entrepreneur Arpád Jakab in the pseudo-Gothic style constructed from discarded stones from the Kosice St. Elizabeth's Cathedral. At the end of WWII it was the residence for Czechoslovak president Edvard Beneš. Most of the inhabitants of Košice would choose this building as one of the most beautiful ones.

15. See

    Košice castle

    Košický hrad

    A ruined castle on a forested hill. There's a viewing tower providing amazing views of the city to the south and to the valleys to the north. An association arranges medieval events on the site regularly, including a reconstruction of a medieval military camp each summer. There are several wooden statues and a small playground for kids.

    free

16. See

    Mikluš's Prison

    Miklušova väznica

    Exhibition focused on the history of the city, it's part of the East Slovak Museum. Built as two gothic houses, it became a prison and is today named after its executioner.

17. See

    Old city hall

    Radnica

    A late Baroque palace built between 1779 and 1790. In the late 1920s it was converted into a cinemand and a library, though in 1996 it was renovated and the city council returned to the building. Part of it is open to the public.

18. See

    Slovak Technical Museum

    Slovenské technické múzeum

    The museum presents a collection of objects that describe the history of techniques from the eighteenth century, particularly in the field of metal work, mining extraction, watchmaking, physics and chemistry.

    Tue-Fri 09:00-17:00, Sat Sun 12:00-17:00·8€

19. See

    St Elizabeth's Cathedral

    Dóm sv. Alžbety

    This remarkable medieval monument was built in the High Gothic style. The present cathedral stands on a site formerly occupied by a parish church, which was destroyed by fire around year 1370. The patrons of the church included St. Elizabeth. The construction of St. Elizabeth's Cathedral began approximately in 1378. One of the highlights is the helical double staircase. There is also a possibility to visit the northern tower of the cathedral, which gives you a stunning view of the surrounding historical centre. The height of this tower is 59.7 m and contains 160 stairs in the staircase.

    06:000-19:00. The tower is open all year long between 10:00 and 17:00·Entrance to the cathedral is €2 (€1 for children), or a ticket including the tower and monuments is €6 (€4 for children). St Michael's Chapel (next door) is extra. You can buy the tickets at the entrance to the cathedral

20. See

    St. Michael's Chapel

    Kostol svätého Michala

    The chapel probably dates from the first half of the 14th century and had always been a part of the parish church. It was built as a cemetery chapel in the centre of a cemetery inside the city walls stretching from the Cathedral to the south on the island of the Čermeľský potok (Čermeľ brook) in the place of the present park in the Hlavná ulica (Main street). The outer decoration is Gothic, the turret is fitted in the roof structure. The patron of the dead, the Archangel Michael, vanquishing the Satan as dragon is shown on the altar. There are Archangels Rafael and Gabriel on his sides. In the interior, there is a nice stone tabernacle, the ornamental sculpture "Ecce Homo" and remains of wall paintings from Middle Ages. The oldest coat-of-arms of Košice is above the door leading to the vestry.

21. Do

    Walking the historic centre

    The best thing to do on a short trip or shortly after arriving is to walk the compact and lovely historic centre.

22. Do Not mapped

    City Days

    Dni mesta Košice

    Cultural program for a week celebrating May 7 1369, the day when the city received its first coat of arms. Craft displays on the main street, medieval fights, opening of the summer season of the Children's Heritage Railway and Zoo.

    takes place in May

23. Do Not mapped

    Festival sakrálného umenia

    Sacred art festival

    Festival of sacred art, taking place since 1990. There are concerts and song events at the cathedral and the House of Arts as well as art expos.

    November

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Košice (CC BY-SA 4.0).