I would like to present my town- Košice.
Slovakia’s second largest city – population 240 426 (2012) – lies in the valley of the river Hornád in the Košice basin, encircled by the spurs of the Čierna Hora mountains to the north and the Volovské vrchy hills to the west.In terms of its size and importance in the Slovak Republic, the city of Košice ranks right after the capital Bratislava. It lies in the eastern part of Slovakia, not far from the borders with Hungary (20 km), Ukraine (80 km) and Poland (90 km).
The advantages of this location, near the borders of three states and lying on important domestic and international transport routes, translate into the preconditions for good commercial connectivity. This is significantly enhanced by the existing railway junction and airport with international status. The city is the administrative centre of the Košice Region, and is divided in itself into four Districts. As an independent legal entity it is divided into 22 city wards, each with its own local government.
Košice has a strong economic background, and the city creates employment opportunities for the population of the surrounding region as well as its own. The biggest local employer is the U. S. Steel Košice steelworks, and of the total number of registered employees in the city as a whole, the great majority work in the industrial sphere. The education and transport sectors are also strongly represented here.
The education system is significantly represented in the city, with over 45 basic schools, 10 grammar schools, 4 commercial academies, and 15 specialized secondary schools covering industrial technologies, agriculture, healthcare and the arts. There is also the Technical University with 8 faculties, P. J. Šafárik University with 4 faculties, the University of Economics and the University of Veterinary Medicine.
Košice stands out as a city due to its interesting cultural, social and sporting activities. Cultural life is represented here, apart from the various museums and galleries, also by four permanent theatres, cinemas, the state philharmonic orchestra, the Ján Bocatius public library and the regional research library. Significant cultural events during the year include the spring music festival, the international organ festival, the festival of religious art, promenade concerts as part of the summer of culture, and regular events in the Lower Gate museum.
Some of the most important cultural and social events are surely associated with the celebrations of Košice City Days, which have already established their own tradition and gained response from outside the borders of Slovakia. On 7th May 1369 Košice became the first town in Europe to be awarded its own coat of arms by royal warrant.
First place among the sporting events must go to the Košice Peace Marathon, which takes place on the first Sunday in October every year.
Relax
Botanical garden
• The Gardens at Červený breh (“red hill”) were established in 1950, and maintain around 4000 types of plants including exotic tropical and sub-tropical flora as well as a collection of most species common to Central Europe.
Zoological garden at Kavečany
• With its area of 278.3 hectares, this is the largest zoo in Central Europe. Visitors can see over 100 species of animal, but the pride of this zoo is its own herd of thoroughbred mountain horses, which has been included in the gene stock of mountain horses in Europe.
Ružín
• This reservoir was created by damming the River Hornád. It offers a wide range of water-sports opportunities, but also good hiking on marked paths. There is a particularly interesting walk up to the limestone outcrop called Sivec (“the grey one”), 781 metres high, which gives excellent views over the whole Hornád valley area. Winter sports lovers are well served by several ski centres in this hilly area.
Anička
• This recreation area is situated within the Košice-North city ward. There is an extensive park with a mineral water spring and a tennis centre, and there is a children’s play area with a classic mini-golf course. This area is fenced in and supervised, so that parents with young children especially can enjoy themselves in safety
Bankov
• This very popular place for relaxation, sport and entertainment is accessible by car and city bus and offers good conditions for hiking and mountain-biking, facilities for barbecuing and picnicking, and a minigolf course. There is also an exclusive hotel.
Alpínka
• This recreation area is situated up Čermeľ Valley, in Košice’s largest forest park. It is accessible by car and bus, and the Children’s Railway terminates here. Beyond the picnic area there is a nine-hole golf-course.
Children’s railway
Winter activities, for example:
Ski Centre Kavecany
Jahodná.
Košice won the competition among Slovakian cities to hold the prestigious title European Capital of Culture 2013.
The Slovak State Philharmonic Košice -office is House of Arts
The
Košice State Theater was founded in 1945 (then under the name of the East Slovak National Theater). It consists of three ensembles: drama, opera, and ballet.
Singing fountain is a beautiful fountain in front of the National Theatre. In the summer you can see many people sitting around it, enjoying the weather, music and water until late evenings. Surrounded by trees, it creates a small park that can provide a nice break from your walk while watching the fountain “dance” to the music. Every hour you can also hear the bells of Zvonkohra (Bell chime) which usually plays traditional songs. After the sunset, the music, fountain and its lights provide a relaxing and a romantic place to rest.East Slovak Museum
Slovak Technical Museum
East(ern) Slovak Gallery
Hlavná ulica, literally translated as the Main Street, is the hearth of Kosice and, most importantly, it is the oldest part of the city.
St. Elisabet’s Cathedral is definitely the most popular and the best known monument of Kosice. It is Slovakia’s biggest church as well as the easternmost Gothic cathedral in Europe.
Urban’s Tower also known as St. Urban Tower is a Gothic building with pyramidal roof. It dates originally from 14th Century
Fountain with Zodiac signs is the second major fountain of the historic center. Many believe that if you touch your zodiac sign, make a wish and walk 3 times around the fountain, your wish will become a reality.
Immaculate (Plague Column) – The Immaculata Statue is the most beautiful Baroque-style sculptured monument in the city. It commemorates the plague of 1710 -1711 and was built between 1720 – 1723. It is a 14meters high column on a stone base with sculptures of Josef, Sebastian and Ladislav. On the top is the sculpture of Virgin Mary. On the pillars of the fence are sculptures of St. Gabriel, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Margita, St. Michael the archangel and St. Barbora. It can be seen and admired from the grounds of the Zodiac Fountain.
Beggar’s House is located on the Hlavna Street . The legend says that it is a place where a beggar used to ask people for money. Kosice’s citizens were so generous to him that he was able to build this house. To show his gratitude, at the top of the building he sends his “Thanks” to everyone on Hlavna Street.
Andrassy’s Coat of Arms Statue on Main Street
~Lydka
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Thank you, Lydka for your wonderful & vastly educating travelogue!! I knew little about your beautiful country. Now I will tell people Slovakia would be a great place to visit!! My Grandaughter loves to travel, is in Ireland right now! Will share your article with her & she may decide to make Slovakia her next vacation!!
Anne.I wanted to introduce my town, many people don’t know Slovakia , we are small, but nice country in the heart of Europe. 🙂 It is often said that the Slovaks are not proud of their country,we do not appreciate the beauty of our country, but we have a lot of beautiful historic towns, monuments inscribed in UNESCO, caves, castles, aquaparks, museums, beautiful mountains and nature… Each country has its own advantages and disadvantages and I am therefore proud Slovak. 🙂 Each tourist is welcome ! My cousin lives in Ireland, in Dublin, with her family.
I thank you for your nice words !!!! 🙂 Have a nice day ! 🙂
Your city looks like a good place for a visit. Thank you for sharing.
Pirate ALERT! Today is National Talk Like a Pirate Day! Did you know? (Article on CNN online) It’your day to howl! I expect you to take full advantage of it !
Lydka~ What a beautiful article. I wondered where you were from. I love to travel and Slovakia is now on the list. Maybe the guys will play your gorgeous opera house in the very near future.
I’ve read some of your posts and enjoyed them very much . You are definitely a great addition to this website! Keep it coming, girl!
Lynn, thank you for your kind words ! 🙂 I also think that their concert in our theater would be wonderful. House of Art would also be a great place for concert and The Slovak State Philharmonic Košice could accompany them as background music. But I tell you something, the best place would be St. Elisabet’s Cathedral,has a capacity of 5,000 people,there’s an amazing acoustics and glamorous atmosphere ! I believe that the voices of Il Volo there would sounded perfectly ! My mother was in the cathedral on the organ concert, Bach and his Toccata and Fugue and it was an unforgettable experience for her, she had goosebumps….
I sincerely greet you and wish you all the best ! .-) L
I am grateful that I was able to present my town and I’m glad you liked the article and I have to thank Marie that she gave it here. 🙂
There are two beautiful pictures of St. Elisabet’s Cathedral :
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/34733113.jpg
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/65729215.jpg
Lydka: I forgot to mention that I love the legend about the Beggar’s House. Quite fascinating. Thanks again for all the wonderful details of your town. Looks like a very inviting place to visit. Take Care, Victoria
Thank you, my friend. 🙂
Lydka, your article is wonderful. I especially like the beautiful St. Urban’s Tower and the Singing Fountain. I actually know someone from Slovakia. Our friend’s son married a young woman from your country. Thank you for sharing your home land with us!
Jane,thank you for your compliment for the article, I appreciate any positive response, because It is not a matter of course. Foreigners often saying that Slovakian women belong among the most beautiful women in the world. 🙂 I do not know if it’s true. 😀 I wish your friend’s son all good and happy marriage ! 🙂
The Urban Tower is originally a Gothic prismatic campanile with a pyramidal roof. It was erected in the 14th century.
A church bell installed in the tower has been dedicated to Saint Urban, the patron of vine-dressers. The bell was cast in a mould by the bell-founder Franciscus Illenfeld of Olomouc in 1557. Its weight is 7 tonnes.
In 1775 the pyramidal roof was constructed in the Baroque style with an iron double cross. An arcade passage was erected around the tower in 1912. There are 36 old gravestones (coming from the 14th and 15th centuries, one of these comes from the Roman Empire and dates back to the 4th century) bricked into the exterior walls of the St. Urban Tower.
In 1966 the tower was damaged by fire and the St. Urban Bell was destroyed as well. The reconstructed tower was reopened in 1971. The renovated bell was located in the front of the tower and a copy of the bell was installed in the campanile.
It is simply beautiful!!
Lydka, Thank you for sharing your beautiful country with us. I had no idea. I would very much like to see and hear the singing fountains. Such wonderful architecture too.
Lydka~ Yes! Yes! The cathedral would be perfect for their concert. I’m fascinated by ancient architecture, especially cathedrals and churches. Did you see the video of their Christmas concert in Assisi several years ago? I had the inestimable joy of visiting Italy not too long ago. I visited Assisi and the cathedral where they sang. Giotto’s frescoes are glorious and having been in that beautiful room and then watching their concert was an almost spiritual thing. I think they were very conscious of where they were and it came through in their music.
Just an aside here . There is a friar who lives and works at the cathedral in Assisi. His name is Friar Alessandro . He has two CDs out. Voice from Assisi and a Christmas album. There was a hesitancy on the part of his superiors to allow him to record but they agreed and off he went to Abbey Road ! There was a half hour program on EWTN, a religious channel here in the US, telling his story. He has the same humility and joy in his music as Il Volo. I really hope he was able to hear them sing . If anyone is interested he’s on You Tube. I listen to both him and the guys in the car whenever I ‘ m driving
anywhere. Loudly ,I might add!
Holy Smokes! I just discovered his website and he has a new album out and is touring in Europe! Getting that CD pronto!
Lydka~What is a prismatic campanile? Campanile ( bell tower)I know but not the prismatic part.
I saw their concert in Assisi, was fantastic,that is why I think that in our cathedral would sounded their voices the best and for a concert it would be a best choice. 🙂 I know Friar Alessandro, he sings, for example, Panis Angelicus, Adeste Fideles, Pater Noster, Ave Maria… He is very good and talented singer ! The Urban Tower has prismatic structure,prismatic campanile , it means having the form of a prism. 🙂
Thank you Marie, I did not expect that my town will have so many positive reactions. 🙂 It is different if you see something for the first time and different when you born in the town and see it every day. 🙂 You have the different view on many things and your hometown might not be so interesting for you. Hear singing fountain is a wonderful experience. 🙂
I chose for you videos :
https://youtu.be/EoX2W-Ug0BM
https://youtu.be/i9rbBDkv5d8
https://youtu.be/dxe_U5uJXyM
https://youtu.be/Hn7PhBtQeIY
Lydka this is an axcellent article.In old Europe is the amount of such amazing destinations and buildings.
The girls and their beauty – it is also true,you are beautiful by nature – it´s not artificial beauty.And they are good housekeepers.They know how to bake cakes,desserts,they are very industrious and handy.An axample is the Miss World 2006 Taťana Kuchařová – Czechoslovak origin – mother is Czech,father is Slovak.
Lydka thanks for the beautiful and interesting posts,I look forward to continuing.
Have a nice day Zdena
Thank you, Zdena. 🙂 Czech Republic is also a beautiful country full of beautiful historic towns, many wonderful castles, and beautiful nature.:-)
Kosice peace marathon
International peace marathon is the oldest marathon run annually in Europe. It was founded in 1924. In the beginning, there were only 8 participants, but as years passed, the marathon gained popularity and soon became well known not only in surrounding countries, but in all Europe and eventually also overseas.
Nowadays the marathon is run, according to the tradition, on the first sunday in october. Website : http://www.kosicemarathon.com/stories-of-nine-decades/?lang=en. The winner of the 92nd edition of the International Peace Marathon in Kosice, October, 4, 2015, became the Kenyan Samuel Kiplimo Kosgei, finished second Tanui Collins Kosgei (Kenya) and on the third place was Tolossa Bekum Haile (Ethiopia). The winner of the 92nd edition of the International Peace Marathon 2015 between women became Mulu Melko Diro from Ethiopia, in second place, the Gelan Adugna Ababa from Ethiopia and in third place ended Dorcus Chesang from Ethiopia.