The region Prešov fills the north-eastern part of Slovakia and it stretches from the west to the east. It borders on Poland and Ukraine in the north and east respectively.

The metropolis of what is the biggest region of Slovakia is the town Prešov, the third biggest town in Slovakia. It is also the centre of the historic region Šariš. Its pride is the town Bardejov (UNESCO monument) with the neighboring world famous spa Bardejovské kúpele. Šariš is also the area with greatest number of wooden churches.

The most attractive area in Slovakia in terms of tourism, the mountain range High Tatras (Vysoké Tatry), is also part of this region. The mountain range is visited by hikers, skiers and patients of climatic spas situated in the heart of the Tatra National Park.

 

The territory of the historic region Spiš is dotted by manors (Strážky), monasteries (Červený kláštor) and castles (Kežmarok, Ľubovňa). The natural jewels of Spiš include the National Parks of Pieniny and Slovenský raj. The Castle of Spiš with its environs (the biggest castle compound in central Europe, Spišské Podhradie, the ecclesiastical town Spišská Kapitula, the Gothic church in Žehra) was included into the UNESCO monuments.

Levoča is the centre of Spiš and offers a great number of architectural monuments with the biggest wooden altar in the world.

The upper Zemplín, the easternmost historic region of Slovakia, is coated by the typical Carpathian landscape of the Eastern Carpathian Mountains (Východné Karpaty) with original virgin woods in the National Park of Poloniny. The primeval forests of Stužica, Rožok and Havešová in the Bukovské vrchy Mts. were added to the UNESCO list of world natural heritage in June 2007 together with the Kyjov primeval forest in the Vihorlatské vrchy Mts. near Poloniny and with the primeval forests in the Ukraine.
Numerous precious Orthodox and Greek Catholic wooden churches ornament the area.

 

Region of great tourist attractions

Untouched mountain and sub-mountain landscape: The High Tatras "Vysoké Tatry" is the highest mountain range in Slovakia that reaches 2,655m at the highest peak "Gerlachovský Štít." Natural phenomenon like 175 mountain lakes of glacial origin, waterfalls, caves, and also a great network of hiking trails are embraced by the Tatra mountains. Three exceptional natural parks spread over the region: The Tatra National Park; the Pieniny National Park; and the Poloniny National Park.

Spa resorts and over 400 mineral springs: a historical Bardejov Spa; the Vyšné Ružbachy Spa with a travertine lake; the ultra modern AquaCity Poprad; and the spa villages in the High Tatras.

Historical and cultural landmarks: the city of Prešov (1299); the town of Bardejov (UNESCO); the Spišská Kapitula (UNESCO); a medieval town of Levoča; the castle centered in the town of Kežmarok; the Stará Ľubovňa Castle (14th century); 26 ancient wooden churches dated since 1500; the Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art in Medzilaborce; Opal Mines in Dubník; and the Prešov Salt-Mine "Solivar."

 

Region of business opportunities

A highly diversified economy, number of industrial parks, qualified labour force, and low labour costs gradually attract new investment into the region.
Principal industries: textile and chemical manufacturing, food and timber processing, machine and electrical engineering, and importantly, tourism is a growing industry.
 

 

Advantageous geographical location

The Prešov Region is a gateway to Poland, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe via E50 and E68. The D1 motorway is also further developed towards the East. The Poprad-Tatry Airport covers international routes to London and Prague, which complements other flight destinations operated by the Košice Airport. The railway network consists of 345 km of tracks and 41 km of the Tatras electric tracks.

 

The City of PREŠOV

General Information
Prešov is a city located in eastern Slovakia with a population of 92000. It is the third largest city in Slovakia after Bratislava and Košice. It is also a seat of the administrative Prešov Region, Prešov University and Orthodox archbishopric. Buildings standing in the historical center are part of Town Monument Centre.
Prešov is known as an industrial centre; there are mostly mechanical, clothing industry and electric engineering companies.

History
First habitants came to the region of Prešov already in Paleolithic period. We know that from the oldest discovered tools which are more than 28000 years old. Further historical information is discovered only from the 8th century and later.

Prešov used to be a part of Kingdom of Hungary in the end of 11th century. The city was founded in 1132 by King of Hungary – Blind Béla and named after strawberries in Hungarian – Eperjes. After the Mongol invasions in 1241, many German settles moved to the city. Eperjes received its municipal privileges from Andrew III. Later, in 1374, it was declared a free royal town what had a great influence to the development of crafts and trade. In the 15th century, the city joined Pentapolitana – an alliance of 5 towns of north-eastern Hungary (Prešov, Košice, Bardejov, Levoča and Sabinov).

In 1687, a Hapsburg general executed 24 local Protestants, some of them noblemen, who had supported Košice rebel leader Imre Thököly. This is known as the Prešov Massacre. Fighting erupted again during the revolutions of 1848-1849. In 1919, when Prešov was part of the new Czechoslovakia, a socialist revolution in Hungary spread here. Leaders declared a Slovak Soviet Republic in Prešov's town hall (Hlavná 73). Czechoslovak forces drove out the Hungarians and the Slovak Soviet Republic collapsed.

Prešov experienced a Bubonic plague and a lot of great fires during the first half of 18th century where it lost more than 2000 inhabitants. After these tragedies the locals successfully recovered the city, crafts and trades were improved again and new factories were built. Town went through a huge progress in 19th century, when the locals introduced electricity, telegraph, telephone and a sewage system. Unfortunately, the town was destroyed again by fire in 1889. Prešov became a part of Czechoslovakia in 1918.

 

Sights
Church of St. Nicholas
Parish Church of St. Nicholas (Kostol sv. Mikoláša) is the main dominant of the city. The church was built in Gothic style during the 14th century but its construction was finished in 1515. Its gothic elements – portals, domes, decorated windows – were preserved despite of the huge fire in 1788. The biggest treasure of the church is its main altar built in the end of 17th century. The tower, opened to public, offers a beautiful view of the town.

 

Greek–Catholic St. John the Baptist Cathedral
Greek–Catholic St. John the Baptist Cathedral (Grécko-katolícka katedrála sv. Jána Krstiteľa) was built in baroque style in 18th century. The most interesting and rare relic is the Turin Shroud. According to the legend Jesus was wrapped up by it after he was putted down from the cross. There are only 4 copies all around the world (Prešov, Torino, Jerusalem and Vilnius). The cathedral was visited by the Pope John Paul II. during his official visit in 1995.

Solivar near Prešov
It is historically most important salt deposit in locality Solivar near Prešov in eastern Slovakia with number of preserved technical monuments connected with extraction of salt.
Salt springs existed there since the Middle Ages. Salt was obtained from them until 1572 when mining started. As the mines were flooded by water in 1752, it was necessary to apply a different and new technology. The mine changed into an underground salt lake and the technology then applied consisted in extracting the salt water in leather sacks to earth surface with the help of a pump driven by animals.
One such pump still exists in the pit Leopold. It is from the 19th century and accessible to public. In Solivar, apart from technical monuments, visitors can also see the former salt store, the cooking room František, and the chapel of St Roch.

Fortifications
Town fortification system started to be built during the 14th century. Well designed structure of the walls, water moats, bridges and trapdoors remained well-preserved until now. Florian’s Gate used to be the historical entrance of the town located on the street with a same name.
 

For more information about history and sightseeing click here http://travel.spectator.sme.sk/articles/1571/presov_beauty_emerging_from_blood
Zdroj: travel.spectator.sme.sk – an online version of the spectacular Slovakia travel guide.

 

Theatres
Theatre of Jonáš Záborský (Divadlo J. Záborského)
Address: Námestie legionárov 6
Tel: 00421/51/773 39 91
www.djz.sk
 

Portál Theatre (Divadlo Portál)
Address: Októbrová 46
Tel: 00421/51/452 06 10
 

Theatre of Alexander Duchnovič (Divadlo Alexandra Duchnoviča)
Address: Jarková 77
Tel: 00421/51/773 27 00
www.divadload.sk
USAP Theatre (Divadlo USAP)
Address: Švábska č. 27
Tel: 00421/51/770 47 95

 

Museums
Museum of Prešov Region (Krajské múzeum)
Address: Hlavná 86
Tel: 00421/51/759 82 20
www.muzeumpresov.sk
 

Museum of Wines (Múzeum vín)
Address: Floriánova
Tel: 00421/51/773 31 08
www.muzeumvin.sk
Slovak Technical Museum (Slovenské technické múzeum)
Address: Zborovská 2/A
Tel: 00421/51/775 74 27

 

Galleries
Ag Gallery
Address: Hlavná 66
Tel: 00421/907 932 001
 

Atrium Gallery
Address: Floriánova 4
Tel: 00421/51/758 21 95
 

Per Spectrum Gallery
Address: Jarková 77
Tel: 00421/902 142 151
 

Šariš Gallery
Address: Hlavná 51
Tel: 00421/51/772 54 23
www.sgpresov.sk
 

 

Accommodation
For more information click here http://www.slovakia.com/presov/

 

Restaurants
For more information click here http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurants-g799591-Presov_Presov_Region.html

 

Cinemas
Cinemax Prešov
Address: Vihorlatská 2A
Tel.: 00421 51 7086 805
www.cine-max.sk
 

Scala Cinema (Kino Skala)
Address: Masarykova 7
Tel: 00421/51/773 34 66
www.tatrafilm.sk

 

Shopping centre
Eperia
Address: Nám. legionárov 1
Tel: 00421/51/772 22 41
 

MAX - shopping and entertainment center
Address: Vihorlatská 2A,
Tel.: 00421 51 7086 805

 

Tourist Information
Address: Arm. gen. Svobodu 25, 080 01 Prešov-Sekčov
Tel: 00421/ 051/321 69 86