TOP TEN 10 „must see“ spots of the Prešov Region Issued by: The Prešov Self-Governing Region Námestie mieru 2, Prešov, Slovakia www.vucpo.sk 2007 Text: Veronika Fitzeková. TOP TEN Foto: Ladislav Cuper, Ervín Némethy, Dušan Guzi, Róbert Vico, Mária Žarnayová. 10 „must see“ spots of the Prešov Region Design & Pre-press: ROKO, a.s. The Prešov Slovakia Self-Governing Region The Slovak Republic is administratively divided into eight self-governing regions. The Prešov Region is the most populous of all Slovak regions. Prešov is the regional capital and the third largest city in Slovakia. The Prešov Self-Governing Region is located in the north-eastern part of the country and has an advantageous geographical position – it is a gateway to Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, and Eastern Europe. Svidník Stará Ľubovňa Bardejov Medzilaborce Kežmarok Sabinov Stropkov Levoča Snina Poprad Humenné Prešov Vranov n. Topľou Poprad Prešov Košice Basic Information: Area: 8 993 sq. km Bratislava Number of Inhabitants: 800 483 Economically Active Inhabitants: 47, 7% Number of Districts: 13 Number of Towns: 23 Number of Municipalities: 643 Regional Capital: Prešov 2 3 Prešov Dear Visitors, Undoubtedly, the regional capital Nowhere else may you find such a variety of valuable cultural, historical and natu- Prešov is of a-high interest. The city ral sights as in the Prešov Self-Governing Region. I believe you will find yourself was established in 1299. Among the charmed by our region as much as most of our visitors do. This tourist guide pre- most dominant landmarks is the sents the „best“ attraction to see. Feel free to visit ten „must see“ spots of our region. St. Nicholas Parish Church, dated to 1374. Also a-very valuable sight is the Town Hall, a-building of the former Protestant College, dated to 1667. Prešov Orthodox Synagogue belongs among the most beautiful in the central Europe. Furthermore, Peter Chudík the Bosák Bank was built by a-Slo- vak American Michal Bosák, born President of the PSGR in eastern Slovakia. The building was reconstructed two years ago. In 2003, the building was awarded a-prize for the best reconstruction at an exhibition in Brussels. 5 The Spas The Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Arts 10 „must see“ spots of the Prešov Region The Bardejov Town Vyšné Ružbachy Pieniny Stará Ľubovňa Bardejov Medzilaborce The Red Monastery (Červený Kláštor) Tatry Kežmarok Prešov Levoča Snina Dubník The Eastern Rite Wooden Churches The Main Altar by the Master Paul of Levoča The High Tatras (Vysoké Tatry) The Castles The Solivar The Opal Mines The Wooden High Tatras churches The wooden churches belong among the oldest historical artefacts. Out of the group of 27 wooden churches dec- lared as the national cultural heritage, The smallest Alpine mountain range twenty-six are located in the Prešov in the world reaches 2 655m at Region. Their occurence is no coinci- the highest peak – Gerlachov Peak. dence. The Region of Prešov is where Slovakia is proud of one of the best two world cultures meet: Western- marked and maintained network of Roman and Eastern-Byzantine. The tourist trails. Remarkable caves and oldest wooden church is dated to fascinating water falls may be found about 1500 A.D., situated in the vil- in the Tatras. Mountain lakes of lage of Hervartov in the Bardejov glacial origin also called "plesá" are district. Wooden churches remain the a magnificent natural phenomenon. place of religious services. There are about 175 of them. 8 9 The Red Monastery The Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Arts One great tourist attraction is the Pieniny National Park, offering an opportunity to raft down the river Dunajec. The Pieniny National Park does not belong among the largest. It is a 35 km long strip, which, however, belongs to the most valua- Family history of Andy Warhol, the ble natural territories in the central founder of Pop Art is also connected Europe. Červený Kláštor (the Red with the Prešov Region. Warhol’s Monastery) is another interesting parents are the natives of a small place to visit. The monastery is village named Miková in the district connected with Friar Cyprián, a of Medzilaborce. The Andy Warhol reputable pharmacist and botanist. Museum of Modern Arts in Medzi- This Carthusian friar is also known laborce was founded in 1991. So far as the "Flying Friar". His nickname it has managed to create a collection relates to the 1768 construction of of about 140 works made by the a flying machine with the help of artist. which the friar flew down from the hill named Three Crowns all the way to the Tatras. 10 11 The Main Altar made by the Master Opal Mines Paul of Levoča The town of Levoča is a treasury of precious historical landmarks, dated to the medieval times. Moreover, the St. Jacob Parish Church is the gem Near Prešov, in the Slanské Hills, of the city. It was built in the 14th there is an area called Dubník, century. Its Gothic altar, which is which became famous for mining allegedly the highest in the world of precious stones. The fame of is 18.62 m high and it was made the Dubník opal (also known as in the workshop of a local artist Czerwenitza opal, according to the Master Paul of Levoča in the 16th name of a nearby village) found its century. The historical town buil- place among the best at an interna- ding of Levoča is where the fif- tional exhibition in Vienna in 1873. th summit of eleven presidents of The largest is the Vienna Imperial eastern European countries was Opal, which weights 594 grams. held in 1998. 12 13 Bardejov Solivar Bardejov is considered to be one of the most beautiful towns in Slovakia. Since 1986, this city has been a holder of the UNESCO Gold Medal for the preservation of its cultural landmarks. Bardejov was enlisted in the UNSECO World Heritage List. A Solivar is a location near Prešov dominant site of the town is its his- where rock salt mining started as torical square with medieval houses, early as 1572. Solivar offers an which have preserved their medieval opportunity to acquaint oneself with look until today. In its centre, there historical mining procedures, tools is a medieval town hall, dated to and the entire mining process. the 16th century. The St. Egidius Roman Catholic Church, housing eleven original gothic altars, is a unique piece of the European medie- val gothic architecture. 14 15 Spas Castles The Prešov Region is also well known for its castles such as Kapušany, The spa tourism is an attractive Čičva or Šariš. Two such castles form of recreation and tourism. Spa open to the general public are extra villages in the High Tatras have precious. Kežmarský Castle from the excellent climatic conditions for the 15th century was originally built as a treatment of respiratory illnesses. crusaders’ monastery and Ľubovňa The Bardejov Spa is regarded as Castle from the 14th century which the most visited spa in the region. In formally served as a border fortress Bardejov Spa, there are 17 springs. and was often the meeting place of In the location of the Vyšné Ružbachy Hungarian and Polish rulers. The spa, there are about 85 mineral history of the Ľubovňa Castle is springs. The interesting thing about closely connected with the person of the spa is a travertine lake, filled Móric Beňovský, an adventurer and with thermal water. Altogether there later the King of Madagascar who are about 400 mineral springs in the was imprisoned here in 1768. Prešov Region. 16 17 Artistic Crafts National Parks The asset of the Prešov Region is its untouched mountain and sub- mountain landscape. Out of seven national parks in the territory of Slovakia, five are fully or partly located in the territory of the Prešov Region: The Tatras National Park, The Pieniny National Park, The Poloniny National Park, The Low Tatras National Park, and the Slovak Paradise. 18 19.