The capital of the Slovak region, Šariš and the cultural center of the Rusyns national minority, Presov has undergone amazing changes over the past few years.
Attractions Presov
Apart from the main square, there is little to see here, but it is a surprisingly “young” and vibrant city thanks to its university. Its diamond-shaped central square called Hlavna Street is surrounded by cream and pastel facades of 18th century houses. At the southern end of the square there is a Rococo-style Greek Catholic cathedral with a huge iconostasis. Further on the same side is the Town Hall, from a small balcony of which in 1919 the head of the Hungarian Red Army, Bela Kun, announced the creation of the Slovak Socialist Republic.
Further north is the City Museum, housed in an oblique brick building at 86 Rakociho (Tuesday 9.00-18.00, Wednesday-Friday 9.00-17.00, Sunday 13.00-18.00), dedicated to the history of the city and the entire region. Prešov Catholic and Protestant churches compete with each other in the widest part of the square. The Catholic Church of St. Mikulas (14th century) is famous for its modernist Moravian stained-glass windows and splendid Baroque altar.
Behind the church of St. Mikulas is a simpler Lutheran church of the mid-17th century, a testament to the power of the Reformation in distant lands at a time when the rest of the Habsburg possessions were suffering from the influence of the Counter-Reformation. Finally, the fin-de-siecle-style ornamental city synagogue is located in the northwest corner of the old town (entrance from the Okruzna side), which houses the small Museum of Judaism (Tuesday and Wednesday 11.00-16.00, Thursday and Friday 10.00-13.00, Sunday 13.00- 17.00) with an exposition dedicated to Judaism and the local Jewish community, 6 thousand representatives of which died during the Holocaust.
Arrival, accommodation and meals in Presov
The bus station and the train station are located opposite each other about a kilometer south of the main square. You can catch buses and trolleybuses on city lines at the Na Hlavnej stop. The Tourist Office (Monday-Friday 9.00-18.00, Saturday 9.00-13.00) is located near the town hall. You can stay at the Antonio Pension on Jarkova, 22, or in the Senator on Hlavna, 67 above the travel agency. Several restaurants and cafes are located on Hlavna, including the inexpensive but decent Baltic at 26 or the pleasant Slovenska restaurant (closed on Saturdays and Sundays) at 11, and the Indian Vegetarian Club at 70. Internet access is offered at the Film Café at no. 121.
Presov, also Pryashev (Slovakian Prešov, Ukrainian Pryashiv, Hungarian Eperjes, German Preschau, Eperies, Polish Preszów, Latin Fragopolis, Eperiessinum) is a city in northeastern Slovakia, founded at the confluence of the Toris and Sekchov rivers at the foot mountain ranges Slanske Vrhy and Sariska Vrhovina in the Kosice depression. Presov is the third largest city in Slovakia and has 91 thousand inhabitants. The city is the administrative center of the Presov region of the same name. It is also home to one of the largest in Slovakia, Presov University in Presov.
Archbishop-Metropolitan Presov is the head of the Slovak Greek Catholic Church.
In Presov, there is the Metropolitan Council of Slovakia, the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, headed by the Archbishop of Presov.
History
In the 9th-10th centuries on the site of Presov there was a Slavic Great Moravian settlement. After the collapse of Great Moravia, the territory of the city became part of the Kingdom of Hungary. Since the 12th century, a large number of German colonists have moved here, who played such an important role in the development of the city that a number of sources say that it owes "its origin" to them.
The city was first mentioned in 1247 as Epures, in 1299 received the privileges of the city and quickly became an important craft and trade center of Sarish. In 1374 Presov became a free royal city.
In 1441 Presov was almost completely burned by the Poles, and in 1604 Bochkai was conquered, but soon it was again occupied by the Imperials.
Protestantism found a response here already in 1530. During the uprisings of Tököli and Rakoczi, the city was badly damaged. Since 1673, it has been greatly damaged by the Vatican's reaction to the teachings of Martin Luther, which has found a warm welcome here. In 1683, the imperial general Karaffa established here the so-called Eperiesh (Pryashevsky) bloody court and built a permanent scaffold on the main square of the city, on which 30 of the most respected Protestant residents of the city were executed on May 9 of the same year.
In the XVI and XVII centuries. the city was famous for the organization of school affairs: in its educational institutions, for the most part, outstanding scientists and teachers from Germany were engaged.
In the 19th century, the city continued to develop rapidly. A railway was laid here, many enterprises were built.
In 1918 Presov became part of Czechoslovakia. In 1948, a further wave of industrialization began and, as a result, the rapid growth of the city.
sights
- City fortifications
- Gothic ensemble of the main square with a parish church
Today we will travel to the third largest city in Slovakia to experience its beauty, sights and attractions. He is located in the region that is named after him. The city is famous for its salt and the Shroud of Turin, and last but not least, it is also the gateway to the peculiar region of Sarish. If you decide that we are talking about Presov, then you guessed it.
Presov is considered the pearl of the East, some even consider it Athens on Toris. This comparison may seem strange to you, but believe that it is true. Presov is located at the confluence of the Toris and Sekchov rivers in the Kosice Basin and is surrounded by the Slanskie Vrkhs and the Šarišskaya Upland. Historically, it belongs to the royal cities and at the same time to the centers of education or culture.
If you are interested in sightseeing, prepare a few pairs of shoes, as there are over 300 of them in Presov. The city center is one of the oldest urban conservation areas in Slovakia. Nearby Solivar boasts the title of the most significant technical and still functioning monument, which can be read in more detail. Of the sacred buildings, Presov offers real treasures.
Pay attention to the magnificent Gothic Cathedral of St. Nicholas (Mikulas), where you must visit observation deck at the top of the church tower. You will have a beautiful view of the city there. The Jewish synagogue, the Baroque calvary and the elevated cathedral of the capital are also worth a visit. Inside he hides an exact copy Shroud of Turin or a reliquary of the blessed martyr bishops Paul Peter Goidich and Vasil Gopok, as well as a relic of the Holy Cross. Other churches are also interesting, but you should see them yourself.
It will also appeal to fans of museums and galleries. You will find the Wine Museum, the unusual Aviation Museum, the Regional Museum in the building of the Rakoczi Palace or the Sharish Gallery and many other cultural institutions. Theaters can also provide you with interesting cultural experiences. One of them is Yonash Zaborsky Theater with a location in several buildings or the only theater in the world that plays performances in the Rusyn language - the Theater of Alexander Dukhnovich.
Leisure lovers will surely appreciate the water park, which is open all year round. For space explorers, the city offers an observatory and a planetarium. Tourists and cyclists will surely enjoy excursions to the ruins of five castles in the vicinity or to the famous Dubnica opal mines. At one time they found here largest opal in the world - the Harlequin, which you can currently see in the Natural History Museum in Vienna. 
We can continue to list the sights for a long time, but we must not forget that the city also lives with events. Among the most interesting are the Presov Musical Spring, the Salt Mine Fair, the Lace Festival, the Bad Music Festival or Presov cultural summer.
In conclusion, we will give a few more uniqueness of this city. The first is the location. The 49th parallel runs through the Presov historical center. With very good visibility from some areas of the city, you can observe, in addition to the surrounding beauty of nature, also located at a distance of more than 70 kilometers. You probably don't suspect that the first book in Slovakia was printed in Presov. It was a Latin textbook. The city is home to many prominent figures, such as Yakub Bogdani, a baroque artist who worked for the English kings. Famous musicians such as Katarina Knekhtova, Katarina Koshchova, Peter Lipa, Peter Nagy, Ivan Tasler or the popular actor Juraj Kukura also come from here.
Presov is a city of many faces, so for you every visit will be associated with the discovery of something new and exceptional.
Translation: Alla Kutserova
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Presov - a city founded earlier in the 9th century in northeastern Slovakia, lying in the Kosice depression. This depression is formed by the foothills of two mountain ranges, one of which is called Sariska Vrhovina, and the other - Slanske Vrhy. The mentioned heights mark with their slopes the point of confluence of the Sekchev and Toris channels.
With 91,000 inhabitants, Presov is known as the administrative center of the region of the same name. The importance of the city is confirmed by one of the largest Slovak universities, which has located its educational buildings here. The city archbishop-metropolitan at the same time heads the Slovak Greek Catholic Church, and the archbishop of Slovakia, who heads the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church, also serves here.
With the collapse of Great Moravia, the Slavic settlement that had been here for the 9th-10th centuries merged with the Kingdom of Hungary. The crowded stream of German settlers that poured here in the XII century, their deeds on the inhabited territory prompted some historians to assert that Presov owes its origin exclusively to German colonists.
The developing city was mentioned by written sources for the first time in 1247 under the name Epures, and fifty-two years later Presov was awarded the privileges of the city, becoming a key handicraft and trading point of Sarish. The next title - a free royal city - was awarded to Presov in 1374. The dynamic development of the city aroused bad feelings in the neighbors, and in 1441 its buildings were burned down by the Polish conquerors.
The subsequent 16th - 17th centuries glorified the city with excellent schooling. Outstanding teachers, the best scientists in Germany were engaged in improving schooling here. Further development of Presov took place in the 19th century, when, thanks to numerous local enterprises, a railway line stretched to the city.
The formation of Czechoslovakia in 1918 poured additional energy into the development of the city. The textile, woodworking, machine-building and food industries began to rise. Their growth, interrupted by the Second World War, continued in 1948, marked by the onset of a new wave of industrialization.
Among the most valuable monuments of Presov, the Rakosi Palace stands out for its architecture, which today has given its elegant rooms to the museum. The church of St. Mikulas also attracts the eye, the main difference of which is the sixty-meter towers. In total, there are 325 buildings listed as cultural monuments.
Since winemaking is listed among the oldest traditions of Presov, the city acquired a unique wine museum located in an old cellar. This basement itself is a product of antiquity, for its age exceeds 500 years. All these centuries winemaking has been the core branch of the city's economic life.
The museum does not suffer from provincial patriotism - collection wines from different countries are on display in its exposition. The museum is not limited to exhibition activities either. Here you can taste local wines and buy your favorite drinks in the museum shop.
Once on the streets of Presov (especially on its main street, where the most popular shops, shopping, entertainment and cultural centers are concentrated), you wonder how modern European style and Baroque architecture are combined at the same time.
Everywhere is like scenery for a fairy tale film: palaces, Catholic cathedrals and churches, squares and fountains. Slovakia is gradually attracting tourists from all over Europe. Presov is one hundred percent way to experience all the contradictions of this small country.
How carefully Slovaks honor traditions can be felt already in the first days spent in the Slovak Republic. This manifests itself in almost all aspects: music, familiar cuisine, festivals and holidays, wardrobe, etc. Therefore, the first and main advice to a tourist going to hospitable Slovakia is standard - to collect as much information as possible about the habits and rules of behavior in this (and any other) country in the world, to respect and follow these regulations wherever you go.
"It is not customary to argue about preferences in politics and religion in society." We, most likely, have already learned this in our youth. Here "it is customary to believe." Slovaks love to discuss another covenant in a circle of like-minded people, but you should not openly ridicule or try to convince someone (the people here are cultured, but they can fight back).
Many talented people live in Slovakia - literally at every step (especially in tourist centers) artists and craftsmen put up their creations for sale.
It's hard not to bring home a unique colorful canvas, glass souvenir, wooden sculpture or traditional outfit. If you're lucky, be sure to visit the annual fair on the Day of Folk Artists - all the most beautiful and unimaginable things are gathered in one place.
Locals call the church of St. Nicholas' Main Church. Like all cathedral structures in Europe, it is made in the Gothic and Medieval styles. On the territory of the complex, there is an acute sense of a secluded, picturesque and calm atmosphere.
At the same time, not far from here is the nearest cafe / bar in Presov, a supermarket (the church is located within the city). It is worth noting that not so long ago the cathedral was badly destroyed, so you have to see the most realistically recreated copy of it.
The "Main Church" of the city is located on the main (Hlavna) street.
Poloniny is a protected area located at the junction of three states: Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia (there are several more protected areas in the neighborhood). During the seasonal period, groups of tourists come here with pleasure to walk among the virgin forest nature, and, if possible, to capture some rare animal. Bison, brown bears and other species of wild animals live in a kind of natural zoo. It is not possible to bypass the entire national reserve - the territory is huge, but walking along the tourist paths is quite enough to create beautiful photos against the backdrop of green thickets and majestic mountains.
Getting to the park as part of an organized group is not difficult; most likely, you will be taken back and forth to your hotel. You can get there on your own by rented transport, or by taxi from the city center. The closest settlement to the NP "Poloniny" - with. Nova Sedlica.
Byzantine Cathedral (Nevsky)
Another sacred place in Presov, a must-see for tourists, is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. So, in the East of Slovakia, a real Orthodox cathedral opened its doors for foreign guests. It is not difficult to guess that our compatriots often meet in this place. It's not easy to get here, you need to familiarize yourself with the schedule - certain visiting hours are set here.
The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is located at a distance of less than 1 km from the city center, you can get there by public transport or taxi (from 200 rubles in the city).
In Europe, they like to arrange unusual excursions. One of such excursions can be a visit to the ... wine museum! Did you know that Slovakia is famous for its winemakers? They say that Slovakia and good wine cannot exist separately from each other. In turn, Presov is considered almost the capital of the production of this drink in the country.
Why is an excursion to this museum so unusual? Firstly, this cultural institution is located in the underground structures of a former prison. A visit to the wine museum is quite an entertaining event - you can find out on what equipment and with what tools any wine is produced.
At the end of the excursion to the "catacombs" of the museum, they usually offer to take part in the tasting of wines of various varieties: Slovak, French, etc.
By the way, Presov, I must say, is a very cultured city. Other unique museums are also open to visitors. For example, in local history museum, where you can touch the history of the city, a lot of information about how winemaking originated in Slovakia.
Sharish is a historical landmark and the pride of Presov. Don't expect huge towers, domes, high fences and flying flags. The castle is now ruins on the hills. But this did not make the "Sharishsky grad" less attractive for local residents and guests of the city. In ancient times, this place was very significant in Sharisha (historical region), and the locals believe that the castle is saturated with a mystical spirit. Such is the special "place of power" in Slovakia.
Located in the vicinity of Presov (5-6 km). Excursions are very popular here. We advise you to purchase one of the tours.
Jewish quarter
Here you can stroll along narrow well-groomed streets, admire the architecture and, in general, have an interesting time: have a snack in an old cafe, taste the national cuisine.
Located on the main street along with the most popular churches and palaces in the city.
"Wicked pit"
The main attractions of Presov include another one that attracts tourists - the "Evil Pit" cave. If you have already, properly, admired the picturesque Slovak town, walked around all the streets and shops, it's time to add a little extreme to the tourist program.
You can visit the inside of the cave with a frightening name from early morning until 19 pm. In order to see the stalactites fancifully located overhead and in time to dodge the falling drops, special lanterns are issued at the entrance to the "Evil Pit". Even if you come here during the warm season, you should prepare for this adventure - it is quite cool and damp inside.
The "Evil Pit" is located half an hour drive from the city of Presov.
There are many monuments and monumental sculptures in the city that have existed for decades. Everything has been kept in perfect condition.
- Monument to the soldiers of the Soviet army... It was erected in memory of the soldiers who gave their lives in the Second World War. Located on Main Street.
- Monument to the Pope... Installed near the Catholic and Lutheran churches in honor of the visit of John Paul II, it is considered the most famous in the city.
- The famous fountain "Neptune"... Much is said about him in modern guidebooks. It turns out that in the territory where the oldest city fountain is located, there used to be 9 more such beautiful fountains. After long bloody wars, only Neptune survived.
This is only a small part of the monuments available in the city. Without a doubt, with a little curiosity, you will discover even more amazing places to take great photos and get to know the history of Presov.
The town hall building was built in Presov in the Middle Ages. This building has changed its purpose several times throughout its history, but in the end it became the City Duma. The restored and rebuilt building has preserved the old look of those times. A large part of the town hall was once set aside for a prison. By the way, it is in its basement that the wine museum is now functioning ...
On weekends and high season, you literally can't break through here, and a visit to the museum is designed for a specific number of people. We recommend that you take care of buying a tour or entrance tickets in advance.
The most popular sights in Presov are located on the "main street", as is the town hall. On a square not far from the huge Rákóczi Palace, in a complex with an old prison.
This is where you can spend the whole day and night in Presov and get a lot of emotions and impressions. Main Street contains all kinds of shops, souvenir shops, magnificent palaces and cathedrals, it is also the main attraction in this small town.
The main street is perceived by the townspeople as the Slovak "Montmartre". Here you want to take a picture with every house, look into every lane.
The street is the center of modern Presov.
Products of the football club "Tatran"
In Slovakia, Presov is also famous for giving the country a football team playing in the First League. For fans, there is a whole boutique with white and green sportswear and accessories of your favorite team. Basically, of course, the store is in demand among visiting tourists, but Slovaks often drop in at Tatran to get another autograph of a football club member in their moneybox.
Located on the street. Home.
What else to see in Presov (ski resorts, hotels, restaurants)
For what purpose do travelers come to Slovakia? This is Europe, so a cultural holiday, you might say. But it is worth getting to know this country better in order to understand that you can spend your vacation here very actively.
What else to see in small Presov and where to go for tourists? There are many ski centers in Slovakia, because the mountain ranges here create ideal conditions for skiing. The most favorable region is the High Tatras (Presov region). We advise you to consider such centers as: (prestigious resort, 5 *), SKI STRBSKE PLESO(the most famous ski resort in the area), Ski resort BAKHLEDOVA (highest level for family vacations), etc.
Where to stay?
We choose vacation accommodation based on our financial capabilities (guest house, hostel, hotel). If you do not plan to spend a lot of time in the room, 3 stars will do (European quality and service will not leave you bad impressions).
One of the best and most unusual hotels in Presov is boutique hotel "Villa Plaza"(4*). You can make sure that they clean on time and always have the right amount of towels in the bathroom by reading reviews on hotel booking sites (there are a lot of such sources on the net now). Among other things, the hotel has a convenient location - Solivar district, Plaza Beach complex.
Hotel "Avenue 7" - the real leader in booking rooms among visitors in Presov! The hotel has only 3 *, but offers its guests many additional services: WI-FI free, rooms for non-smoking guests, a cozy bar, etc. By the way, this hotel can be accommodated with a pet.
Hotel « Dukla » (4*) - city center. Here you will also be offered Additional services at the hotel: spa-center on the upper floors, equipped paths and other facilities for the disabled. The most important sights of Presov are within walking distance.
Cafes / restaurants
In Presov, there are cafes of national cuisine in almost every quarter. But even Slovak dishes are varied. The most visited café, FILM, offers drinks with the names of cult movies. During your next aperitif, be sure to try some Slovak wines. You will certainly want to bring one or two bottles with you.
