PREŠOV

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS

PREŠOV – CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Only in Prešov

Soľnobanská lace (Saltmine lace) originated in a part of Prešov called Solivar (Saltern). The main activity of Solivar's inhabitants was salt mining.

A legend says that there was a catastrophe in a mine and many mine

workers died when the mine was flooded. In that time Mária Terézia had

sent the lace makers to teach the residential women - widows - how to

make lace, so that they could feed their children. Nowadays the tradition

of Soľnobanská lace is followed by Soľnobanský čipkársky cech (Salt mine

lace association).

The Church of St. Nicholas is undoubtedly the most remarkable sight of Prešov. In addition, it represents the oldest and the only Gothic religious

building preserved in Prešov. It is important to remark that townsmen used

the church as the city's main meeting place once a year, especially during

the municipal elections and perhaps at other occasions as it was the

biggest hall in the city. Not too much has remained from the original Gothic

and Renaissance interior furnishing. Most of it was destroyed either during the fires or especially

during anti-Habsburg uprisings at the end of the 17th century. The dominant part is a 66 metres high

late gothic tower. The main altar represents harmony of gothic and baroque styles. There are statues

made by Master Paul from Levoča there.

Black Eagle A luxurious complex of city buildings called for a long time the Black Eagle is situated in the southern part of the square, and in the

eastern part of Main Street (house number 50). The centre of this

complex was Thomas Cascher's two-storey townsman's house with a large

yard, situated on two medieval plots, which were bought by the city in

1561 and adapted to the luxurious city inn. The inn was used more frequently for cultural events in

the 19th century. A bigger room called a reduta (dancing hall) was established in the building

complex in the early 19th century.

Bosák´s Bank A building in a Vienna Sezession style which was

supposed to be used as the seat of a financial institution was built

on a corner of Hlavná Main and Levočská Streets between 1923 –

1924. An allegorical sculpture of four seasons is situated in the back

part of the building (facing Levočská Street), and a relief of a steam-

boat, a steam locomotive and an air-plane can be found under it.

The building was named after Michal Bosák (1869-1937), a Slovak

immigrant to the U.S.A who had soon become one of the most significant American bankers.

Calvary

Prešov is dominated by the baroque complex of Calvary situated on a not very

high hill at the western end of the city. In the past, it was considered to be the

second most beautiful Calvary in the territory of the Hungarian Lands (the

first one being that in Banská Štiavnica). The graveyard was established along

with the church and the chapels. Originally, it was used for burying the

Calvary donors, later on people from near-by town quarters, and other people, too. There are several

interesting and valuable aristocratic and burgher crypts in the Empire and the historicist styles in the

graveyard. In 1836 catacombs were built under the church. They functioned as a crypt for clergymen.

It is one of the most picturesque places in Prešov and a popular place for walks. The whole complex

includes the Way of the Cross involving 12 chapels, the Church of Saint Cross and the Chapel of Saint

Steps. In good weather the hill-top provides a beautiful panorama of the city.

Floriánova brána – Florián´s Gate (the seat of the Hotel Academy) was built up in the first half of the 15th century as an integral part of the new town walls

at the western side of the town, along with another street was established,

Baštová street. Still more profound reconstruction of the port took place in

1808.When the reconstruction was completed, the chapel of St. Florián was

placed directly above the passage. A Prešov painter named Max Kurth depicted

St. Florián in a characteristic iconographic style that is with a soldier helmet, a

fire-fighting flag, and with silhouettes of the parish church. The latest extensive

reconstruction of the Florián Gate was implemented in 1979.

The Neptune’s fountain is the only preserved original city water

tank. The sculptural group of Neptunius was made by a Jewish

merchant Mark Holländer at the beginning of the 19th century as

an expression of his gratitude to the permission from the

municipal authorities allowing him to live and practise trade in the

city. No Jews were allowed to live or stay in the city (except the

market days) until the reign of Joseph II. Mark Holländer, a rich

Galician trader, was the first to violate this rule in the middle of

the 1780's.

The 49th parallel runs only through one Slovak town, which is Prešov. It runs through the road in the centre near Hlavná St. 126. The place is marked by a

metal disc and a monument. The Prešov observatory is also situated straight on

the 49th parallel.

Town Hall

The present town hall was used as a residential house of painter Peter

Maller until 1490. In the 16 century it was reconstructed and served as a

wine house until the late 17 century. Then it started to function as a town

hall. The cellar under the building was turned into a museum of wines in

1994. Moreover, the town hall includes a two-storey building, the so-

called Caraffa´s prison.

Greek-Catholic Cathedral Church of St. John the Baptist The church stands on the place of the original town hospital. In the 17 century

the church was used by Slovak Protestants. After 1950 the complex of

buildings was used by the Orthodox Church for a short time. The crypt in the

church underground contains the graves of Greek-Catholic (Uniate) bishops.

The interior contains precious forged bars and candlesticks.

Jewish Synagogue

The Moorish style synagogue was built up within 18 months and

open to the public in 1898. It was based on the design of Tokaj

synagogue. The building interior features unique ceiling paintings

with Persian motifs. In 1990 Jews from Los Angeles with roots in

Prešov wanted to move the whole building in containers to their

new country. The synagogue contains a collection of Judaica. A

monument of martyrs commemorating the Jewish tragedy during

the World War II is located in the yard in front of the synagogue.

Evangelical Church of the Trinity

The monument dates back to the years of Reformation and

represents a single nave building. In the 18 century it belonged to

Jesuits who connected the building with the College by means of

an overhead passage. The organ dates back to this period. Four

burgesses executed by General Caraffa were buried in the church

crypt.

Evangelical College

In 1666 a public collection was taken and among donators were e.g. I. Thokoly (10,000 guilders) and

the Swedish king Charles IX (20,000 guilders).The College was constructed as a single storey building

including an inside yard. In the 18 century the College was taken by the army and served as a

foodstuff warehouse. The college was attended by a number of prominent Slovak personalities,

including P.O. Hviezdoslav, J. Jesenský, J.G. Tajovský, and other.

Did you know?

English Queen wears an opal from the world´s famous Presov opal mines on her crown.

Signature on the US 10 dollar note belongs to Michal Bosak, originally from Presov.

What´s more, one of the only 4 copies in the whole world of the Turin shroud is placed in the

Presov Greek Catholic church.