Things to see and do Eastern Slovakia

The region of northeastern Slovakia is known for its Eastern wooden ritual churches scattered in picturesque villages located in the mountains of the Carpathian Arc. One of these buildings is the Greek-Catholic Church of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin in Hunkovce. Built at the end of the 18th century, this charming building stands in the shade of old trees in the centre of the village, surrounded by a small cemetery with interesting carved crosses.

This medieval Gothic building with three naves and the 76-metre high tower is a true museum of Slovak religious art. Inside, there are 11 wooden altars of the th and th centuries, whose altar dedicated to Saint Barbara is attributed to the master Paul de Levoča. The main altar, carved in 1888, is immense and dominated by a Christ crucified in a very surprising suspension. The baptismal font is a fine example of the mixture between Protestant and Catholic heritages.

Housed in the Muza hotel-restaurant, the Mihal Gallery is a unique project that seeks to showcase the life and work of world-renowned artist Andy Warhol in an interesting way. Among the twenty-five works is the famous, oft-reproduced painting of Marilyn Monroe, but this one is an unpublished work that Warhol created by hand. It's the most precious work to be seen in the country by this pop-art icon, originally from Eastern Slovakia.

The exhibition, which was opened to the public in 1983, is located in a baroque manor in the eighteenth century. It presents the development of popular art of Ukrainians and ruins in Slovakia from the sixteenth century to the present. The two dominant points of the exhibition are a rare collection of icons and the works of the national artist Dezider Milly (1906-1971). His paintings describe and paint rural man from inside, a beautiful historical testimony.

The region's largest gallery hosts exhibitions of traditional and contemporary art, as well as symposia. Housed in the former county seat of Košice, the classical architecture creates an interesting dialogue with the most contemporary works. In April 1945, the first Czechoslovak government met here, during the few weeks when Košice was the capital of the new Republic proclaimed after the fall of Nazism.

This central square built in the early th century has a oblong shape. It is broken to the north by the basilica. The old town hall nestles majestically in its centre. It is surrounded by over bourgeois houses, some of which are worthy of interest. At No. 13, the Gantzaugh house (the headquarters of the regional museum of Šariš) has a beautiful rococo facade. At No. 16, the old school of 3 houses linked to each other is now city hall. This house, originally Gothic and modified in Renaissance style, has lovely frescoes on its facade, including Bardejov weapons.

At No. 26, a Gothic Renaissance style house is priceless, with its facade adorned with a superb fresco depicting the coronation of the Virgin Mary. The house No. 42 served as a cellar at the Tokaj which produced the vineyards of the city. At that time, the market was hosted, and the city hall was sometimes sheltered in the event of weather.

In the centre of the central square, a statue of the Immaculate Virgin is enthroned on a high column and displays its slightly overloaded baroque coquetries. The statue was erected in 1720-1723 in gratitude for the Virgin who would have delivered the city from the plague epidemic of 1709-1710. It takes its present appearance from its restoration in 1909, when the sculptures of many saints were added to the building, including the angel Saint Gabriel and the archangel Saint Michael.

The Singing Fountain is located between the State Theatre and St. Elizabeth Cathedral. Inaugurated on ¹ May 1986, it is the oldest Singing Fountain in the former Czechoslovakia. It was founded with the support of former mayor Rudolf Schuster, who later became president of Slovakia. In the heart of a park ideal for relaxing and taking a short break when visiting the city, this fountain starts to sing and the lighting of the water jets turns to the rhythm of the music.

In the heart of Košice's central square, it stands out with its gallery bell tower, polychrome roof, north door decorated with a bas-relief illustrating the Last Judgment and the life of St. Elizabeth. Attention should also be paid to the Gothic frescoes, the sculptures of the 15th century master Štefan, not to mention the altarpieces with shutters. It is also famous for its 1477 sundial, and its amazing gargoyle depicting a drunk woman with a glass in her hand.

To the southwest of the village of Silica in Slovak Karst is a chasm 50 m long, 30 m wide and 91 m deep. A signposted path from the village leads to this abyss, a site inhabited since prehistoric times. Continuing along the path, you will find the Silická Ice Cave, named after the presence of an ice cascade that has been frozen for 2,000 years. This cave is not freely accessible, its entrance is fenced.

This cave is more than 2.9 km long and 55 metres deep. The temperature inside is around 8.5°C/9.5°C, which is ideal for "thermal caving therapy". This cave has been inhabited since prehistoric times and was used in the Middle Ages as a refuge for the populations of the region. It is also a bat paradise: there are 19 species out of 24 recorded in Slovakia. The visit lasts 45 minutes and is spread over 720 metres.

It is the only aragonite cave on the European continent. There are two others in Mexico and Argentina. Aragonite, a very rare variety of calcium carbonate, crystallizes into twigs and small white shrubs. She draws delicate and poetic structures. The most beautiful part of the cave is called the Milky Way, which sparkles like a starry sky. The cave was discovered in 1954 by miners and opened to the public in 1972.

One of the most important caves in the Slovak Karst National Park, the Gombaseská Cave is located at the western foot of the Silická Plateau, between Slavec and Plešivec. This small cave, only 1.5 km long, with red and brown walls, is famous for its remarkably fine stalactites and stalagmites up to 3 meters high. Only the first 350 meters are open to the public. It is classified as a world heritage site by Unesco.

The largest, most colourful and most visited of the Slovak Karst caves. It offers a network of 22 km of galleries, including 6 in Slovakia and 16 in Hungary with stalactites and stalagmites the size of tree trunks. It is crossed by an underground river, called Styx, on which it is possible to sail for 2 km along ice formations with dreamlike shapes of great beauty. Duration of the visit between 45 minutes and 1 hour.

Krásna Hôrka Cave is a cave located in Krásnohorská Dlhá Lúka. Caving guides are available for groups of 4 to 10 people. You will be provided with all the necessary equipment for caving, i.e. wetsuit, harness, helmet and lamp. This form of visit is original and sporty. Reservations can be made by phone or email directly to the cave administrator, Mr. Jaroslav Stankovič

In the middle of the spruce forest, between Lipovce and Lačnov, is the only cave in the region open to the public. This pretty cave is formed in a limestone and dolomitic rock between the Branisko and Bachureň massifs. The 40-minute guided tour is an unforgettable experience. As the area is not lit, we will provide you with all the equipment of the budding speleologist to take a less demanding route suitable for all levels.

At No. 73 of the central square, it was originally a th century bourgeois house. It was rebuilt and enlarged in the th century in classical style and in the th century in baroque style to be transformed into a city hall.

A oblong shape typical of Slovakia's cities, it is particularly beautiful with its late Gothic mansions. The facades are often Renaissance style with their pignons and their ornamentations sometimes embellished with sgraffites. The Klobušický Palace is particularly beautiful with its facade to the rich baroque decor with stucco stucco. The square is very crowded with the church of St. Nicholas in its centre, the evangelical temple typical of the Renaissance, the Evangelical College and the old municipal school. Behind the college you cannot miss the group of sculptures of the Immaculate High in 1738 thanks for the end of the plague. Notice in the park, in the centre of the square, the fountain of Neptune, offered by the Jews in 1840 to thank the city for welcoming them. South of the square is the Greek Catholic church Saint-Jean-Baptiste.

They paved the city with the four fifth. They date from the th century in the oldest parts, but have been destroyed and rebuilt many times in the light of wars and fires. It is the best preserved fortifications in Slovakia.

The central square of Levoča has the gracieusement oblong form of the cities of Slovakia. Its particularity lies in the beauty and the number of the bourgeois houses () that surround it as well as the two beautiful churches with three naves and the city hall which adorn it in its centre. Attention must be paid to the Maison house at No. 7 (Thurzov Dom), at the restored façade in 1904 with neo-Renaissance sgraffites. At No. 44, the house Krupek (Krupekov Dom) has authentically Renaissance sgraffites dating from the th century. The house Hain (Hainov Dom) at No. 41 was the seat of Evangelical Lyceum. In 1844, a group of 13 pupils protesting against the laws in place and teaching in Hungarian decided to flee Bratislava to study in Levoča. This is where they sang for the first time the revolutionary song Nad Tatrou sa Blýska, which will become the Slovak national anthem. This house is home to the historic museum of Spiš. The most beautiful of the houses is probably the house Mariássy (Mariássyho dom) at No. 43 with its inner courtyard to the delicately sculpted arcades. It is now the Stela hotel where you can enter by requesting permission. At the location of house No. 20 was the atelier of master Pavol, a party in smoke. Today this house houses a museum dedicated to it.