Like few other regions in Europe, Eastern Slovakia is a treasure trove filled with world-class culture, hospitality, and tradition. Alongside its gentle hill chains, forests, and river valleys, it resembles the picturesque Tuscany. In between are historical places with exciting architectural highlights, including many churches. The largest among them is the Cathedral of St. Elisabeth of Hungary (1380-1508) - with its 58.5-meter high tower, the easternmost Gothic cathedral in Europe dominates the city center of Košice.

The most beautiful city in Slovakia

Previously, Košice was the most important city in the eastern part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and one can still feel the flair of the imperial and royal monarchy to this day. However, it is also a modern, vibrant university and industrial city with attractive connections to the world, thus bridging the transition to modern times. Košice - known as Kaschau in German - is a charming place with an old town full of cafes, restaurants, and small shops. The city center captivates its visitors with a plethora of historical buildings: Art Nouveau houses, elegant noble palaces, museums, and churches line the main street, which doubles as an elegant pedestrian zone. From the monumental city cathedral to the singing fountain and the historic town hall, Košice's attractions are close together. Next to the central city park stands the National Theater, built in Art Nouveau style in 1899 - a must-visit for ballet and opera enthusiasts as its performances are world-class. Pure Art Nouveau is also found in the Slavia café and restaurant, offering a feast for all senses. Thanks to the many students, there are also numerous trendy bars here - very young and hip - and attractions that attract many foreign visitors. However, Košice is also an ideal starting point to explore Eastern Slovakia.

Cities and churches

The historical towns of Eastern Slovakia are worth visiting because of their fascinating architecture and unique churches. Once, significant trade routes with goods such as wine and textiles passed through these places - from the Balkans, Vienna, and Budapest through Poland to the Russian court - bringing great prosperity. Villages turned into market towns with magnificent churches and bourgeois houses in Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. Their prosperity was also reflected in their churches - today, the cities of Prešov (German: Eperjes), Bardejov (Bartfeld), Levoča (Leutschau), and Kežmarok (Käsmark) still present their visitors with the wealth of their history.

Castles and palaces

Kings, princes, and nobles shaped the history of the region for centuries, leaving behind a plethora of medieval castles and palaces. Some structures now serve as backdrops for films, while others have attained UNESCO World Heritage status. After emerging from the long Branisko Tunnel, the majestic silhouette of Spiš Castle (Slovak: Spišský Hrad) floats like a mirage above the hilly landscape. This 12th-century castle, the largest castle complex in Central Europe, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most valuable historical monuments in the country. Since the nationalization after World War II, the castles and manors of the former nobility have primarily served as museums or schools - only a few are back in private ownership or operate as elegant hotels (e.g., Péchy Castle with a boutique hotel and a beautiful English park). One of the best-preserved castles is located in Betliar and belonged to the Andrássy family until 1945. Built in the historical style of a French hunting lodge, it now represents the living culture of the nobility in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the northeastern part of the Spiš region, Ľubovňa Castle towers over the town of Stará Ľubovňa on a limestone cliff. In the past, crowned heads met here. Today, it houses a beautiful castle museum.

Landscape and nature parks

The eastern part of Slovakia attracts nature enthusiasts and athletes alike: The area offers excellent opportunities for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, hunting, climbing, and in winter, skiing and cross-country skiing. Five of Slovakia's nine national parks are located in the east of the country. The most famous attraction of the Pieniny National Park is the border river Dunajec, which meanders around high cliffs - drifting on traditional rafts, you can enjoy the wild landscape or hike along the rocky ridge. The National Park in the High Tatras has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1992. It contains more than a hundred glacier lakes - the most famous is called Štrbské pleso (Tschirmer See), and an elegant Kempinski Hotel stands on its shore. The "smallest high mountain range in the world" offers a wealth of natural beauty and tourist attractions, as well as attractive spa resorts. The UNESCO World Heritage Site "Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians" includes the Poloniny National Park - brown bears, wolves, and otters live here. Some Slovak caves, which are open to visitors, are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Dance, tradition, and culinary delights

In Eastern Slovakia, folklore and folk traditions are still very much alive. Each area - whether city or village, mountain or valley - has its own folklore with different costumes, music, songs, architecture, customs, traditions, dance, and dialect. Folklore is also popular among young people - children learn Slovak dances in school, and many of them sing or play music in folklore groups. In the summer, folklore festivals are held all over the country - each with its own special atmosphere and magic. Traditional folk architecture can be explored in numerous open-air museums: small log houses with region-specific ornamentation and colors. Typical of Slovak cuisine are potato pancakes (Lokše) as well as fried meat dishes such as duck or goose roast and plates with blood and liver sausage. Small dumplings made from potato dough, mixed with sheep's cheese and sour cream, and sprinkled with fried bacon, are called "Bryndzové halušky" - they are the national dish of Slovakia.