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The first written reference about Košice is dated back to the year 1230. Košice is mentioned there as Villa Cassa in relation with the settlement of Ľubica, which ceased to exist later. It gradually became an important econom ic and social centre. In about 1290, it was granted municipal privileges and the right to fortify the town with walls. King Louis the Great granted the town a coat of arms in 1369, which is a version of the royal emblem of the Anjou Dynasty. This is the oldest coat of arms instrument in Europe. In the mid-15th century, the town was granted a privilege, which had classified it among the leading towns of the Hungarian Lands.The bloom of the town, as a centre of medieval crafts and trade with metals, fur and other products lasted until the 15th century. In the next century, in addition to fire, which destroyed the town, Košice was affected by wars, fights against the Turks, uprising against the Hapsburgs, religious fights and peasants´ revolts. In 1657, the Košice University was founded, that was changed into the Royal Academy in 1777, where a printing office worked. In the 19th century, several manufactures and late factories were established in the town. In the second half of the century, the town belonged among the most industrialized centres in the Hungarian Lands. In the period between wars, Košice can be characterised as the administrative, garrison and industrial town. After the World War II, it began to develop more dynamically.
The famous history of the town left its traces in rich and various monuments. The historical centre of the town is the greatest sight of historical interest. In 1983, it was declared the town monument reservation (the largest one in Slovakia). More than 500 monuments and more than 400 other buildings are located in its territory. The lens-shaped main square is characterised for the medieval centre of Košice. It is dominated by the complex of the National Treasure: the Gothic St. Elisabeth's cathedral, St. Michael Chapel, and St. Urban´s tower. The building of the theatre built in the late 19th century art nouveau style in 1897 – 1899 is very imposing. The attention of visitors to the city is also attracted by the Baroque Rákoczy Palace from the 17th century, in which expositions of the Technical Museum are located today, the Mikluš´s Prison with historical exposition, the Jakab´s Palace, the former Town Hal, the County House, Jesuitical Monastery, which was the seat of Košice University and the plague column. Relics of walls we re preserved in Hrnčiarska Street with the so-called Executioner´s Bastion, in Zbrojnícka Street and Kováčska Street. A short section of the medieval walls was reconstructed according to historical documents in Hradbová Street.
Since Košice underwent its extremely dynamic development period in the second half of the 19th century (after connection to the railway line), this progress has also left a trace in the appearance of the city: historicist façades from the 19th century hide the greatest values of the Košice City Historical Monument Reservation: preserved structure, layout as well as parcelling out medieval citizen's houses. Only a few buildings in the historical centre were built in the 20th century at the expense of removed medieval architecture (for more details on history of the city and its monuments see www.cassovia.sk).The conservation of historical architecture and a feeling for adequate reconstruction of the historical centre had a tradition in Košice as early as in the 19th century. It is witnessed by the oldest building regulations of the city from 1885, which served as a model for other Hungarian towns. In the post-war period, until 1989, the state became the owner of all real estates. This "anonymous" ownership was adversely manifested in the condition of the monuments. In spite of great state subsidies, which were oriented mainly towards ideologically "suitable" monuments, the internal debt in relation to the care of historical monuments was deepened.
The quality of the City Historical Monument Reservation in Košice is characterised mainly by comprehensiveness of stages of town formation, from the medieval fortification through the structure of medieval streets up to the town-planning concept of the 19th century. This structure has been preserved, and what is decisive, it is sufficient for further development of the city without demolition of buildings. The attractiveness of this area is also based on the preservation of the compactness of the historical centre. Establishing the pedestrian zone, which is also based on the need to conserve historical monuments, reconstructing not only historical monuments but also areas of streets, an attractive zone was created in the historical centre, which gives exceptional experience to all visitors all year round.
At the level of town:
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| Page Editor: Lucia Byšická |
This page was last updated: 20.2.2002 |