Kosice is the second after Bratislava large city of Slovakia, the centre of eastern part of the country. The distance between Kosice and the capital is 100km. The eastern part of Slovakia is not so rich in sightseeings as its western part. Kosice is a great industrial centre. There are plants of ferrous metallurgy, great machine-building plants, clothes factories and food producing enterprices.
Kosice was founded in 1234 when the first Slavic settlement appeared at the place of the future city. It is situated on the bank of the river Gornad at the picturesque place near the famous Ore mountains.
The main thing worth seeing in Kosice is the gothic Cathedral of St. Elizabeth (or St. Alizhbetta) which was built in the 14th century. It is the greatest catholic cathedral in the country and the main building in the city. There are other sights of the city which are mainly situated in Glavna street or Main street in Koshice where the influence of the Middle Ages is vividly seen. Among them is the Belfry Tower or St. Urban (the 15th century) and the Column with a statue of Virgin Maria. Besides those there is a Jesuitical Church, a Lutheran Church, the Dominion Church of the 13th century and many other interesting historical buildings.
There is a very beautiful building of the city theatre in neobarocco style of the 19th century in Koshice. The ceiling of the theatre was painted by a famous artist Gakerb who was invited to do this work from Vienna. For his works the artist used the plots of Shakespeare’s tragedies. Near the theatre there is a beautiful building of the Town Hall of the 18th century.
There are not only historical sights in Kosice. The biggest Zoo in the country was opened in Kosice in 1985. The is a great Botanical Garden here too, which is famous for its greatest collection of cactuses. Koshice is also the native city of an outstanding tennis player Martia Hingis. She is a citizen of Switzerland but was born in Kosice.
Koshice is a hospitable tourist centre with nice hotels. “Pristol”**** and “Sloval”**** are luxurious ones and “Gloria Palace”*** and “Best Western Teledom”*** are of high quality and reasonable price.
