Prešov is a natural the administrative, cultural and economic centre of Lower Šariš and is also a major city in north-eastern Slovakia. The Šariš region is characterised by a varied landscape, featuring a succession of mountain ranges, valleys, historic towns, castles and industrial monuments. An important trade route also ran through the area in the past Via regale, linking the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea regions.
The first written reference to Prešov dates from the year 1247. In the year 1299 the town was granted significant municipal privileges in the year 1374 it happened a free royal town and was later incorporated into Pentapolitans – an association of the five most important royal towns in eastern Slovakia. Thanks to its location at the crossroads of trade routes, Prešov gradually established itself as an important centre for trade, crafts, education and culture.
The historic centre of the town is characterised by The main street with a lens-shaped layout, lined with town houses. Its most prominent feature is the late Gothic Co-Cathedral of St Nicholas, which is one of the largest historic churches in Slovakia. Other notable monuments include Rákóczi Palace, now home to the Regional Museum, Evangelical College, Neptune's Fountain and former Caraffa Prison, now used as a municipal gallery.
An exceptional piece of engineering heritage is Solivar Museum in the district of the same name. This national cultural monument is the only surviving above-ground complex in Slovakia designed for extraction of brine and salt boiling. It comprises a shaft Leopold featuring a unique salt pan dating from 1674, wooden brine tanks, a boiling house, a salt store and other historic buildings.
Near the town, above Veľký Šariš switches off Castle Saris, which is one of the largest castle complexes in Slovakia. The grounds offer panoramic views of the Šariš region and, on a clear day, of the distant mountain ranges.
To the east of Prešov lie volcanic Slanské vrchy. In the underground passages near the village of Červenica, there are historic Slovak opal mines, known for its rare opal mining. Today, the extensive network of mine tunnels gives visitors an insight into the formation, extraction and processing of this gemstone.
To the west of the town, you can visit Lacnov Gorge, formed by a stream cutting its way into the dolomite bedrock. The surrounding area is known for its rock formations, traditional mountain settlements and the visual The Lačnov anomaly and through the cave A bad hole, the only cave open to the public in the Šariš region.
Prešov and the surrounding area They therefore offer a unique combination the town’s history, religious and industrial heritage sites, castles and natural beauty. The town is the ideal starting point for exploring the whole of Šariš – a region with a distinctive cultural identity, rich traditions and a varied landscape.
