Marketing coordinator for OOCR Region Šariš

Regional Tourism Organisation Región Šariš Place of work: Prešov Type of employment: Full time Wage conditions (gross): 1250 EUR    

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Please send the requested documents to info@regionsaris.sk  by 31.12.2025 at the latest     Advertising company  

Brief characteristics of the company

The Regional Tourism Organisation Region Šariš was established and operates on the basis of Act No. 91/2010 Coll. on the promotion of tourism. The main objective is to promote the Šariš region and the development of tourism in the region. More at www.regionsaris.sk Number of employees: 5   Contact: Ing. Peter Halaj info@regionsaris.sk 0910 847 011

Prešov Christmas markets are an essential part of the Advent and Christmas season in our city. Also in 2025, it will take place on two dates, from 25.11. to 23.12.2025 and from 26.12. to 31.12.2025. The Prešov Christmas Market will feature a great musical programme across genres, as well as delicious food and drinks served in returnable cups.

 

The Prešov Christmas Market will be inaugurated traditionally on 25 November 2025 and will last until 23 December 2025. After a two-day break, it will then continue from St. Stephen's Day on 26 December until New Year's Eve on 31 December 2025.

Prešovské vianočné trhy budú ekologickejšie

 

„Every year we take the Prešov Christmas Market a step further with our programme, services and atmosphere, which unites the whole city. This year will be an extraordinary event with several novelties that we will reveal on the spot. I invite families, friends and visitors from all over the region - come taste the punch, discover the crafts, enjoy the music and be surprised. Let's meet on Main Street and experience together an Advent full of joy, surprises and togetherness,“ invites Prešov residents and visitors from the whole region to the Mayor of Prešov František Oľha.

Visitors will be able to enjoy their drinks in special returnable cups with a funny print in the Sharis dialect. Visitors will pay a deposit of €2 for a returnable glass when purchasing their first drink. They can then keep the cup as a nice Christmas souvenir or return it to two marked locations where the deposit will be refunded. The cups will only be returnable at specially designated stands.

This year the stage will be located in front of St. Nicholas Cathedral and will host a number of artists. The band will perform Rust, Singer Slávka Tkáčová, Music from Mars, Robo Simko & Massriot, Banda, Muzička and Lomnické Čhave or pop opera trio La Gioia and many others. Children's folklore ensembles will also be present Dúbravienka a Sharishan.

Nearly a dozen or so Christmas markets will be set up in the city centre during the Christmas market. 70 stalls with local artisans and sellers of Christmas goods, drinks and various gastronomic products. The Christmas markets in Prešov will sell for example leather and wooden products, jewellery, clothes, slippers, gloves, gingerbread, gingerbread houses, spices, candles, toys, books, Christmas trees, decorations and much more. Visitors to the markets will be able to enjoy langos, doughnuts, grilled specialties, trifles, meat products, grilled cheese, cotton candy, popcorn and desserts. They can also warm up with fragrant punch, mead, mulled wine and other traditional alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. There will also be one gastro stand in South Park with drinks and snacks. There will be a Christmas corner away from the busy pedestrian area where visitors can relax.

Children and parents can find carousels and children's attractions in the southern part of the pedestrian zone, by the horse statue. „This year we focused on making the so-called children's zone with carousels more attractive. We have added a smaller Ferris wheel and a new gastro zone will be created in the area near the horse statue, which will delight young and old alike. It will also include a wooden hut with a refreshment offer. Our aim is to revitalise this part of the market and increase the number of visitors,“ said the director of PKO Barbora Rusiňáková.

Traditionally, the Christmas markets in Prešov will also have their place charity stalls and the Mayor's Punch. Each year, the profits from the sale of this punch are donated to support those most in need. The Mayor's Punch will be served on December 12 and 19, 2025 at 2 p.m.

On weekdays and Saturdays, merchandise stands will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and refreshment stands will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. On Sundays, all sales stalls will be open from 12:00 and will be available until 19:00. The refreshment stalls will serve visitors until 22:00.

Traditionally, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas will be located at wooden carved nativity scene by the author Juraj Antoňák from Ličartovce.

 

Plagát podujatia Mikulášsky darček

 

Visitors to the Prešov Christmas Markets can admire the avenue of Christmas trees, which will be decorated by pupils of Prešov kindergartens and primary schools with handmade decorations made from recycled materials.31 cute Christmas trees will be placed in the South Park and in the vicinity of St. Nicholas Cathedral.

The Christmas tree in front of St. Nicholas Cathedral will be lit by children together with St. Nicholas on 6 December 2025. Children's programme St. Nicholas gift on Main Street will start at 16.00. Zahrajko will perform and from 7.15 p.m. a guest from our Polish neighbours - the musical group Dikanda.

Musician Pavel Callta will kick off the Štefanská fun on 26 December 2025 and DJ José Garcia will provide the best dance entertainment.

We will celebrate the arrival of the New Year in Prešov with great music and entertainment. On New Year's Eve, just before midnight, the Slovak hardcore punk rock band Bijouterrier will perform and after midnight, Daniel Franko - DJ FONBOX will entertain visitors on the square.

The organisation of the Prešov Christmas Markets is provided by PKO in cooperation with the city of Prešov and partners.

 

Article source: https://www.presov.sk/presovske-vianocne-trhy-budu-ekologickejsie-oznam/mid/491237/.html#m_491237

 

PREŠOV, 31 October 2025 - Regional Tourism Organisation Šariš region organized a professional conference at the Dukla Hotel „Outdoor Šariš 2025“, which focused on the possibilities of developing outdoor and sustainable tourism in the Šariš region.

 

 

The opening word belonged to Ing. Petr Halaj, Executive Director of the OOCR Region Šariš, who stressed the need to connect the actors in the region and to link movement, culture and nature. Such active tourism, according to him, can attract both domestic and foreign visitors.

The expert programme included several presentations of successful projects from other parts of Slovakia. The conference was divided into three thematic blocks - the first one included lectures focused on infrastructure and marketing in tourism, the second block was devoted to the creation of tourist products, the third presented digital tools and modern technologies used in the promotion and management of destinations. The fourth block was devoted to discussion.

 

Peter Krusinski z RA BBSK introduced the development of the outdoors in the Banská Bystrica region, where the campaign Move! motivated runners, cyclists and cross-country skiers to move in nature. The regional organisation also uses modern digital solutions - the system Smart, which tracks visitor movements through counters and cameras, and a platform OutdoorActive, now fully integrated and actively used.

 

 

Michal Homola z Visit Liptov presented a comprehensive approach to the development of cycling tourism - from trained cycling signposters to 900 km of cycling routes. Liptov in 2024 marked 38 km of new sections, renewed hundreds of kilometres of markings, built Charging stations for e-bikes, and also offers themed routes, such as In the footsteps of the flooded villages of Liptovská Mara. There is also a cyclobus and online tool podnet.cykloregion.sk, which allows cyclists to report deficiencies directly from the field.

 

 

Michaela Zdražilová, Executive Director OOCR Horný Zemplín, presented the campaign Chavarguj, which, through game elements and rewards, made lesser-known places more visible, connected localities and motivated residents to actively participate in the creation of the tourism product.

 

Martin Janus z KOCR Northeast of Slovakia approached the concept St. Mary's Pilgrimage, which links the spiritual dimension of travel with the cultural and natural values of the region.

 

 

Zuzana Burdová z AEVIS n.o. presented examples from Polonín, where nature conservation is linked to regional development and nature tourism. Within the project digidetox organize excursions on the trail of bison, wolf or lynx, which are supported by local guides and services.

 

 

Ing. Luděk Kuhr z Alpdest CEE presented digital trends in outdoor promotion and effective linking of brands with tourist products

Peter Halaj, OOCR Region Šariš
Presentation focused on the current activities of the organization in the field of outdoor tourism development and the use of digital tools OutdoorActive a SmartGuide. The possibilities of these platforms were presented - trip planning, navigation, GPX route export, audio guides with legends and game elements for children. The presentation also included a demonstration of the destination's key products, which include nature trails, thematic routes, long-distance crossings, fairy tale trails and cultural-tourist routes, including the Šarišská hradná cesta product. The presentation focused on strengthening authenticity, connection with nature, sustainability and cooperation in the development of outdoor tourism in the Šariš region.

The end of the event belonged to discussion panel „How to move the outdoor in destination Šariš“, in which representatives of towns, municipalities, sports clubs, entrepreneurs and conservationists exchanged their experiences and suggestions.

 

 

The event brought expert presentations, examples of good practice and space for exchange of experience between experts, representatives of regions, municipalities and tourist organizations. The aim was to promote the development of outdoor activities, sport and active leisure, and at the same time to create a vision of Šariš as an attractive outdoor destination. OOCR Region Šariš plans to continue these activities in 2026.

 

Implemented by with the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic.

 

 

The signing ceremony took place on 29 October 2025 in the premises of the House of the Burgher in Stara Ľubovňa Memoranda of cooperation between information centres operating in the Prešov Region and the Slovak-Polish border area. This document creates the basis for long-term, partnership and voluntary cooperation in the field of tourism, joint promotion and sharing of experience.

The initiators of the Memorandum are Regional Tourism Organisation Northern Spiš - Pieniny a Regional Tourism Organisation Región Šariš. The aim of the agreement is to deepen cooperation between the information centres, improve the quality of the services provided, support the professional development of the staff and present the region as a one attractive tourist unit without borders.

„The signing of the Memorandum is an important step towards stopping seeing ourselves as separate points on the map and starting to function as an interconnected system that offers visitors a holistic experience,“ He said Jakub Ondrej, Director of OOCR North Spiš - Pieniny.

„Tourism has no borders. Common communication and coordination will help not only visitors, but also us - the staff of the information centres. Mutual sharing of experience and ideas will move us forward,“ he added Peter Halaj, Director of OOCR Region Šariš.

The symbolism of cross-border interconnection was also taken up by the Izabela Bajorek, director of the Centre of Culture and Reading at the Muszyna University of Culture and Culture: „Recently we had a performance of mirrors in Muszyna, which are located in the castle in Muszyna and in the castle in Ľubovňa. Thanks to them, visitors to both places can see and interact in real time as if they were standing opposite each other. We are connected - and this Memorandum is another step towards an even closer connection between our regions.“

The signed Memorandum does not constitute a legally binding document, but a declaration of common will to develop partnerships, share best practices and seek new forms of cooperation that will contribute to the development of tourism in the Prešov Region and in the border areas of Poland.

The end of the event was in the spirit of the idea: „Tourism is not only about places, but also about the people who give them meaning.“ (paraphrase of an idea from UNWTO - World Tourism Organization)

Report: https://www.stvr.sk/televizia/archiv/14026/562513#4616

Media contact:

E-mail: media@regionsaris.sk

Photo source OOCR Región Šariš

On Saturday, 25 October 2025, the picturesque Sigordská valley in the heart of the Slanské hory Mountains became a centre of active relaxation and exploration. A thematic cycling event took place here „Cycling where the tracks have disappeared“, which combined sport, history and natural heritage into a unique experience for all ages.

Participants graduated approximately 14 kilometres long easy route, which led along the footsteps of the former Slanská forest railway - technical monument, which in the past played an important role in the transport of timber and goods between Solivar and the Slanské Hills. Today, these places are gaining a new dimension - instead of rumbling trains, they are peaceful cycle paths, that invite you to explore the region at a slow pace, with respect for nature and history.

The aim of the event was to support the development of tourism in the Slanské vrchy subdestination through active forms of leisure and experiential exploration of the territory. During the trip, the cyclists could listen to stories about the history of Solivar, the forest railway and the canal, but also to interesting lectures on the development of cycling, recreational opportunities and sustainable development of the region.

The event was held in friendly and community atmosphere, where cycling, nature and regional history enthusiasts met. Participants took away not only a sporting experience, but also inspiration - that even defunct tracks can get a new lease of life as modern cycle routes linking the past with the future.

The route of the bicycle tour is part of Slanská cyklomagistrála, which continues on to the village of Červenica. This cycling route offers a varied combination of natural scenery, cultural monuments and resting places, making it an attractive part of the offer cycling tourism in the Šariš region.

The event was realized in the framework of project for the development of the Slanské vrchy subdistinction, with financial support Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic.

OOCR Región Šariš invited municipalities, tourism experts, castle administrators and owners of historical buildings to a professional and networking meeting „Šariš Castle Route - from restoration to tourism product“. The event took place on 24.10.2025 in the Hotel Lineas in Prešov and was implemented with the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic. The aim of the mini-conference was to present the vision and development of the tourist product Šarišská hradná cesta, which connects castles, manor houses and historical monuments of the region into a unified experiential product.
The focus of the mini-conference brought a view of castles and manor houses as living elements of cultural tourism - spaces for experiences, events and sustainable forms of tourism. The conference also created a space for sharing experiences, presenting successful models of cooperation and discussing the use of restored historic sites for tourism, joint marketing and the creation of regional experiential products.     The programme was opened with an introductory speech by the Executive Director of OOCR Region Šariš Ing. Peter Halaj. Bc. Runa Tkáčiková, destination coordinator of OOCR Región Šariš, presented the activities of the Šariš Castle Route project and offered the possibilities of cooperation in the product of the Šariš Castle Route. The ŠHC project wants to highlight the beauty of historical monuments such as castles, manor houses, castles, castles and town fortifications, of which there are more than 80 in the Šariš region. This tourism product uses tools such as the web, social networks, print, mobile application, maps and Outdooractive. The aim of this product is to give an identity to the region, to connect the castles into one story, to create experiences, to develop product and experience tourism, to increase the number of visitors to the region, to attract new resources and to develop cooperation and networking. The key in the development of tourism in Šariš is to be the cooperation of municipalities, KOCR, OOCR, entrepreneurs, OZ volunteers and other CR actors. It is also important to link with regional activities. The results of marketing are the growth of outreach, web, app, booklets and social networks.     The main activities of the OOCR Region Šariš are marketing (identity, social networks, photo bank and PR articles), products (the Night of Castle Ruins event and 3D postcards), infrastructure (signage, furniture, telescopes and trails) and education through conferences, workshops and info tours.   Ing. Zuzana Jóbová, PhD., Destination Marketing Specialist and Executive Director of KOCR Banská Bystrica Region, showed on the example of Pohronska hradna cesta that cooperation brings results. She explained the functioning from the Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region, through the Development Agency BBSK Good Region to KOCR Banská Bystrica Region Tourism. She explained the aid scheme of the BBSK Development Agency, which was used in the implementation of projects, for example, at the Castle of the Desert, the Žiar nad Hronom Manor House or in Revišti. The Pohron Castle Route also currently offers 16 locations with marked cycle routes. The marketing department created an eye-catching and bold visual communication, which included a „facelift“ of the PHC logo, a unified visual communication, a joint opening of the season with the event Light Signal Connects Castles, PR activities, social media, campaigns, projects, products and events. They created a castle passport, augmented reality at Revište Castle, the Royal Wedding at the Deserted Castle and guided tours „Experience castles ANOTHER way!“.   The report on the state of castles in the Šariš region and the vision of the operation of castles of the Šariš Castle Route was presented by Ing. Martin Sárossy, PhD., who initiated the restoration of castles in the Šariš region and their use for tourism. He presented the attendance as an indicator of tourism and presented the financing of the castle restoration.   Mgr. Ladislav Babuščák from the association Zachráňme hrady (Let's Save Castles) highlighted the cooperation of non-governmental organizations in saving national cultural monuments and recommended the use of castles for the needs of the CR. The aim of the association is the restoration of national cultural monuments. „It's mainly about people,“ Babuščák said. He considers the promotion and creation of conditions for saving castles to be the most important. Half of the castles are repaired by civic associations and the other half by towns and municipalities. Since in 2023 the share of tourism in Slovakia's GDP was 2,43 %, Babuščák sees room for untapped potential of castles.   The end of the conference belonged to panel discussion „How to support the brand Šariš Castle Route, in which participants sought concrete steps to put the lessons learned and recommendations into practice. This was followed by a joint lunch, during which an informal exchange of experiences and a discussion on further possibilities for the creation of joint products for the development of CR and support for castles and manor houses continued.      
Regional Tourism Organisation Región Šariš organised in Prešov conference „Made in Šariš - the power of the regional brand“, which was dedicated to the development of the project Made in Šariš and its extension to the Šariš regional product label. The aim of the conference was to support local producers, strengthen the regional identity and show how the „Šariš“ brand can contribute to the development of tourism and the economy of the region.
The conference was held 9 October 2025 at the Lineas Hotel in Prešov where they met producers, representatives of municipalities, tourism experts and representatives of the public sector, to work together to find ways of linking local production to the development of the region.

Inspiration from other regions

The conference brought examples of successful practice from other parts of Slovakia - from Liptov a Novohrad. The speakers presented the certification process, financing options and the link between the brand and marketing and tourism.

He opened the programme with an introductory speech Ing. Peter Halaj, Executive Director of OOCR Region Šariš. He presented the vision and objectives of the brand Made in Šariš and its link to the regional product Upper Saris, which creates Šariš regional product. According to him, this brand will bring recognition and promotion for producers, strengthening identity in the villages a new products and experiences for tourists.

Mgr. Lenka Smetanková, Head of the Tourism Department of PSK, presented the regional brand as an effective tool for the development of the territory. In her presentation, she also presented videos about the edible honey from Stanislav Novák, about the natural soap BADFA or about the Dukla Peace Run, organized by the town of Svidník. She also explained the symbolism of the logo with the poppy and emphasized the main criteria of certification - ecology, origin, history and the use of local materials.

Examples of good practice

The second block of the conference entitled „Examples of good practice“ He opened MSc. Gabriel Blcháč, who represented Ing. Veronika Kostialová from OOCR Visit Liptov. He presented the functioning of the brand Liptov Regional Product and showed how it can be effectively linked to tourism. He stressed the importance of cooperation, networking and joint promotion, which benefits both producers and consumers.

She also shared her experience Sveti Matuskova, manager Novohrad regional product brand. It sees the brand as a tool to promote local identity, traditions and the sale of regional products. The benefits, according to her, are increased credibility, prestige, joint marketing and easier access to markets and events.

Discussion and exchange of experience

The end of the conference belonged to discussion panel „How to support the Made in Šariš brand?“, in which participants sought concrete steps to put the lessons learned and recommendations into practice.
This was followed by a joint lunch, during which an informal exchange of experiences and a discussion on further possibilities for the development of the regional brand continued.

Conference Made in Šariš - the power of a regional brand confirmed that Šariš has great potential in the field of local products and crafts.
OOCR Región Šariš plans to continue working on the project and together with partners to develop a brand that will be a symbol of quality, tradition and pride in our region.

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Realized with the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic.     

OOCR Región Šariš joined the info tour Royal Cities, which connected Levoča, Bardejov, Kežmarok and Stará Ľubovňa. The five-day programme showed the power of cooperation and the potential of extending the project to the royal city of Prešov.
From 22 to 26 September 2025, representatives of the OOCR Region Šariš participated in the professional inforoute „Royal Cities“, which presented the unique cultural and historical richness Levoča, Bardejov, Kežmarok and Stara Ľubovňa. The five-day trip was an opportunity to gain an insight into a project that brings together the four Free Royal Cities into one interconnected tourism product - with the aim of fostering joint promotion, cultural cooperation and sustainable tourism development.   During the five days, the participants got acquainted with the most important UNESCO monuments, historical cores of cities, castles, museums, sacral buildings and traditional architecture. The programme was complemented by gastronomic experiences, cultural performances and presentations by local producers, which confirmed the strong link between history, tradition and contemporary tourism.   The participants visited, among others, the Gothic altar of Master Paul in Levoča, the Jewish suburbium and Zborov Castle in Bardejov, the wooden articular church in Kežmarok or Ľubovniansky castle with an open-air museum and the Castle Distillery. Each town presented its unique story and confirmed that the Royal Cities brand has great potential to appeal to both domestic and international visitors. The info tour was jointly organised by OOCR Tatry-Spiš-Pieniny, OOCR Šariš - Bardejov and OOCR North Spiš - Pieniny, which have shown through their cooperation that joint marketing and a unified presentation of the regions bring more added value than individual campaigns. For OOCR Region Šariš participation in this info tour was a valuable experience and inspiration for further development of cooperation. In the future, we would like to be involved in the continuation of the project and expand its concept to include the royal city of Prešov with its surroundings, which with its historical and cultural value naturally complements the mosaic of royal towns of Slovakia.   We believe that the common linking of territories that have a strong identity, historical heritage and authentic atmosphere will contribute to building an attractive and competitive tourism product with national and international reach.   We thank our partners for the invitation and inspiring cooperation: OOCR „Šariš“ - Bardejov, OOCR Tatry-Spiš-Pieniny, OOCR North Spiš - Pieniny More information:  www.visitbardejov.sk  www.visitspis.sk  www.tatryspispieniny.sk

Prešov in the days of 9 - 15 October 2025 will become the city of film. For the sixteenth time it will take place Feelings Film Festival, which will bring current domestic and foreign films, screenings for children, discussions and meetings with filmmakers.

    The festival will open on the evening of 9 October with a pair of films: the debated A great patriotic trip accompanied by a delegation with the director Robin Kvapil and award-winning document Better to go mad in the wilderness, which will be personally presented by its director Miro Remo. „We are really looking forward to this year's festival - we have prepared great films, meetings with filmmakers and screenings for all ages. We believe that the audience will take away strong experiences and inspiration,“ said the artistic director of the festival Nina Šilanová. Other filmmakers will also come to Prešov to present their films directly to the audience. “Slovak film Father directed by Tereza Nvotová will be presented by the screenwriter Dusan Budzak, document The sky is above, I am in the valley shall personally state Katarína Gramatová, film La dolce morte will be presented by the director Róbert Slovák and the image Dvoika OUCE Director Peter Pavlik,” said Šilanová. Notable festival titles include the winners of the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival - Spanish Sirat, which shocked audiences and, in addition to the Jury Prize, earned the reputation as the festival's most original film with cult potential, and German Oscar nominee Looking into the sun. The festival will also include award-winning British drama Bird or the exclusive Slovak preview of the British film The way of life starring Gillian Anderson. A special event will also be a screening of Wim Wenders' cult film Sky over Berlin, which will take place on 13 October as part of a tribute to the legendary German director. The festival also has children in mind - there are family screenings such as Hooray for adventure on the premises of P.O. Hviezdoslav Regional Library or Tales from the magic garden, which will be screened in Wave Centre of Independent Culture. Traditionally, there will be a competition of short films Feelings in shorts nor section Feelings of neighbours dedicated to Polish cinematography, where the audience can look forward to Agnieszka Holland's new film Franz or marital drama This is not my film. A new feature will also be inclusive screening Spanish film Can you hear me?. An exceptional and sensitive film that uses a precise script to open up the world of the deaf to the audience will be screened with descriptive subtitles, making it suitable for deaf audiences The final evening (15 October) will bring an extraordinary combination of film and music with a screening of an avant-garde film The mussel and the priest with musical accompaniment by Martin Husovsky in Regional Library. The Festival of Feelings is made possible thanks to the support of partners. For the second year, its main partner is the Prešov company Fecupral. „We want this cooperation not to remain only on the level of financial support, but to really contribute to a positive change in our surroundings,“ said Lucia Ňachajová, a representative of the company.     Pre-sale of accreditations For film enthusiasts there is a pre-sale of festival passes worth 30 €, which ensure entry to all events. The pre-sale runs until 9 October. Students can purchase a pass with a €5 discount. Don't miss the unique opportunity to see the previews of world premieres of contemporary cinema right in Prešov! More information about the programme and guests can be found at www.pocityfilm.sk.       Source: POCITY CINEMA  Contact: Nina Šilanová artistic director of the festival Feelings E-mail: nina.silan@gmail.com Tel: +421907227329
The Park of Culture and Leisure (PKO) in Prešov cordially invites all music lovers to the 59th Prešov Music Autumn. This unique musical cycle will bring six exceptional concerts from 1 October to 5 November 2025 in the concert hall of PKO Čierny Orol and in the St. Nicholas Cathedral.
  The orchestra will open the musical autumn on 1 October at 19:00 FATS JAZZ BAND, known for its authentic revival of hot jazz and swing of the 20s-40s. Audiences can enjoy original arrangements, period costumes and the unforgettable atmosphere of legendary parties. On October 8, 2025 at 19:00 will be presented Jozef Chovanec Acoustic Trio, which will offer a combination of folk song, jazz and world music. The trio creates an intimate yet dynamic musical atmosphere where tradition meets modern elements to create a captivating sound experience. As part of the 10th Polish Days in Prešov, on 14 October 2025 at 19:00 will take place Inaugural concert of Małgorzata Anna Mokrús. The pianist, who was awarded the Director's Prize of the Polish Institute in Bratislava, will present a repertoire that combines classical music with contemporary Polish compositions and delivers a profound artistic experience. Jazz fans can look forward to Robert Balzar Trio, which will perform on 22 October 2025 at 19:00. The Czech bass guitarist and composer, known for his collaborations with Dan Barta and Hana Hegerova, will perform energetic and sophisticated world jazz, combining technical brilliance with an unmistakable musical spark. An exceptional moment of the musical autumn will be organ recital by Juraj Křemen, which will take place on 26 October 2025 at 19:00 at St. Nicholas Cathedral. The first Slovak to give a concert in the prestigious Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, he will showcase his interpretive bravura, improvisational originality and the fascinating sound of the organ in a historic space. The Prešov Music Autumn will culminate on 5 November 2025 at 19:00 with the final concert of compositions Béla Kéler and his contemporaries, which will remind 205th anniversary of Keeler's birth and 75th birthday Prof. Irena Medňanska. The musical evening will present classical works, Kéler's compositions and the works of his contemporaries, combining tradition with an inspiring contemporary concept. Tickets for individual concerts can be purchased for 14 € or 7 € directly at PKO Čierny orol or online at events.pkopresov.sk. Don't miss out on a thrilling evening of music full of emotion and virtuosity.     Source: PKO PREŠOV On 9 September 2025, a special info tour „Salt's Characteristics“ took place, aimed at presenting the tourist potential of the Slanské vrchy subdistinction. The event was attended by tourism stakeholders who were looking for new opportunities to enrich the tourist offer. The Inforoute is part of a cooperation project between OOCR Region Šariš, OOCR Horný Zemplín and OOCR Visit Košice, which has been meeting since last year with the aim of creating joint products for domestic and foreign tourists and the MICE sector. It was during these meetings that the project „The Salt's Characteristics“ was created, the pilot version of which has just been completed by the participants. The project was evaluated by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic as an example of good practice and cooperation.     Participants had the opportunity to visit several important places, where guides gave them a detailed introduction to the history, culture and nature of each place. A tour of the Šóoš mansion in Hanušovce nad Topľou gave an insight into the life of the local nobility and also revealed the historical significance of the mansion in relation to trade and the administration of the salt roads, with architectural details making this monument unique. Afterwards, the group went on a climb to the Zbojník Castle (Soľnohrad) in Ruská Nová Ves, where the participants learned about the history of the castle and its importance for the Šariš region. Lunch and discussion in Prešov provided a space for sharing experiences and ideas for improving tourism services in the region. A guided tour at the Solivar Museum offered visitors a fascinating insight into the history of salt mining and processing and its role in the life of local communities, complemented by the opportunity to purchase original souvenirs. The info tour continued in the village of Vlača, where participants watched a demonstration of traditional bread preparation and tasted freshly baked products, thus combining history with local traditions.    The „The Salt's Character“ info tour confirmed that the Slanské vrchy subdestination offers visitors a rich combination of history, natural beauty and cultural experiences. The participants appreciated the expert guidance of the guides, the wealth of new information on the functioning of the individual sites and gained valuable inspiration on how the tourist offer could be made even more attractive.   This pilot product will be offered to tourists in the future so that they can experience a journey „in the footsteps of salt“ - from history and nature to castles and the cultural traditions of the region, which bears a centuries-old salt history.    
  Realized with the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic.   
The fifth year of the running event From Ľubotín to Plaveč Castle brought a great sporting atmosphere and unforgettable experiences for both small and large runners. This year more than 140 participants - children and adults - and for the first time the event was held in charitable spirit.

Proceeds from the entry fee and voluntary contributions were donated to little Juliana, a seven-year-old girl with disabilities who is undergoing challenging therapies. The support helps to improve her quality of life and progress her development.

Children's races on 100, 300 and 600 meters provided a lot of joy and enthusiasm for the youngest athletes. The main run, hobby run and Nordic walking recorded new participation record, when the number of starters increased by 11 compared to last year.

OOCR Región Šariš supported the event with gift packages for participants and winners, thus appreciating the sports spirit, determination and commitment of the runners.

The event was a success thanks to great organization PaedDr. Dominik Jakubkobič, race director, and in cooperation with By the municipality of Plaveč. Thanks to all participants and partners for the energy and joy they brought to the event.

OOCR Region Šariš plans to continue to support activities that bring value to the community and make the region visible as a place of sport, nature and human stories.

Regional Committee East of Slovak Volleyball Federation prepared 30 August 2025 For 8th Youth Volleyball Cup. The event was held on the grass fields of the sports complex Šrobárova Primary School in Prešov and once again confirmed its unique character - it is a the only youth volleyball event on grass courts in Slovakia.

On four pitches 12 teams of female pupils, male pupils and female juniors, which together amounted to 160 players, coaches, referees and organizers.

Winners of individual categories:

OOCR Šariš region was proud to support this exceptional sporting event, which brought joy, competitive spirit and lots of positive energy to young sportsmen and women.

„Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all participants for the great atmosphere they created in Prešov. We are glad that sports talents have room for growth also through such original events,“ said the management of OOCR Region Šariš.

The town of Veľký Šariš brings a unique experience to visitors of the Archeopark - virtual tour of the area in the Sharis dialect. It is the first project of its kind in Slovakia that combines modern technology with the cultural heritage of the city and the region.

 

The Šariš dialect is an integral part of the identity of the region and has been around for centuries. Thanks to this novelty, visitors will experience it directly during an individual tour and hear the history as it was once told by our ancestors.

The virtual guide presents the history of life under Šariš Castle - the everyday life of the medieval inhabitants, their work, crafts and the language that is still used today.

The voice of the virtual guide was lent by the actor KĽUD Theatre, Jozef Jenčo, who accepted the offer to join the project without hesitation. He recorded the entire content and „gave it a Shariš soul“, which makes the show even more authentic and emotional.

„The Šariš dialect is not just a language, it is our identity that connects generations and preserves the stories of our ancestors. „We are the first town in Slovakia to introduce a virtual guide in Shariš and we are rightly proud of it. We believe that this novelty will make a visit to the Archaeopark an unforgettable experience. All the more so because it is the language of our region, our identity. And it is no coincidence that the name Šariš bears the castle, the region and the name of our town,“ emphasized the mayor of Veľký Šariš JUDr. Viliam Kall.

„The virtual guide in the Archaeopark is now part of the Archaeopark. Just download the app, scan the QR code at the entrance gate and let yourself be carried away into history in the singing Shariština. And for those who prefer the written language, there is also a Slovak version,“ emphasizes Jana Jačišinová, head of the tourism department of the town of Veľký Šariš.

 

 

The project Virtual Guide in Sharistina could only come into being thanks to the financial support of Community Foundation Veľký Šariš and Plzeňský Prazdroj Slovensko - Pivovar Šariš. These partners of the town have decided to stand by the people and the community in which the Šariš Brewery operates, and at the same time to support the preservation of the unique cultural heritage that the Šariš region has carried for centuries. Thanks to them, the history in the Archaeopark can speak the language of our ancestors and bring visitors a unique Šariš experience.“.

The novelty is made available directly in the Archeopark Veľký Šariš through a QR code, which visitors will find at the entrance to the complex and which will lead them to the tour in the Šariština.

 

Text source: the town of Veľký Šariš

Photos: © Región Šariš

 

Exposition of folk architecture in Bardejov Spa, the oldest open-air museum in Slovakia, commemorated a significant jubilee on Sunday 10 August 2025 - 60th anniversary of its opening.

The open-air museum welcomed its first visitors on 29 August 1965 with six buildings. Gradually, it grew by another 23 buildings, which today form a varied collection of wooden houses, barns and farm buildings from the historical regions of Šariš and Zemplín.

Among the biggest uniquenesses is the fact that it is the only open-air museum in Slovakia with two wooden temples - the church from Zboja (1766) and the church from Mikulášová (1730). Another rarity is a historical drill for the production of wooden water pipes and a working replica of a field pottery kiln (the so-called kochu), which reminds of the long tradition of pottery in the region.

Photo source: www.sarisskemuzeum.sk

Gifts for the anniversary

On the occasion of its 60th anniversary, the open-air museum received three significant „gifts“:

Photo source: www.sarisskemuzeum.sk

Programme of celebrations

The festive day started in the morning with craft and sales stalls, creative activities and demonstrations of traditional techniques. The anniversary was marked by the planting of royal walnut.

In the afternoon from 15:00 a rich cultural program was held, in which Muzikanci Raslavicki, dance group Bardfa, Folk music of Róbert Harčar and Michal Smetanka performed. The event was accompanied by Martin Juríček.

The celebrations were also an opportunity to take stock of the past decades and to express wishes for the future - that the open-air museum will continue to attract curious visitors, host inspiring events and remain a place of beautiful experiences for all generations.

© OOCR Región Šariš

Source: taken from the press release - sarisskemuzeum.sk

TIC RŠ

Tourist Information Centre Region Šariš based at 67 Hlavna Street in Prešov became the newest member of the Association of Information Centres of Slovakia (AiCES). This significant step confirms the quality and professionalism of the services provided by TIC in the field of tourism.

TIC Region Šariš offers visitors a wide range of services - from up-to-date information on tourist attractions, cultural monuments, excursions and events, to tips on cycling routes and local gastronomic specialties. The offer also includes maps, postcards, publications about Prešov, the Šariš region and Slovakia, souvenirs and gift items. It also sells tickets for popular thematic tours Discovering Prešov.

Membership in AiCES allows TIC Region Šariš to engage in cooperation with other information centres in Slovakia, to share experiences and best practices, and thus improve the quality of services provided. At the same time, it strengthens the competitiveness of the Šariš Region as an attractive tourism destination.

For tourists and locals alike, the TIC Region Šariš is the ideal place where they can get verified information, recommendations and tips to enrich their stay in this picturesque corner of eastern Slovakia.

Source : https://aices.sk/turisticke-informacne-centrum-region-saris-v-presove-najmladsi-clen-v-rodine-aices/

On Saturday, 19 July 2025, the ponds in Uzovsky Šalgov became the place of a unique meeting. A public event „Goodbye little swallows“, organised by the civic association SOS/BirdLife Slovakia, brought together nature, education and community in one evening of emotion and curiosity.

The event started in the early evening at 7.30 p.m., when families with children, naturalists, bird lovers and casual visitors began to gather on the banks of the ponds. Their common interest was to say goodbye to Swallows, that gather at roosts at this time before their long flight to Africa.

The main programme of the evening was trapping and ringing of swallows, which experts from SOS/BirdLife Slovakia implemented on site. Visitors had a unique opportunity to see these popular birds up close, learn about their life cycle, migration routes, threats and the importance of their conservation. In addition to swallows, it was also possible to observe thousands of starlings, shores and other species that regularly occur in this locality.

The whole programme was accompanied by a well-known ornithologist Miro Fulín, who captivated young and old alike with his engaging narrative. The children were fascinated by the opportunity to observe the birds up close, ask questions and even hold a small swallow in their hands before releasing it back into the wild. Expertise was combined here with personal experience - and it's a combination that leaves a mark.

The atmosphere was completed by the environment of the ponds themselves - quiet, peaceful, surrounded by greenery and birds singing in the evening. The organizers warned the participants to bring with them lanterns and suitable clothing for the field, as the programme was held until dusk. Everything took place in a friendly atmosphere, the event was held without entrance fee and it was open to the general public. Although the title of the event carried a farewell - „Goodbye Swallows“ - the mood among the participants was full of enthusiasm and gratitude for a beautiful evening. Many agreed that they could imagine similar events more often.

photo source: Life in Sabinov

The last weekend in June in Prešov belonged to mining associations and guilds from all over Slovakia and abroad. More than 520 participants from 36 mining and metallurgical associations and guilds from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania gathered at the 17th edition of the event. The event, which was a celebration of mining tradition and craft pride, was held in close cooperation with the City of Prešov and the Association of Mining Societies and Guilds of Slovakia. During the two days, a professional, spiritual and cultural programme was prepared, which was not missed by hundreds of visitors.
    Friday's opening took place on the premises of the National Cultural Monument Solivar, where a presentation of the regions, the city and the Salt Mine took place.

OOCR Region Šariš actively participated in the programme - we presented the attractions of our region, presented the activities of the organization and invited visitors to discover the beauty of Šariš.

We recommended proven tips for trips, interesting locations and distributed our official destination guide. We handed out maps and promotional materials, which helped them to further explore the region.

The specially made bags for the event were particularly well received, which we gave to visitors as a practical and memorable gift along with promotional material.

The Tourist Information Centre Region Šariš on Hlavná Street in Prešov was also open during the event., which provided up-to-date information, personal recommendations and service to all those interested in exploring our region.

  The event continued with an evening consecration of the statue of St. Barbara - the patron saint of miners - in St. Nicholas Cathedral.     Saturday morning belonged to ecumenical service in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas and the ceremony of awarding the badges of honour of St. Barbara.     At 14:15 the centre of the city of Prešov was colourful and dignified parade mining and metallurgical associations in historical uniforms, which aroused great public interest.   The afternoon programme culminated with cultural performances on the Main Street near the statue of a horse, where ensembles with mining folklore heritage presented themselves.

The event also drew attention to the rich salt history of Prešov and its surroundings - both symbolically and topically. It opened a space for discussion about current problems of the undermined area on Solivar, which the city is actively addressing in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic.

Prešov proved to be a worthy host, which was able to unite past with present, tradition with current challenges.

Mining associations, guilds and visitors took away from this exceptional meeting not only valuable experiences, but also a strong message of unity, legacy and pride in the common cultural heritage.

Thank you for your partnership support Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic.

       
PREŠOV, 2 July 2025 AUTO Kinočák Prešov is back. The venue of the summer movie evenings will be the parking lot in front of the Municipal Sports Hall in Prešov (Tatran Handball Arena). Screenings are scheduled during selected weeks in the months of July to September 2025. This year's novelty is that all film titles will be available for visitors to enjoy only for a voluntary contribution.
  Long summer and crisp September evenings full of unique cinematic experiences under the starry sky, accompanied by suspense, fun and fear. That's what this year's summer drive-in offering is all about, which comes to the metropolis of Šariš with a range of themed film evenings. It will be screened during selected weeks in the months of July, August and September 2025, always from 21:00, in the large parking lot on Ján Paul II Street in Prešov. Comfortable loungers will be prepared for non-motorized visitors this year as well. July Triple Portion of Films will offer visitors fast machines, adrenaline and petrol culture. The speedometer needles will be in full swing 23.7. (Fast and Furious 5), 24.7. (Bikers) and 25.7. (Taxi 5). August film menu will be full of fun and will bring a relaxed atmosphere to the visitors. Laughter will be heard from the parking lot of the town hall 20.8. (Grand Prix), 21.8. (Vyšehrad Dvje) and 22.8. (She arrived at night). September's film extravaganza will be truly horrific. Fear will be in the air and all the windows on the cars will be rolled down 18.9. (Trapped), 19.9. (Souls of the Damned), 20.9. (Heretic). „This year we have bet on three popular film genres, which we have divided thematically within three months, during which we will screen a total of 9 films. As we are a car cinema, we have focused mainly on films about cars, which will dominate the month of July, but will also appear in August and September,“ said the organizer of AUTO Kinočák Prešov Peter Vlkovič. This year's novelty is that visitors will not pay a single admission fee, while the organizers will offer all films for a voluntary contribution. The aim is to support up-and-coming filmmakers, for whom the proceeds from each screening will go. Budding filmmakers will be able to apply for a grant call at the end of autumn 2025, where they will be able to apply for financial support to prepare scripts or make short documentaries. „Young, emerging filmmakers who want to make their first film have very limited possibilities to support funding for their projects, as the FPU does not support audiovisual projects and the AVF does not have emerging film enthusiasts included in its grant schemes,“ Vlkovič added. Due to the increased interest, the organizers recommend to book seats in the autokino in advance on the website www.kinocak.sk, where the complete AUTO Kinočák Prešov program is also available.    
RUSSIAN NOVA VES, 28 June 2025 - On the last Saturday in June, the meadow under the Zbojnícky castle was transformed into a place full of medieval atmosphere, crafts, music and good mood. The Castle Day in Ruská Nová Ves attracted hundreds of visitors and showed that even a smaller village can offer an experiential event with a rich programme for the whole family.
      The event opened at 10:30 a.m. with the popular folk music Senioranka, followed by performances by pupils CZUŠ St. Nicholas from Prešov, bands Zojco & STF Band, even musical duo Het'o. The medieval atmosphere was complemented by falconry group HORUS with their birds of prey and fencing group SHŠ Cohors Prešov, which showed demonstrations of medieval combat.    The children's programme was also well taken care of. The event included a fairy-tale trail with tasks that led up to the Robber's Castle with a lookout. After completing all the stations, the children received small rewards, including souvenirs and gift items from the merchandise of the OOCR Region Šariš.   The bean cookery competition also attracted great interest, with three teams competing. Representatives of the OOCR Region Šariš formed the evaluation jury and the individual beans were honestly tasted, tasted and declared the winner. The tasting was also open to the public.     The Regional Tourism Organisation Región Šariš not only participated in the event as a media partner, but also actively participated in the creation of the programme. From its resources it provided performances of armourers, falconers, interactive period cuisine from the 12th-13th centuries performed by OZ Kulturhrad and creative ceramic workshops for children.   Local artisans - from blacksmiths, carvers, beekeepers to natural soap and beaded jewellery makers - also showed off their art. Throughout the day, there were tasty refreshments and goulash from the Hunting Association Delňa.     There was also an information stand of the OOCR Region Šariš, where visitors could pick up brochures, maps, tips for trips and a small thematic souvenir. The organizers from the Municipality of Ruská Nová Ves expressed their satisfaction with the attendance and the positive response from the public. The event once again confirmed the potential of the Zbojnice Castle as a place that combines history, culture and experiences for all generations.   Thank you for your partnership support Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic.        
PREŠOV (12. 6. 2025) - The LEGENDARIUM entertainment and cognitive summer competition is celebrating its first big anniversary. The project, which has been motivating children and their families to discover the beauty of the Prešov region for 10 years, is launching a new year. LEGENDARIUM 2025 will kick off on 14 June and run until 14 September 2025.

 

Behind the Legendarium project every year Regional Tourism Organisation North-East of Slovakia. Legendarium attractively promotes tourism in the Prešov region. It offers varied tips for excursions, that embellish the stories of local legends. During the holidays, children not only get to know nature and interesting places, but also become part of an exciting adventure. The project is implemented by the KOCR Northeast of Slovakia from the membership contribution of the Prešov Self-Governing Region and with the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic. „Legendarium has become an essential part of summer in the Prešov region. In ten years, a generation of children has grown up with it, thousands of families have travelled with the legends. We are pleased that people's interest in exploring our region grows every year. We promote the use of diverse services and the visitation of dozens of tourism facilities.,“ said Martin Janoško, director of KOCR Northeast of Slovakia. In addition to domestic tourists, the organisers also want to reach the Polish border region, so the materials were published in Polish and distributed in Poland.   News of the 10th edition This year brings the project Legendarium mobile app, which serves as the main guide at all excursion sites. In the app, children collect points by scanning QR codes on the competition sites. The app is freely available for download. It also offers navigation, maps and stories of legendary heroes. Children can already use the app during the competition get rewards v three point thresholds, which they can pick up at dispensing points in the county. At the end there is a big draw for interesting prizes for the whole family.   Adventures and experiences around the region Families with children can look forward to a varied combination of outdoor excursions and experiences in various facilities during the competition. There are 16 trips in nature, where children earn points and themed stickers for each visit. In addition, there are more than 80 experience places, including castles, museums, open-air museums, swimming pools, sports grounds and interactive galleries. In the participating establishments, children will receive LEGENDARIUM booklets with stories of legends, excursions and places to write about the excursions with their admission fee. In addition, they can earn bonus points for visiting selected restaurants and accommodation facilities. What can families with children experience?       Locations that attract The project is represented by the whole Prešov region. Bardejov and its surroundings are accompanied by the knight Roland, who takes the children to the Polish-Slovak border to the lookout on the Javorina hill. In the Poloniny Mountains, the new lookout tower above the village of Zboj is one of the selected sites. Legendarists can also discover the nature trail in Spišská Magura near the village of Spišské Hanušovce, the mysterious cave above Litmanová or the Dunitova rock near Prešov. The Shepherd of Čergov will take them to Hanigov Castle and the Soldier Vasil to the Bench of Love in the small village of Kobylnice in the Svidník district. Experiential exploration will bring for example the Máša train in Zemplínské Hámry, new facilities include the Synagogue in Prešov, restored expositions in the House of the townsman of Ľubovňa in Stará Ľubovna, mountain tricycles in Vernár or the Warhol Memorial Room in Miková.   All trips will be found by the public in the application and on the website www.legendarium.info. Link to the application: https://www.legendarium.info/clanok/mobilna-aplikacia  
 
In June, Sabinov will once again transform into a city full of colour, movement, music and shared experiences. From 7 to 14 June, a rich programme will take place in the streets, parks, the municipal cultural centre, the cultural and information centre and sports grounds as part of the Sabinov Days 2025. This feast of culture, art and local life will be complemented by the 51st Sabinov Fair, which traditionally attracts visitors from all over the region.
  On Saturday, June 7, the Sabinov Days will open with a dance gala evening REAL STREET SHOW VOL. 2, featuring the local dance group Real Street and their guests. An energetic and modern show is expected to get the audience moving. Sunday, June 8, will bring a quieter and more thoughtful tone - the park at Freedom Square will unveil the Jožek's bench, dedicated to the memory of Jozef Demko, an exceptional artist and a man who left a distinctive mark in the local Sabinov culture. The day will close with a captivating organ concert in the Church of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist under the artistic baton of Filip Burger and Stanky Cvancigerova, entitled 2160 + 1 whistle will remind you of the beauty of classical music. Monday 9 June will invite visitors to the foyer of the town's cultural centre, where a thematic exhibition will be open Three pillars of infrastructure in Sabinov: sawmill, mill, power plant. The evening will belong to the young talents from the elementary art school, who will perform in a programme entitled Future (?) personalities of Sabinov - art works, recitations and music will show that we do not have to worry about the future of culture in the city. There will be a moderated artistic evening connected with the evaluation of the 9th year of the international art competition „CSONTVÁRY'S THIRSTY BOOTS“ - the opening of the pupils' works. The programme will feature performances by former and current laureates and prizewinners of the Sabinovsky author and reciter May, small reciters of the Sabinovsky ČIM - ČIM town show and singers of the Sabinovsky nightingale. On Tuesday, 10 June, the exhibition will open its doors Costumes in motion artist Aneta Lattova, who combines traditional folk motifs with modern artistic expression. The exhibition will be open at the Na korze Cultural Centre until the end of July. Wednesday 11 June will be a sports day - schoolchildren from all over the city join in a day of games and exercise. The evening will be festive - in the cinema hall of MsKS will take place Gala evening with the awarding of the City Prize and the Mayor's Prize, where exceptional personalities of the city will receive honours for their work and contribution to our city. On Thursday 12th June, the city will open its doors Cultural-Information Centre under Open Day - Visitors will be able to mint a commemorative coin and see the spaces where the cultural life of Sabinov is created. In the Library B. N. Nezabudov, a book launch ceremony will also take place What's left of us, written by a young Sabinov author Laura Fechová. Finally, on Saturday 14 June, the main stage will be held art bazaar, where craftsmen from the region will present their products. Tennis enthusiasts will compete in the popular Fair Doubles on local courts. Alongside all this, from Thursday 12 June there will also be 51st Sabinov Fair - one of the largest social and cultural events in the region. The streets of the town will be filled with stalls, the smells of traditional food, music and the laughter of children.     The programme of the fair is rich and varied. On Thursday, the fair will open with a ceremony and a performance by the TEDASKY majorettes, later the town's schools and musical ensembles will perform. The big stage will also present a music and dance „wave“ of pupils and teachers of the Primary Art School Sabinov in various rhythms and genres with called On the waves of the ZUŠ-ky. Dulcimer music will play in the evening for dancing and singing Primate. On Friday folklore groups in the band „ On the yurmak in Sobinovo“ will showcase the beauty of traditional music and dances of the group  FSk Michaľančan and FSk Jazero, SS Jonatanka  a raffle will be drawn and the evening will belong to local folklore groups - DFS Sabiník, FS Sabinovčan, FS Sabinovčan - endurance.  After them, the evening will be devoted to folk songs in unconventional arrangements performed by The folk band project and the finale will belong to the favourite band DESMOD, which will bring a good dose of relaxing energy. Saturday morning on 14 June will be focused on children - popular mascots from Labk's patrols, entertainer Maroš Kamoš and the 4th theatre marathon will not be missing either „Where there was there was in Sabinov“ performed by the youngest performers from the kindergarten in Sabinov. The evening will culminate with concerts of groups Rock Band Tribute, Something Extra, rappers KALI-m and the legendary band OTHER CAFES. These days Sabinov will become a lively, vibrant city where generations, traditions and modern spirit meet. Come and have fun, celebrate and be part of what makes our city unique. We look forward to seeing you at Sabinova Days 2025 and 51. Sabinov Fair! We cordially invite you to join our celebrations and experience the unrepeatable atmosphere of Sabinov at this special time. For further information and a detailed programme, please visit our website www.sabinov.sk, www.kulturnestredisko.sk, or follow us on fb. social networks of Sabinov and Život v Sabinove.   Source.    
We will welcome summer in Prešov together in style. PKO in cooperation with the City of Prešov and event partners invite you to an exceptional Prešov City Days from 3 to 8 June 2025 and the Prešov Trinity Fair. There are six days full of varied programme, great music and fun activities for children, youth and adults.
From 3 to 8 June 2025, a spectacular programme of the Days of the City of Prešov and the Prešov Trinity Fair awaits all residents and visitors of the city of Prešov. The main venue will already be traditionally the pedestrian zone. The stage will be located at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas. The programme is designed to appeal to all ages. The Main Stage will feature singer Jana Kirschner, No Name, Štefan Štec and Fajta, Nocadeň, Komajota, Basawell, Porsche Boy, Prešov elementary schools, comedy show Sranda Banda and many others. In the zone of crafts and traditional folk culture, folklore will come alive in the performance of folk folklore ensembles and groups such as FS Dúbrava, DFS Šarišanček, FS Rozmarija, FS Šariš, FS Karpat'anin, Kelemeske Furmani, fujarista Adam Magula and others. The craft zone will include demonstrations of traditional crafts, such as bell casting, felting, leatherwork, carving, jewellery making and many others, which visitors will be able to try out for themselves. The complete programme of the Days of the City of Prešov and the Prešov Trinity Fair 2025 can be found here: https://www.pkopresov.sk/dni-mesta-presov.html From 3 to 8 June 2025, Prešov will become the venue of the biggest city event of the year. The Prešov City Days associated with the Prešov Trinity Fair will bring six days full of music, traditions, crafts and entertainment for all ages. We are expecting more than 6,000 visitors during the evening concerts and we are expecting a total attendance of more than 40,000 people during the entire event,“ said Barbora Rusiňáková, director of PKO Prešov. For the safe and smooth course of the event, the city centre of Prešov will be closed to traffic from 6 June 2025 from 8:15 a.m. to 9 June 2025 until 03:00 a.m. Public transport will run on the standard detour route through Okružná Street, as the sales stands will also be located on asphalt road. The streets will be filled with vendors selling both traditional and modern goods - handmade products, gifts and other handicrafts. Visitors can also enjoy gastro experiences in the form of tasty food and refreshing drinks. There will also be seating at selected stages for visitors to enjoy the culture more comfortably. Carousels and amusement rides will be set up from Peace Square to the main stage, creating a long children's zone full of joy and fun. This year, the Days of the City of Prešov will also have an ecological dimension. Visitors will pay a deposit of €2 for a returnable cup when buying their first drink. They can then keep the cup as a souvenir or return it to two marked places where the deposit will be returned to them. The cups will only be returnable at specially designated kiosks. During the Days of the City of Prešov from 3 to 8 June 2025, landmarks of the city of Prešov, such as the building of the historic town hall, the Water Tower, the Caraffa Prison or the footbridge at the University of Prešov, will be will be lit in red. A varied accompanying programme is also prepared. Visitors will be able to take a peek behind the scenes of the city's leadership during the Open Day at the office of the Mayor of Prešov, František Oľha, and meet him in person. „I would like to cordially invite all Prešov citizens, as well as people from the whole region to the Days of the City of Prešov and the Prešov Trinity Fair. This is an exceptional concept of a city festival, for the first time in such an extended format with a city centre closure and a unique crafts show. Together with PKO Prešov, we are bringing culture to the city, directly among the people. Entrance to concerts and workshops is free and open to all, as is the town hall building, where I am very happy to welcome Prešov residents and visitors to the Prešov City Days. I am already looking forward to meeting you in person,“ invites František Oľha, Mayor of Prešov. The historical premises of the Caraffa Prison and the Orthodox Synagogue will be open to visitors free of charge on selected days, along with guided tours. It will also be possible to climbing the tower of St. Nicholas Cathedral with a view of the whole of Prešov (entrance fee: 2 €). A unique experience not only for children will also be the performance of fencers and falconers, demonstrations of work with predators, fencing duels and period scenes, a workshop with fujar player Adam Magula and a folk dance workshop led by experienced dancers Vladimír Michalek, Ivana Topoľovská and ĽH Mateja Rendoš. There will also be the traditional competition for the best and tastiest Šarišská mačanka. On Friday, 6 June 2025, there will be a spectacular parade through the centre of Prešov led by the Mayor and the city administration. The parade will feature the Prešov majorettes Diridonky, the brass band Baštovanka and the folklore ensemble Šarišan.   Source of text & photos: PKO PREŠOV       On 19 and 20 March 2025, we embarked on a unique InfoTour that took us to the heart of a region where history, art and culture come together. The aim of this journey was to introduce the Warhol Region and the Ruthenian Region, which are intrinsically linked to the story of the world-famous artist Andy Warhol. This trip, organized by KOCR - Regional Tourism Organization of Northeast Slovakia in cooperation with OOCR Horný Zemplín, allowed us to get to know not only the places that shaped Warhol's work, but also the unique culture of the Rusyns.  

Warhol and his Ruthenian roots

Andy Warhol's story is inextricably linked to the region from which his mother, Júlia Varcholová, came. Originally from the village of Miková, Julia brought Rusyn culture into her son's life, which had a significant influence on his artistic work. The info tour gave us a unique opportunity to explore the places that had a great influence on his life and work, and to understand the deeper roots that shaped his personality and artistic style. 

Our way

At the beginning of the journey we met in Typton hotel & spa in Medzilaborce, where we received instructions for the InfoTrip and information about accommodation. After leaving Medzilaborce we headed to the village of Hawaii. Here we learned more about the Region Warhol cooperation project and its cultural significance. We then visited Mikovu, where the Miková Memorial Room is located. This historical building is connected with Julia Warhol's birth house, the well and the Zavacki family, which influenced not only her life but also Warhol's life. Walking through this place gave us a glimpse into the local roots and a deeper insight into the culture that shaped Andy Warhol.     We had lunch in Vladici (Driečna), where we tasted traditional Ruthenian cuisine. It was fascinating to learn what Andy's mother Julia used to cook and to experience authentic local dishes. After lunch we moved on to Vladice (Dry), where we were introduced to the Hucul horses, which had a great influence on Warhol's animal portraits. Many of his works depicted animals that had a special meaning for him. After visiting Vladič we went to guided tour of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Medzilaborce, which was a place where Andy's family in Pittsburgh often attended church, which had a special meaning for her. This experience was a strong link between Warhol's family life and his Venue.     After a full day's travel, we enjoyed dinner and a free program that gave us the opportunity to relax and process all the impressions of the places we visited. The next day we visited Haburu, where the monumental statue of Prince Laborac, a symbol of Rusyn unity, is located. This trip was combined with a visit to the wooden church and the Museum of Slivovitz, where we got acquainted with the local history and culture. The owner of the Museum of Slivovitz is also the holder of the Slovak record for the number of species harvested.  In addition, we saw wooden sculptures from symposiums focused on the builders of Rusyn identity and culture and tasted traditional „retrokava“. After lunch in Certižnom we visited Cemetery of Ruthenian personalities and the Memorial Folk Room dedicated to the Ruthenian revivalist A. I. Dobriansky. This trip allowed us to better understand the importance of Rusyns and their influence on Slovak culture and history.     Finally, we visited the building Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art, where we learned about the preparations for this important cultural project. The opportunity to enter the construction site and get information about its construction was truly fascinating.

Conclusion

The info tour offered us a unique opportunity to explore the region that shaped one of the most important artists of the 20th century, Andy Warhol. In addition, we learned about the beauty and culture of the Ruthenian community, which is an integral part of Slovak history. The places visited, the unique experiences and the deeper insight into the heritage of Warhol and Rusyn ancestors provided us with a rich and unforgettable experience. At the same time, there was an opportunity for regional OOCRs to link and cooperate in the creation of CR products.  This InfoTour has been implemented with the financial support of Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic and organized KOCR - Regional Tourism Organisation of the North-East of Slovakia in cooperation with OOCR Horný Zemplín. The event was also attended by representatives of Regional Tourism Organisation "Šariš" - Bardejov, TATRAS SPIŠ PIENINY, Northern Spiš Pieniny, High Tatras Region - High Tatras Region a Prešov self-governing region. This trip brought us not only new knowledge about Warhol and his roots, but also unforgettable experiences in a region that is full of history, culture and natural beauty and cultural heritage...   In recent months, the Tourism Organisation (OOCR) Region Šariš has been actively involved in several prestigious trade fairs at home and abroad. Participation in events in Bratislava, Riga, Budapest, Prague and Nitra confirmed the growing interest in the Šariš region and brought valuable knowledge, contacts and new opportunities for cooperation.    

ITF Bratislava 2025: Home audience interested in authenticity

The ITF Bratislava fair was a key opportunity to introduce Šariš to Slovak visitors. The greatest interest was in castles, cycling routes, folklore, spas and regional events. Among the most popular places were Slovak Opal Mine, STM Solivar Museum and Bardejov Spa. An important factor was also the presentation of authentic experiences such as regional products and the music of Michal Smetanka.

Main outcomes:

   

Balttour Riga 2025: Šariš as an undiscovered jewel for the Latvian market

Latvia has proven to be a promising market where visitors have appreciated cycling routes, spa tourism, mineral springs and camping possibilities. The fair was visited by more than 20,000 people, up to 5,000 of whom were tourism professionals. It specifically resonated the diversity of nature and historical monuments in a relatively small area.

At the Balttour trade fair in Riga, visitors formed: 30 % adults aged 30-45, 30 % families with children and 40 % seniors, showing a balanced interest across different age groups.

The greatest interest was in:

   

Utazás Budapest 2025: Historical connection as the key to the Hungarian market

Hungarian visitors appreciated the historical and cultural ties between the two countries. The greatest interest was in castles, manor houses and monuments linked to a common history. The leaflet has become an extremely successful promotional tool "Sáros Vár" - a product in cooperation with the town of Sabinov, which impressed Hungarian tourists with clearly defined information.

Visitor grouping: 70 % seniors, 25 % adults aged 35-55 and families with children and 5 % students and school groups, which indicates a significant interest of the older generation in the destination Šariš.

Key Outcomes:

 

Holiday World & Region World Prague 2025: Czech tourists seek nature and active relaxation

The fair in Prague was an important point of presentation of Šariš on the Czech market. Visitors were primarily interested in outdoor activities, hiking, cycling, castles and spa tourism. A separate counter of OOCR Region Šariš enabled a more targeted approach to potential tourists.

The composition of visitors included 40 % families with children, 25 % foreign tourists, 20 % seniors and 15 % travel agencies, which shows the wide diversity of interest in the Šariš region.

Main outcomes:

Caravan Bike Travel: when cycling meets history and tradition

The Caravan Bike Travel fair in Nitra brought a successful presentation of experiences for visitors who are actively looking for specific forms of adventure and relaxation. Cooperation with OOCR Bardejov a OOCR Region Šariš allowed to present a wide range of tourism opportunities with a focus on cycling, history and regional gastronomy.

Families with children were most interested in the available cycle paths, the safety of the routes and family activities in the region. University students from the Faculty of Marketing and Business at SPU in Nitra, analysed the possibilities of active travel and experiential tourism.

The main themes that appealed to visitors were:
  • Cycling - singletracks, circuits, quality of routes, accommodation and services
  • Nature and adventure - Sigord, Opal mines, manor houses and camping opportunities.
  • History and war themes - World War I and World War II (Svidník), Šariš Castle, (un)discovered Solivar.

Main outcomes:

  • Period kitchen of the 12th century - recipes of kings, tasting of traditional Sharis cakes
  • Medieval examples - armourer, fencing, period board games, the opportunity to try out weapons, shields and historical clothing

Conclusion

Participating in the Caravan Bike Travel exhibition has proven to be an effective way to showcase the region, offering authentic and specific experiences. Visitors appreciated the interactive form of promotion and were looking for specific opportunities for cycling and historical adventures. The Šariš region thus strengthened its position among attractive destinations for active travellers.

  Overall evaluation of participation in trade fairs The participation of OOCR Region Šariš in these fairs brought a significant strengthening of awareness of the region and identified key trends in tourism. The main benefits include the acquisition of new contacts with experts, travel agencies and influencers, which has enabled wider visibility of Šariš at international level. At the same time, new marketing strategies such as digital campaigns and interactive presentations were implemented, which contributed to an even better presentation of the region. Another important result is the expansion of cooperation with journalists and experts in foreign markets. OOCR Region Šariš will continue to work actively on innovations in the presentation of the destination and the development of new tourism products in order to attract even more visitors to this unique region.    
Šariš region became part of the filming of the TV show Secrets of Slovakia, which brings viewers a glimpse of the most beautiful natural, historical and cultural treasures of Slovakia.
The TA3 TV crew visited several important locations and brought a lot of inspiration for trips and holidays.

One of the main stops was Šariš Castle, one of the largest medieval castle complexes in Slovakia.

Before the TV crew went to the castle, they also visited the nooks and crannies Archaeopark, which brings visitors closer to the life of a farmer and a peasant in the past.

In addition to the magnificent views and historical interpretation, the crew also tried archery and authentic medieval-style dining right in the castle tower. Donjon.

 

The TV crew also visited the city Sabinov, which is famous for the exterior shots of the Oscar-winning film Shop on the Corniche. The legacy of this legendary work is commemorated by an exhibition in the Cultural-Information Centre, where visitors can see original props and photos from the shoot.

 

Bardejov Spa became the next stop of the crew that maps the exceptional places of Slovakia. This historic spa, considered one of the oldest and most famous in the country, offers a wide range of relaxing and therapeutic treatments. Their unique atmosphere was enjoyed in the past by Empress Sissi, who was one of the most important guests of this spa complex.

During the visit, the crew had the opportunity to capture a unique genius loci of this place and get acquainted with its rich history and current offer for visitors.

He also could not bypass the oldest wooden church in Slovakia - Church of St. Francis of Assisi in the village of Hervartov, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The cultural experience was complemented by the performance of a folklore ensemble Sharishan, which brings the authentic atmosphere of Slovak folklore with its dances and singing.

The historical value of the region was also highlighted by the visit Solivar Museum in Prešov, where salt was once mined and processed. The TV crew also visited the town Lipany, where there is a 320-year-old small-leaved lime tree, a symbol of the rich history of the region.

Relay Secrets of Slovakia you can see in the archive:

https://www.ta3.com/relacia/986725/tajomstva-slovenska-carovny-a-prekvapivy-region-saris  

The episode was produced in collaboration with Slovakia Travel.

 

Thank you for your partnership support Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic.

Visitation to the Prešov Region grew again in 2024. The Prešov Region was visited by 1 068 052 visitors to accommodation establishments. Foreign visitors accounted for 27 percent. This is the second most successful year in history in terms of visitor arrivals to accommodation establishments. 
  The Prešov Region will accommodate in 2024 1 068 052 visitors to accommodation facilities. *Source of data: the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. The accommodation capacity was used by 28 177 more visitors than last year, which represents an increase of almost 3%. Out of the total number of accommodated guests, foreign visitors accounted for 27.3 %, a total of 291 951 foreigners. A total of 3 049 418 overnight stays were registered, foreigners accounted for 25% share. Tourists spent an average of three nights in the region.         During the winter months, 2019 was also surpassed We are just 3.6 percent short of our most successful year ever in 2019. In the winter months of January, February, March and December, the 2019 numbers were surpassed. In January and March 2024, even by more than 9 percent. The Prešov region is the third most visited region in Slovakia,“ said Michal Iľkanin, chairman of KOCR Northeast of Slovakia. Compared to 2023, an increase in the number of visitors was recorded in eight months. The summer holiday months saw the highest number of visitors, with domestic tourists traditionally preferring the month of August for a home holiday.   Foreign visitors Most foreign visitors came to the Prešov Region from the Czech Republic (34,46 %), Poland (24.67 %) and Hungary (10.68 %). The number of Polish visitors increased significantly, by 19 % year-on-year. The number of visitors from Romania and the United Kingdom also increased by 21 % and 20 % respectively. „The increase is also reflected by the promotional activities of regional and regional tourism organisations in these markets, especially the OOCR High Tatras Region or the support of the air connection between Poprad Airport and London. Slight decline in statistics for Czech visitors, we will try to contribute to their growth again with promotional activities,“ informed M. Ilykanin. The highest average number of overnight stays was made by visitors from the Czech Republic, with an average of 2.9 overnight stays, followed by visitors from Latvia, who made an average of 2.8 overnight stays. The strongest district of the Prešov Region in terms of visitor arrivals is Poprad (729 426 visitors to UZ), followed by the districts of Kežmarok (106 493), Prešov (56 340), Bardejov and Stará Ľubovňa. High Tatras thus clearly form the dominant region of the Prešov region. There were 1,078 accommodation facilities available for visitors to the Prešov Region in 2024. Revenues from accommodation amounted to EUR 125 482 589 (excluding VAT).     Activities to promote attendance In 2025, we want to strengthen marketing communication not only on the domestic market but also towards neighbouring countries. We are planning several activities in cooperation with the Prešov municipalities, regional tourism organisations and various stakeholders. In connection with the reconstruction of the A. Warhol Museum of Modern Art in Medzilaborce, we are preparing tourism products in the adjacent region. This activity is joint with OOCR Horný Zemplín and will focus on soft tourism and exploring the uniqueness of this little-known area in order to keep tourists in the region.,“ said Martin Janoško, director of KOCR North-East of Slovakia. As he added, in 2025 locals and visitors can also look forward to the tenth jubilee year of the family travel game LEGENDARIUM, which will be upgraded in the form of a mobile app. According to the official statistics, in 2024, Legendarium involved more than 3,200 registered children, the real numbers are higher by the number of accompanying persons and those involved who did not register for the competition. The attendance of the region was supported by KOCR Northeast Slovakia in 2024 other marketing activities, influencer info tours, presentations at tourism fairs, creation of experiential products and investments in elements of tourist infrastructure. These include, for example, the restoration of tourist information boards in Spiš and Zamaguri, the restoration of boards on the nature trails to the World War I cemeteries in Výrava and Veľkrop, or the maintenance of the singletrack Cyclostopes near Stará Ľubovňa.   In the area of development of tourist infrastructure, cycling was strongly represented, more than 300 kilometres of cycling routes in the Prešov Region were renewed.. On the ground floor of the Marčulina lookout tower in the Levoča Hills, a shelter has been built, which will be opened in the spring of 2025. The activities were Implemented by from the membership fee of the Prešov Self-Governing Region, subsidies Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic and membership fees of regional CR organisations.        

Šariš region attracts more and more tourists

The year 2024 was for the region Saris one of the most successful periods in tourism. Accommodation facilities in the region were visited by 63 041 visitors*, who together have recorded 117 876 overnight stays. These figures confirm the growing interest in the area, which offers a rich history, natural beauty and unique experiences.

  Text Source: press release KOCR Northeast of Slovakia   Source of data: * Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic    

Are you looking for inspiration where to go with your children on spring break in the Šariš region? This beautiful corner of Slovakia offers a variety of interesting events and activities that will entertain young and old alike. Here are some tips for unforgettable holiday experiences.

 

Spring holidays at Šariš Castle - a programme for the whole family

Date: 16 - 21 February 2025 Place:Šariš Castle

Šariš Castle is preparing a week full of history, fun and competitions for young and old. Every day a small programme of medieval traditions, adventure and creativity awaits you.

PROGRAMME:
❤️ 16.2. Valentine's Castle-Seal your love on the Love Block
 A unique opportunity to visit the lapidarium in the Donjon Tower.
 17.2. Treasure hunt - Adventure game for children about the treasures not found in the castle.
 18.2. Castle through the eyes of children - Competition for the most beautiful drawing of Šariš Castle connected with  Castle mail - Sealing letters as in the old days
 19.2. Medieval archery competition - Test your accuracy!
⚔️ 20.2. Children's medieval games - wood beating, wooden horse racing, tug-of-war, chess
 21.2. Traditional baking of posúchov - Tasting in the castle oven
 There will be fire pits ( wood & sticks) available for roasting in the castle courtyard.
If it snows, sledging will be part of the programme. During the whole week, the Archaeopark in the castle is open, where you can get to know life in the past.    

Holiday skiing in Drienica

Ski school M-Ski invites families with children to a holiday skiing in the area Tučniačik in Drienica. On Sunday 16 February 2025 from 10:00 to 14:00 children can enjoy fun skiing, a fairytale slalom, a meeting with animals, a carousel and music. It is possible to book an instructor or ski independently. The price of admission with equipment is 15 €. Don't miss out on great winter fun!      

Opal search for children in the Slovak Opal Mines

Date: 17 and 21 February 2025 Location. Slovak Opal Mines offers a unique adventure underground. During special holiday dates, children can join the search for opal and discover the secrets of these unique mines with the help of experienced guides. At the end, they can take away a small souvenir. More information on the link.      

Miklusz the Goblin's Fairytale Trail

Place: nature trail in the village Miklušovce For families who enjoy walking in nature, the Miklus Gnome Trail is a great choice. This fun and educational trail offers many interesting stops that teach children about nature and the history of the region in a playful way.  

Water adventures for the little ones in Aquapark Lipany

Place:Aquapark Lipany Aquapark Lipany is an ideal place for family moments full of joy and fun. Children can enjoy a safe pool designed for toddlers, where they can discover the water world. The pleasant atmosphere is completed by warm water and comfortable environment.

Carnival on ice

Date: 23 February 2025 at 14:00 Place. In Sabinov, during spring break, a carnival on ice will take place. The programme includes performances by members of the figure skating club KK Kraso Prešov, sports competitions, skating in masks and a competition for the most beautiful mask. Entrance to the ice is only allowed in masks.

The Šariš region offers a wide range of activities for families with children during the spring holidays. Whether you decide to discover history at Šariš Castle, experience an adventure in the opal mines, take a walk along the Miklusz the Gnome Trail, enjoy water fun in Lipany, have fun at the carnival on the ice or go crazy on the slope in Drienice, you will surely have unforgettable experiences. Plan your programme and spend your holidays full of joy, movement and adventure.

The city of Prešov has successfully transformed its candidacy for the title of European City of Sport for 2025. At a press conference on 28 November 2024, the mayor of the city together with the ambassadors of the candidacy and representatives of Prešov sports clubs informed about it. In addition to winning the title, the mayor also presented visions of investments in sports infrastructure for the coming years.

 

Photo source: https://www.presov.sk/presov-sa-stal-europskym-mestom-sportu-oznam/mid/491237/.html

 

 

The European City of Sport title (hereinafter referred to as „ECS title“) is awarded by ACES Europe, a non-profit organisation founded in 1999 and based in Brussels, which is recognised by the European Commission. ACES Europe's role is to promote sport among the Member States of the European Union, to raise awareness of sport and to create the best possible conditions for sport at all levels. Each year ACES Europe awards the European Capital of Sport, European City of Sport, European City of Sport and European Region of Sport. The title of ESC is awarded to cities in a number of categories, divided according to their population. The city of Prešov is in the category of cities with between 50 000 and 499 999 inhabitants.

zahraničná delegácia z ACES Europe
Photo source: https://www.presov.sk/presov-sa-stal-europskym-mestom-sportu-oznam/mid/491237/.html

 

 

As part of the assessment of Prešov, a foreign delegation consisting of five assessors from different European countries visited the city in May 2024. The visit in May was attended by the President of ACES Europe Gian Francesco Lupatelli from Italy, the Secretary General of the organization Hugo Alonso from Spain as well as other delegates Lukáš Vorel from the Czech Republic, Granit Rugova from Kosovo and Andrea Junger as a member of the Board of Directors of ACES Europe representing Slovakia.

The delegation spent one whole day touring the most important sports venues in Prešov. For example, they visited the Winter Stadium, Tatran Handball Arena, but they also visited the premises of the Faculty of Sport of the University of Prešov or the premises of the athletic complex at Šmeralova Primary School and many others. An important stop of the evaluation commission was also the under-construction Football Tatran Arena, where the president of ACES Europe appreciated the great determination of the city to complete this construction.

 

One of the criteria in the assessment of the city of Prešov for the title of EMŠ were, in addition to the already implemented investments in sports infrastructure, also those that the city is still planning. This topic was raised by the mayor at a press conference Winter stadium in Prešov. „The stadium has undergone significant renovation in the past, when the roof, the auditorium and part of the interiors were repaired. Now we are moving on and the investment this year will amount to 900 thousand euros. With the project, for which we have received a non-refundable financial contribution from the Sports Promotion Fund, we will be able to supply the stadium with the necessary air-conditioning, which will solve the problem of humidity, mould and poor ventilation of the changing rooms and other parts of the interior. The reconstruction will also affect the energy system, as winter sports and hockey in particular are probably the most energy-intensive. We will replace part of the boiler room, which will reduce the overall energy consumption of the building. With the help of the PSK (Prešov municipality) we have also brought a modern multimedia cube to the „ice rink“ and we are currently working on the project documentation for the next call for NFP in 2025 for the cladding of the building,“ mentioned the mayor of the town František Oľha.

There was also talk about the biggest investment in sports infrastructure in the history of the city. It is Football Tatran Arena, which is already slowly taking its final shape. The last big meeting of all the construction stakeholders confirmed the completion of the works by the end of February/March 2025 at the latest, so that the city can host the U21 European Football Championships.

The mayor also thanked the management of the football club 1.FC Tatran, which is also successful in applications for NFP. It managed to obtain 430 thousand euros, which, together with the amount of 360 thousand euros from the city, will go to football academy project, whose priority is the development of youth football. This project will renovate the stands, create new changing rooms with a rehabilitation line and install new turf. The football academy is also connected with another project of the city supported by a subsidy from the Prešov Self-Governing Region. Thanks to this project, new changing rooms in the form of unim cells with solar panels and a new irrigation system for the playing field were built in the equestrian area.

Vizualizácia multišportovej zóny so skateparkom na Baštovej
Photo source: https://www.presov.sk/presov-sa-stal-europskym-mestom-sportu-oznam/mid/491237/.html

 

The vision and visualizations were presented to the journalistic community at a press conference project of multi-sports zone and revitalization of skatepark„This is a project that is already ready for the implementation phase. It has shown us how important participation and involvement of the sporting community for which the space will be intended is in the creation of even such public spaces. We have agreed with the skateboarders that they will be able to adapt the sports part of the project to their actual needs, and the result is a truly unique and, above all, functional sports ground project. We could look for a contractor and start the actual construction in spring 2025,“ Mayor Oľha added at the skatepark.

 

An important point of the presentation of investments in sports infrastructure was all-sports complex, which has long been the subject of many internet discussions and media questions. „Probably few people know about it, but currently we have completed a feasibility study of the entire complex, which is to include an indoor swimming pool, a training hall for hockey and a multi-sport hall for various ball sports such as handball volleyball and basketball. We also already have the project for the planning permission for the indoor swimming pool in hand and have started the process of settling the strategic land plots. At the same time, we have already submitted the tender documents for the design of the internal roads and car parks,“ Mayor Oľha revealed during the project.

The mayor concluded the meeting with the media with a promise that he will gradually bring information about other planned investments in sports facilities in Prešov, which are in various stages of development.

 

Prešov will, in addition to sports results and investments in sports infrastructure to present a new visual identity linked to the title. At the press conference, the mayor presented the new logo manual, which contains all the information regarding the official logo for Prešov for 2025, including instructions for its use, prohibited forms of its use, as well as the design of gifts and promotional items.

Photo source: https://www.presov.sk/presov-sa-stal-europskym-mestom-sportu-oznam/mid/491237/.html

 

Text source: press release https://www.presov.sk/presov-sa-stal-europskym-mestom-sportu-oznam/mid/491237/.html

 

January 6th is also connected with a festive bike ride through the city. This year cyclists will meet for the tenth time.

Also, thanks to the data from the bicycle counts, they can tell how many are riding in the winter. “The counters were installed in Prešov at the beginning of November 2023, so we can compare the intensity of cyclists travelling along the four measured sections. From the data we can clearly say that the most congested measured section is the part of EuroVela11 on Námestí mládeže. While in November 2023 (6.11.-30.11.) 4687 cyclists passed this section, in November 2024 (1.11.-30.11.) it was up to 7018 cyclists. Also interesting is the data for December 2023 (1.12-31.12.) when the cyclist volume on Youth Square was only 1,934 cyclists, but in less than two weeks in December 2024 (1.12-11.12.2024) that number is already almost at its peak for the entire month of December 2023, with 1,881 cyclists.” says Renáta Kmecová, the organizer of the Cyklométa event.

 

Over the last 10 years, more and more cyclists can be seen on the streets of Prešov, even during the winter. “While in the winter of 2015 I only met two or three cyclists during my bike ride to work, today it is common to meet a cyclist riding in the snow.” confirmed Renáta Kmecová.

www.luboskrahulec.sk

 

This can also be seen in the event he organizes: “6. January 2025, cyclists will decorate their bicycles with various lights and themed decorations, and we will be reminded of the need for increased safety and visibility of cyclists on the roads as we ride through the city. By riding together in this way, we draw attention not only to the need to be lit and seen, but also to the need for winter maintenance of cycle paths and roads designed for cyclists.”

 

www.luboskrahulec.sk

 

The data from the bicycle counts also speak clearly to how busy the bikeways are in January and February. “The numbers of cyclists for January and February 2024 show us that using a bicycle, even in these cold months, is not unusual. Although January is a weaker month, there were still 6,453 trips recorded on the counts. In February, the number of rides was much higher, with a total of 17,700 rides recorded at four counters (Bajkalská Street-EV11, Cykloželeznička, Kúpeľná Street- Mlynský náhon cycle path and Námestie mládeže-EV11). According to the data we can also evaluate how many rides were made in winter 23/24, November 6-February 29, 2024, in this period a total of 37,623 rides were recorded on the measured sections. On average, this was approximately 327 passes per day, which is not a low number.”

 

They also want to draw attention to the fact that cyclists are on the roads all year round. Organizer Renata Kmecová: “We want cycling to be a safe journey for everyone, regardless of the weather, so we are also urging cyclists to use reflective features and lighting as we want to be visible to drivers on bikes.”  

They also overcame covid restrictions, heavy frost and rain. “The event has so far taken place under all circumstances. In 2017 we cycled despite the temperature of -17°C, during the covid measures (2021) individual rides were organised or we met in limited numbers (2022). Finally, even the rain did not deter us (2024). But the most beautiful ride is the one in the snow, as evidenced by the number of cyclists who participated in the 2019 and 2020 events.”

 

On the occasion of the 10th edition of the event, in cooperation with Spojka Roastery and Café, they will prepare a special edition of coffee. “Cyclists and coffee undoubtedly belong together, which is why I'm glad that this collaboration was successful. The location of the café, which is right on the Eurovelo 11 cycle path, also contributes to this, so no cyclist will miss it, and in the end they will also be able to buy cyclo-coffee here." 

 

Prizes from sponsors will be given away again this year. “I am very happy that the idea of year-round cycling is supported by sponsors who support us every year, and thanks to them we can reward cyclists in several categories (youngest participant, oldest participant, most beautifully decorated/lighted bike, most beautiful group mask, etc.). At the finish line there will be an evaluation, refreshments, a music and light show, and a raffle.”

 

The cyclométa will start from two towns of Prešov. One start will be from the final stop Sídliska III and the second start from the parking lot at Lidl in Sekčov housing estate. Both groups will start at the same time, at approximately 16:45, and meet at Duchnovič Square from where they will go together to the city centre. “In the city centre we will traditionally stop under the Christmas tree, ride through the city centre and finish the Cyclométa ceremonially in the Spojka Roastery café.”

“I want to invite all cyclists, regardless of age, to this peaceful holiday ride again this year. You can be inspired by the photo gallery of events from 2016 on the website www.cyklometa.sk."

With the arrival of the winter season, the Šariš region opens up new opportunities for discovering natural beauties, breathtaking views and places for active relaxation. Whether you are a lover of hiking, natural sights or active sports, Šariš will welcome you with a rich offer of activities. Here is an overview of interesting places that should not be missing from your winter programme.  

1. Skating on the Sigord reservoir

When frosts produce a solid icy surface, in the area of the Sigord reservoir is the possibility of natural skating. Skating safety is taken care of by the association Chavargy, which regularly measures ice thickness and reports on conditions on social media (Facebook and Instagram - Sigord Boathouse). In addition to free services such as snow blowers, hockey goals and skating equipment for children, skates can be rented for a fee. Visitors can enjoy hot tea, hot chocolate or mulled wine at the cafeteria by the reservoir. On weekends and holidays, evening skating is also on offer until 19:00. Around the reservoir runs nature trail, which is also accessible in winter and has a length of 1 km. The trail is equipped with benches overlooking the water and three information panels about the fauna of Sigord. Winter boots and caution are recommended when walking through the slightly exposed terrain.   

2. Čergovský Minčol

The Minčol peak with an altitude of 1157 m is the highest point of the Čergov Mountains and was declared a National Nature Reserve in 1986 to protect the typical Carpathian flora. Marked hiking trails, which are accessible even in winter, will guide you through this beautiful area full of silence and the majesty of nature. The most popular routes lead from the villages of Kamenica, Kyjov or Šarišské Jatrabie. In winter there is a lot of snow and often windy. In good sunny weather you can see the High Tatras.       

3. Lookout tower under the peak of Balažka

  The lookout tower below the top of Balážka at 598 m above sea level is located with a breathtaking view of Lipany, Kamenický hrad and the ridge of Čergov. Two circuits are accessible - the circuit of the Small Rock with a viewpoint at the cross, the Italian well and a geological microverse, and the circuit of the Big Rock, which leads along the ridge of Balazka. The easy route from the polder to the lookout tower takes about 40 minutes.     

4. Relax even during cold days in Aquapark Lipany

Even if the temperatures drop below zero, Aquapark Lipany remains a place where you can warm up and enjoy a well-deserved rest. The thermal pools with pleasantly warm water are an ideal refuge from the winter chill. Thanks to the mineral composition of the water, you will not only relax, but also boost your health - the beneficial effects of the thermal springs will be especially appreciated by your joints and muscles. In addition to the pools, wellness services such as saunas and massages await you. For families with children, there are fun water attractions for everyone.    

5. Multifunctional ice rink in Lipany

A multifunctional ice rink opens in Lipany in mid-November. There is a school skating program, public lessons and private rentals - an ideal choice for families and sports enthusiasts. For more information, please visit the City of Lipany website (www.lipany.sk).           The most beautiful photographs of the Prešov Region for the year 2024 will again become part of a travelling exhibition. These are the award-winning images of the 12th edition of the photographic competition Go and Shoot, which are printed on large formats. The exhibition in the premises of the Solivar Museum will run from 13 December 2024 to 28 February 2025.   The organiser of the photo competition Go and take pictures is the Regional Tourism Organisation (KOCR) North-East of Slovakia. The aim is to present the beauty and attractions of the Prešov Region to the general public. The twelfth year of the competition surpassed previous years, the competition was entered by 1060 shots From 245 photographers. Apart from Slovaks, Poles and Czechs were also represented.   The international jury awarded the first three places for each of nine competition categories. In addition, special awards and honourable mentions were presented. The public also chose their favourite in an online vote. Winner of the vote became a shot of the night sky in Poloniny by the author Ondrej Magda - A shooting star, dare I wish.         „We are pleased that the images from the whole region resonated with the public and especially the photo from Poloniny, for which we have created a special category in the 12th year of the photo competition. Poloniny is an extraordinary location of the Prešov Region, offering a completely different type of experiential and non-mass tourism. One of the fascinating attractions is the Poloniny Night Sky Park, which is captured in the winning image of the public vote,“ said Martin Janoško, director of KOCR Northeast of Slovakia. As he added „AboutThe High Tatras were a great attraction for photographers again this year. There is probably no organization and competition that has so many shots of the Tatras from different angles and from all sides of the world, Some of them can be enjoyed by the public at this year's travelling exhibition.“   During the opening ceremony on 13 December, prizes will be awarded to the authors of the winning photographs. The travelling exhibition consists of 60 pictures, which are printed in large formats A1 and A2, which enhances the power of the shots and the pleasure of seeing them. Invitation to the opening and exhibition belongs to all who want to be inspired by the impressive images and get inspiration for exploring the Prešov region. The exhibition in the premises of the Solivar Museum will last until 28 February 2025. It will then move to other towns, spas and entertainment and shopping centres in order to present the attractions of the Prešov Region to the general public.        
  1. annual photo competition
The Go and Shoot Photo Contest is open annually to professional and amateur photographers. Their task is to capture tourist attractions, nature, culture, traditions, sports activities and people of the Prešov region in thematic categories. The expert jury awarded the first three places for each of the nine categories. At the same time, the jury also awarded special award GRAND PRIX, which he received Anton Hričan behind the picture The man in the hat. The prize of the organizer of the competition KOCR Northeast of Slovakia will be awarded to Róbert Kučák for his photo from the High Tatras called In the footsteps of a hunter. The special guest of the jury, musician Peter Cmorik, it became a winter shot of a wooden St. Paraskeva Temple in the village of Dobroslava from Dávid Palička. In addition to the winners, the jury and organizers also selected other award-winning images Honorable mention (honorable mention)From the awarded photographs is compiled travelling exhibition Go and take pictures.   Overview of award-winning shots             Contact:   Mgr. Barbora Čechová media/PR KOCR Northeast of Slovakia 0907 401 832, 051/70 81 513;  media@severovychod.sk   www.severovychod.sk www.legendarium.info         A new observation tower, the so-called Berzewicz Tower, was built on the top of Stebnícka Magura and was officially commissioned on Thursday, 21 November 2024. The construction of the tower, at a total cost of €257 033.17, lasted from May 2023 to November 2024.nvestor was the Regional Tourism Organisation (OOCR) ,,ŠARIŠ“-Bardejov and the main burden of financing was borne by the Ministry of Transport (MoT) of the Slovak Republic, and later - after its establishment - by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic (MCRaŠ SR), which supported the construction with the amount of 239 339 EUR. The tower will be freely accessible all year round without time limit and without charge. The tower is freely accessible all year round without time limit and without charge.     ,“The newly built lookout tower on Stebnícka Magura resembles the so-called Berzewicz tower built in 1905 on the same site, which was destroyed during the First World War in 1918. The reconstructed and restored lookout tower will serve domestic and foreign visitors and the entire Šariš region. It should bring further impetus to the development of tourism in the north-east of Slovakia. The total height to the top of the tower is 29,627 m, at a height of 21 m above the terrain there is an observation platform. The tower is unique of its kind in Slovakia, it has a reinforced concrete structure, a metal staircase and is one of the highest towers in the Prešov region. To climb it, it is necessary to climb 104 steps," explains R.Jančošek.  

The replica tower reflects the original design

He adds that they tried to make the replica of the Berzewicz tower as close to the original as possible. The project documentation was prepared by Jozef Cibuľa. The contractor of the construction is PAVLIČKO a partneri, s. r. o. The total investment of EUR 257 033,17 required own resources of OOCR “ŠARIŠ"-Bardejov in the amount of EUR 17 693 and subsidy resources of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Slovak Republic in the amount of EUR 239 339. Thanks are also due to the individuals and tourism enthusiasts who contributed financially to the restoration of the tower in a public collection. ,“The construction has been in preparation for almost 3 years and its budget has increased due to inflation and the rising prices of building materials. The OOCR appealed to the general public, tourists and organisations to contribute to the construction of the Berzewicz Tower, each according to their means. Although these were not large sums, they are a symbol that citizens and legal entities also wanted to contribute to the improvement and restoration of the tower. The main thanks, however, go to the ministries that contributed the most to its financing. This year, the interior, staircase, railings and landscaping were completed. The restored tower will contribute to increased visitor numbers, both domestic and foreign, and will provide views of the whole region. It offers a magnificent view of the Čergov Mountains and, in good weather, the Tatra Mountains," added R.Jančošek.    

New dominant of the SNP Route

The observation tower on Stebnícka Magura (899.9 m above sea level) is located near the current transmitter in the vicinity of Bardejovské Kúpele (Bardejov Spa). It is located on the main tourist route - the Road of Heroes of the Slovak National Uprising. It is possible to reach the top of Stebnícka Magura by hiking trail from Bardejovské Kúpele, Stebník, Zborov and Zlatý.    

History of the tower

The first observation tower on this site was the Berzewicz Tower, named after the then Minister of Education and Religion of Austria-Hungary, Albert Berzewiczy (1853-1936, historian and politician). It was Berzewiczy who officially unveiled the statue of Empress Sisi in Bardejov Spa on 16 August 1903 and it was thanks to his efforts that the first wooden observation tower was built. It was destroyed in the last year of the First World War (1918). Albert Berzeviczy was a historian and politician. From 1905 he was also the president of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He was a member of the Carpathian Society and had a close relationship with his native Šariš, which he often visited. Since 1909, the local organisation of the UKS (Hungarian Carpathian Society) in Bardejov worked within the Prešov section. Thanks to its efforts, a wooden observation tower was built. It was destroyed in 1918, the last year of the First World War.       Source: regional tourism organisation "ŠARIŠ"- BARDEJOV Press information Bardejov 22 November 2024  

Come and experience the unique pre-Christmas atmosphere in the centre of Prešov!

The most beautiful holidays of the year will be welcomed at the Christmas markets in Prešov in two dates, from 25.11. to 23.12.2024 and from 26.12. to 31.12.2024. The Prešov Christmas market will be opened on St. Catherine's Day on 25 November 2024 and will last until 23 December 2024. After a two-day break, it will then continue from St. Stephen's Day on 26 December until New Year's Eve on 31 December 2024. It is the second-longest Christmas market in Slovakia within the regional cities. „The Prešov Christmas Market is a traditional event during which we welcome thousands of visitors in the centre of our city every year. Our goal in cooperation with PKO Prešov is to bring something extra to people every year besides good food and music. This year, for example, it will be the Children's New Year's Eve,“ said the Mayor of Prešov František Oľha. The stage on the Main Street will again this year be located in front of the St. Nicholas Cathedral and will be directly connected to the gastronomic zone. Visitors can thus enjoy Christmas delicacies in comfort, with a view of the programme on the stage, on which a number of artists will perform. The band will perform BDHS, Voising, Vlasta Mudríková, Janais, Martin Harich, Milenky Band, Rusnack's, Basawell and Katka Koščová.       On the Main Street in the centre of the city, during the Christmas market, there will be almost 70 stalls with a number of local craftsmen and sellers of Christmas goods, drinks and various gastronomic products. The Christmas markets in Prešov will sell for example leather and wooden products, jewellery, clothes, bedding, slippers, gloves, gingerbread, gingerbread houses, spices, candles, toys, books, Christmas trees, sports textiles, decorations and much more. At the same time, no one will go hungry or thirsty in the heart of Šariš. Visitors to the market will be able to enjoy langos, doughnuts, grilled specialties, cakes, doughnuts, meat products, grilled cheeses, cotton candy, popcorn and desserts. They can also warm up and meet friends with fragrant punch, mead, mulled wine and other traditional alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. There will also be one gastro stand with drinks and snacks on Florianova Street and in South Park. There will be a Christmas corner away from the busy pedestrian zone where visitors will be able to relax. „We are glad that this year there is also a great interest in selling at the Prešov Christmas Markets. Our goal is to offer the most varied range of handicraft goods. These will be complemented by traditional and new gastro vendors, while our aim is to create space for local vendors. I believe that the Christmas markets will be visited repeatedly by the citizens of Prešov and visitors from the region, thus actively contributing to the exceptional atmosphere in the centre of our city.“ said the director of PKO Barbora Rusiňáková. Traditionally, the Christmas market in Prešov will also have its place Charity and Mayor's Punch. Each year, the profits from the sale of this punch are donated to support those who need it most. On weekdays and Saturdays, merchandise stands will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and refreshment stands will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. On Sundays, all vending stands will be open from 12:00, the merchandise stands will be open until 19:00 and the refreshment stands will be open until 22:00. Christmas markets in Prešov will also be decorated with traditional wooden carved nativity scene by author Juraj Antoňák in the usual place in front of the cathedral.   Children's markets will delight especially our little ones. Carousels, sweet pancakes, soft punch, stalls with children's goods and attractions will be located in the southern part of the pedestrian zone, near the statue of the horse. The children's zone will continue to the South Park, where this year visitors can admire the Christmas tree avenue, which will be decorated with hand-made decorations by pupils of Prešov primary schools. Small Christmas trees will also be placed around St. Nicholas Cathedral. One of the attractions will be a carousel with hand-powered wicker baskets, which is designed for younger children. The advantage is that parents operate the carousel themselves. The main Christmas tree in front of St. Nicholas Cathedral will be lit traditionally on St. Nicholas Day. All children and parents are invited to a children's program on 6.12.2024 from 16.00. St. Nicholas will visit us and bring all the children a great gift - an interactive children's performance The Chumpels. Gladiator and DJ Mark Dann will be playing at the downtown Stephen's Party on December 26, 2024.   The Christmas market in Prešov will close on 31 December. We will start celebrating the last day of the year 2024 at half past four in the afternoon during the Children's New Year's Eve, which is a novelty this year. At 3:30 p.m., the duo PACI PAC will perform and dance for all children and their parents at a big children's party in the city centre with various attractions. We will celebrate the arrival of the New Year in Prešov with great music and entertainment, without fireworks or other alternative productions. Just before midnight the band OuOus will perform and after midnight DJ STEV:ON will entertain people on the square. For more information, please visit our web, and also on our social networks. Audiovisual recordings will be made at the event. Change of the programme reserved.       The autumn holidays are just around the corner and if you are wondering how to spend these days with your family, we have some inspiration for unforgettable trips. Whether you're tempted by outdoor adventures, learning about local traditions or visiting historical sites, there are plenty of places nearby to delight all members of the family, from little ones to adults. From this rich offer, we have selected 5 trips that will delight the whole family and at the same time bring a bit of knowledge, fun and relaxation:   In the village Miklušovce children are located nature trail inspired by the story of Miklus the leprechaun. At the individual sites, you will gradually get to know the whole story and learn to whom we owe the forest that flourishes here today. You will have a very interesting walk in a moderately difficult terrain with a length of approximately 4.6 km, with beautiful views and scenery. Simply, a little piece of hidden paradise on earth. See for yourself.   The Opal Mine Trail in Dubník is a unique place where you can learn about the history of the mining of Slovak opal, which is one of the oldest known opals in the world. The trail leads through 14 thematic stops and offers a view of the natural beauty of the Slanské vrchy Mountains, local fauna, flora and the history of opal mining, which dates back to the 16th century. The route is easy, suitable for families with children, and provides an interesting experience for all lovers of nature and history.     Šariš Castle offers beautiful views of the entire Šariš region and an interesting insight into history, making it a popular destination for families. The climb up to the castle is easy and suitable for families with small children and a carriage. Along the way you will find information boards, a gazebo and benches, which are ideal for relaxing and observing the local fauna. The walk up the hill to the castle itself takes approximately 45 minutes.     Families with children will enjoy a real adventure in the Evil Hole Cave with headlamps, which adds a mysterious atmosphere to the tour. Children can learn more about bat life, natural formations and archaeological finds while moving around the safe spaces of the cave. Such a visit is both fun and educational for them as they learn about natural processes and life underground in an interactive way.    
Lačňovský canyon is a beautiful natural place suitable for a family trip, where you will be enchanted by the wild nature and picturesque views. The canyon walk offers easy but adventurous terrain with cascades, waterfalls and narrow gorges that are interesting for children. There are designated spots along the trail where families can picnic or relax, but it's a good idea to bring your own equipment for grilling.
    If you haven't had a chance to take advantage of the beauty of autumn yet, we hope our tips have inspired you to take a trip full of adventure, relaxation and new experiences. Whether you choose a nature walk, exploring historical sites or family activities, every place offers something special for young and old alike. Pack a snack, comfortable shoes and set out to explore the beautiful region of Šariš! The autumn days are short, but every moment spent outdoors is worth it.
 
For the fifteenth year, Prešov will host POCITY Film Festival, which from 10 to 16 October will offer Prešov residents top film production and meetings with filmmakers. This time, the festival will be held in the Cinemax Novum cinema, the Wave independent culture centre, the Regional Gallery and the Stromoradie club. The programme includes more than 30 screenings, discussions with filmmakers and the award ceremony of the Grain of Salt for the best short film.
  The best and most up-to-date of contemporary Slovak filmmaking will be presented in the Our Feelings section. One of the main guests of the festival will be Peter Kerekes, who will personally introduce his new documentary Wishing on a Star. Director Iveta Grófová will bring his latest work to Prešov Emma and deathhead, which is the Slovak national nominee for the 97th edition of the prestigious Oscar Awards. The director offers an innovative approach in Slovak film György Kristóf, who will perform his dystopian dance film Zenith. The audience will also see in the preview a slide Via Slovakia, which will be personally presented by the director Víťazoslav Chrappa, producer Peter Nevedal and the main protagonist Slavomir Duchovic. The film tells the story of an extraordinary hiker, who during 82 days walked the longest hiking trail in Slovakia, covering more than 1870 kilometres along the country's borders. David Kollar from Prešov will present the film MIKI, for which he composed the film music. Architecture lovers should not miss the very powerful documentary experience offered by Architecture of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic 58-89. The programme will also include Jiří Mádl's successful, historical but very topical film Waves.   Feelings from the World is the name of the section that will allow viewers to discover current films and themes from Europe. An eloquent, sharp and shocking satire Substance is enjoying not only the favour of the professional public, but also international interest at festivals and promises to become one of the most talked-about events of the season. To the end of the world, Viggo Mortensen's second directorial effort, is a timeless romance between two fatally stubborn lovers. A neo-noir romantic thriller Blood on the lips in turn offers an unconventional love story of a gym operator and a budding bodybuilder. A gripping and suspenseful story that will appeal to all audiences, this black and white sports film Tatami. It is about an Iranian judoka, Leila, who receives an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic during the World Championships: she must fake an injury and lose or be branded a traitor to the nation. Leila is faced with a life decision - should she submit to the Iranian regime or keep fighting for gold? A powerful and entertaining film about female strength and solidarity, which broke all attendance records in Italy is also a film Also tomorrow is the day. The end of the festival will belong to an exclusive preview of the audience hit from the festival in Karlovy Vary For ever and ever. The debut feature from Norwegian screenwriter and director Lilje Ingolfsdottir is a multi-layered character study of women that freshly explores contemporary ideas about romantic relationships, relationship equality and female power. A strong female character is also Eve from the film Supervisor, which is a disturbing and thoughtful psychological drama. The film is a meticulous directorial effort by Gustav Möller, whose previous film, the equally spatially contained Distress Call, struck a chord with audiences around the world.   “The main partner of the festival this year is the Prešov company Fecupral, dedicated to the processing and recycling of waste. Thus, we were able to enrich the programme with films with environmental overlap. Popular Icelandic comedy Woman in the fight about the tough and uncompromising Halle, fighting the industrial giants that are destroying the Icelandic landscape and the first Slovak-Hungarian animated film for adults Plastic or with a strong ecological message,” approached programme dramaturg Nina Šilanová. The section Feelings X Fecupral will be complemented by a short documentary film Bordalo II: A Life Of Waste depicting an intimate portrait of Portuguese street art artist Arturo Bordal. Through his famous "Trash Animals" sculptures, he draws attention to the extent of human recklessness and its impact on the environment.       The festival did not forget about the youngest viewers either, through the film A cat's odyssey, which also touches on the future of the planet. The film offers beautiful animation and a story about animals on a boat that have to adapt to a new world in a flooded city. The film is wordless and suitable for even the very youngest children. The last section offered by the festival is Feelings of Neighbours, where the audience will see distinctive Polish films: the absolutely essential European film of last year by Agnieszka Holland Border a Peasants - a feature film, which is animated in the manner of an oil painting, which will be screened at the Regional Gallery in Prešov together with a Czech documentary I am not yet who I want to be,offering an intimate portrait of the well-known Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková, awarded the title of Personality of Czech Photography, subculturally referred to as the Czech „mother of Snapchat“. A surprise for the audience will surely be PSO Grand Final - a time-lapse documentary about an extraordinary musical ensemble that takes to the big stages and is at the same time a personal testimony of ordinary young people about the world around us.    
Pre-sale of accreditations
For film enthusiasts there is a pre-sale of festival passes worth 30 €, which ensure entry to all events. The pre-sale runs until 10 October. Students can purchase a pass with a €5 discount.
Don't miss the unique opportunity to see the previews of world premieres of contemporary cinema right in Prešov! More information about the programme and guests can be found at www.pocityfilm.sk.
The Tourist Information Centre was established in Prešov at 67 Hlavna Street. It is available for citizens and visitors of our city every working day in the summer season, from 9.00 to 18.00 and on Saturdays from 9.00 to 14.00. The opening hours will be adjusted in the winter season.    The Tourist Information Centre (TIC) is administered by the Regional Tourism Organisation (OOCR) Región Šariš. It was established on the site of the former Municipal Information Centre at 67 Hlavná Street in Prešov. The aim was to modernize and expand the offer and scope of the Tourist Information Centre Region Šariš as a gateway for visitors not only to the city of Prešov, but also to the entire region of Šariš and the Prešov region.  The validity of this information centre was already proven during its trial operation in the first summer season, when the city of Prešov hosted the Festival of Catalan Culture. The City of Prešov contributes almost 100 % of the financing of this centre, and we contribute the highest amount to the operation of the entire OOCR within the region. I am very pleased that, according to the available data, this year we should be back to the level of the years before the pandemic and the number of visitors to the city of Prešov should be somewhere around 90,000 overnight stays again, which will bring more funds to the OOCR budget. I also thank our partners and the municipalities that are part of the OOCR. I hope that they will use this space to promote events in the region," said the President of the OOCR, "We are very pleased to see that we are able to promote the events in the region." said the Mayor of Prešov František Oľha.      At the beginning of 2024 the premises underwent extensive reconstruction according to the design of the chief architect of the city of Prešov. The renovation included minor structural alterations, painting, revisions to lights and electrical, and overall modernization of the space. New furniture, furnishings and technology were added and the range of gifts and services offered was expanded. The Tourist Information Centre has two employees who guide and advise visitors on how to find their way around the regional town and the region.  Our goal is to provide quality information and services for visitors so that they get to know all the beauties of the region and are happy to come back. The reconstruction was carried out by OOCR Región Šariš and its employees, in cooperation with the City of Prešov, Municipal Services Prešov, s.r.o., Prešov Real, s.r.o., supplemented by local craftsmen. Costs were minimized in the architectural design itself, with maximum use of the original equipment," said Peter Halaj, Executive Director of OOCR Región Šariš.      TIC offers a wide range of services and information to help those interested plan an unforgettable stay in our region. Under one roof, Prešov residents and visitors to our city can find tips on tourist attractions, historical monuments, cultural events, transport links, restaurants and accommodation. There are also maps, brochures and other information materials to help tourists find their way around Prešov and the entire Šariš Region. In the Tourist Information Centre it is also possible to buy various gift and promotional items, postcards, publications about the city of Prešov, the region and Slovakia, souvenirs or tickets for the popular event Discovering Prešov.      From mid-June 2024 until mid-September, more than 3,000 people visited the Tourist Information Centre of the Šariš Region, among whom were local Prešov residents, but tourists from Slovakia. Foreign visitors numbered almost 900, mainly Poles, Czechs and Hungarians, but Prešov was also visited by visitors from Colombia, Australia and Canada.  August was the strongest month during the peak tourist season, when the TIC was visited by approximately 1500 visitors, mainly thanks to the Aplec International Festival of Catalan Culture, which attracted many people to the centre of Prešov.  During the summer season, the TIC staff also encountered untypical questions from visitors who asked, for example, where to find a fortune teller or chimney sweep in Prešov. The TIC premises were also visited by a cyclist who came from the Black Sea to Prešov in 7 weeks. The TIC also cooperates with other regional tourist information centres and supports local producers and manufacturers by selling small goods and merchandising under the Made in Šariš brand.    For more information please visit:      

On Wednesday 18.9.2024 the first ever meeting of regional producers within the project "Made in Šariš" took place, which was in the spirit of inspiration, cooperation and support of local producers. The event created a space for mutual exchange of experience, innovative ideas and strengthening of regional identity through the quality of local products.

A rich programme full of inspiring lectures

The agenda was carefully designed to provide valuable insights and practical advice to the participants:

Presentation of regional products

The inspiring lectures were followed by a presentation of regional products, where participants had the opportunity to present their products, exchange advice and share experiences. It was an excellent opportunity to make new contacts and build a network of cooperation between local producers.  

About the project "Made in Šariš"

Project "Made in Šariš" supports local producers, craftsmen and entrepreneurs from the Šariš region. Its main objective is to promote quality craft, agricultural and food products under a common quality label "Made in Šariš". This label is awarded to products that meet strict quality criteria, represent handmade, regional origin and uniqueness of Šariš. The label also applies to services that guarantee an authentic experience for visitors to the region.

Positive feedback and prospects for the future

The meeting met with positive feedback from the participants who appreciated the opportunity to share experiences and establish new collaborations. We look forward to further meetings and continued cooperation, which will benefit all stakeholders and contribute to the development of the regional brand Made in Šariš. Realized with the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic.      The Regional Tourism Organization (hereinafter referred to as "OOCR") Region Šariš in cooperation with OOCR Horný Zemplín  prepared a unique Fam trip for Slovak tour operators and influencers, aimed at exploring the TOP destinations of the Šariš and Upper Zemplín region. This two-day adventure program was packed with history, culture and unique attractions that showed the participants the richness and beauty of Eastern Slovakia.  

Day 1: Discovering the history and culture of Šariš

  On Friday we moved together to Veľký Šariš, where we followed the traces of history to Šariš Castle, which is one of the largest castles in Slovakia. Participants had the opportunity to get a glimpse into the history through the exhibition, accompanied by a guided tour. Among other things, they could also try archery. On the way we could not miss a visit to the famous Brewery Šariš, where the guide introduced us to the fascinating process of beer production. Afterwards, we also had the opportunity to taste different types of beer and evaluate its quality.        After a hearty lunch in Tavern under the Castle our way led to STM - Solivar Museum, where the participants learn more about the history of salt mining and processing. After moving to the centre of Prešov to the Main Street, they could enjoy a guided tour of the city, with the participation of a guide Andrey Sivanic, including a visit St. Nicholas Cathedral a Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Prešov. The first day of the info tour ended with a guided tour in Wine Museum, accompanied by a short wine tasting followed by a delicious 4-course dinner in the restaurant Via Magna.                      

Day 2: Treasures of Upper Zemplín and UNESCO

  On Saturday morning we went to the unique Slovak opal mines in Dubník, where participants could see the rare opal in its natural environment. Then we visited UNESCO wooden churches in Hervartov, Bodružal and Ladomírova, while we also stopped in Death Valley, where we listened to a lecture about the KDO (Carpatho-Dukla Operation).       In the afternoon we moved to the village of Horný Zemplín Poplar, where a demonstration of traditional crafts awaited us. Participants could try baking bread in a clay oven, making thatched roofs, traditional ceramics and taste tartar pierogi. In the evening we visited Grandfather Evening Star's house v New Sedlec a Museum of the school in Zboj, where we recalled the history of local education. We ended the day by observing the night sky in the local Astronomical Observatory at Kolonický sedlo.         

Day 3: Return home

On Sunday After breakfast, a bus transfer back to Prešov was organized, where the participants said goodbye and started their journey home. This Fam trip was filled with unforgettable experiences that allowed Slovak tour operators to discover the beauty and history of eastern Slovakia. We are looking forward to more trips like this, which will again bring new discoveries and experiences.   Thank you to everyone who was a part of this: SACKA,  East Slovakia Travel, Marcela Laukova, OOCR Horný Zemplín     Realized with the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic.   
The Park of Culture and Leisure (PKO) in Prešov invites all fans of art to Prešov Music Spring, which will take place in 2024 after the 63 times. Come and enjoy wonderful concerts full of energy, elegance and expressive musical virtuosity. Let yourself be carried away by exceptional musical works, performed by renowned soloists and ensembles. Starting as early as 13 March 2024 at 19:00 and until the end of April we will bring you the best of music and work of Slovak and foreign artists in Prešov.   PROFILE CONCERT OF THE BRATISLAVA HOT SERENADERS ORCHESTRA Bratislava Hot Serenaders under the direction of the trumpeter Juraj Bartos since 1991 specializes in hot-jazz music of the 20s and 30s. The orchestra is one of the world leaders in authentic interpretation of jazz music of this period, as evidenced by awards from European festivals, as well as positive feedback and critical acclaim from around the world. In 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018, this leading Slovak jazz orchestra toured the UK. The best pieces of the hot-jazz repertoire have been performed in front of hundreds of audiences in cities from the south of England (Exeter, Marlborough, London) through the heart of Britain (Birmingham) to Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland. The orchestra has thirteen albums, four LPs and the first Slovak music DVD to its credit. Album I am an optimist won a Gold and Platinum record, The whole world frowns gained Gold record. Album Lonely Melody won an award in Radio_Head Award 2014 and album I Like That Esprit People's Choice Award 2018. The orchestra consists of fifteen musicians, a female vocal trio Serenaders Sisters and singer (stylishly called “crooner”) Miloš Stančík. The orchestra plays authentic instruments from the 1920s and performs in tailored tuxedos and gowns from that refined period.   I ASK NOTHING OF YOU - ANDREJA ZÁHORC CAFÉ ORCHESTRA   Concert on the occasion of the 121st anniversary of the birth of F. K. Vesely. Get to know the life of the song of the Slovak bon vivant, who was talked about from Budapest to Prague.   Andrej Záhorec Coffee Orchestra revives the former, almost forgotten tradition of bands playing in restaurants, wine bars and cafés, on promenades and promenades. In the traditional line-up of violin, dulcimer, double bass and viola, with a female or male singer, it wants to follow in the footsteps of many greats such as Gejza Dusík, F. K. Veselý, Janko Blaho, Viliam Farkaš, Jožko Pihík, Dezider Cibulka and others.     AMC TRIO PLUS & ANDY MIDDLETON (USA)   AMC Trio is a Slovak piano trio composed of three international musicians with good contacts on the world jazz scene. Randy Brecker, Philip Catherine, Bill Evans, Ulf Wakenius, Mark Whitfield, Michael Patches Stewart and many others like to shake hands with members of the AMC Trio, either as guests at their concerts or as bandmates in the studio. This group, which built its musical foundation in mainstream jazz, has been on the scene for a whopping thirty years. Andy Middleton has long been regarded by critics as one of the world's finest jazz saxophonists. Although technically a masterful player, Middleton's solos are better known for their inspired imagination, rhythmic drive, lyricism, and adventurous energy. His compositions are harmonically modern and lyrical with a pure sense of tradition. Middleton's unique expression as both player and composer/arranger has brought jazz icons such as Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler and Ralph Towner to record and perform with him. Performers: Peter Adamkovič - piano Martin Marinčák - double bass Stanislav Cvanciger - beating Andy Middleton (USA) - saxophone Samuela Marinčák - guitar   CHANSON EVENING OF EVA PAVLÍKOVÁ & BAND   Slovak actress and singer Eva Pavlíková will present a chanson concert accompanied by his band featuring well-known chansons by local and international authors as well as musical melodies. Eva Pavlíková takes the art of chanson singing with its emphasis on content as her own and thus fulfils the legacy of director Jozef Bednárik to keep this musical genre alive and spread it further among the people. The lyrics have been translated into Slovak by leading Slovak lyricists such as Ján Štrasser, Nora Beňačková, Olga Záblacká. This introduces an additional, new element of content and expression into their meaning. Eva Pavlíková artistically enriches the musical-dramatic art of this genre with the actor's testimony and the experience of a woman, the artist, with an unrepeatable authentic performance. Songs like Cherries, To Live Was Worth It, Letter to Mum, Consolation, You Were Nice and others will find their listeners and fill our hearts with tenderness, humility and love.   PRIVATE CONSERVATORY PRESOV   Concert of music of various genres performed by students and teachers Private Conservatory in Prešov.  The concert of the Private Conservatory in Prešov will take you through various musical styles and forms, which the students study and improve in their performance. You can look forward to a rich mixture of music and singing, which will be a cross-section of the best of the past school period. This year's mix of concerts within the Prešov Music Spring brings a wide range of musical genres for everyone who finds their way to the Black Eagle Hall. We are glad that our offer has been accepted by the famous orchestra BRATISLAVA HOT SERENADERS, that will open this cycle. The audience during the Prešov Music Spring will have the opportunity to go from the hits of popular music, through songs F. K. Vesely, jazz pieces and compositions, domestic and foreign chansons, to contemporary compositions. The Festival of Catalan Culture will visit Slovakia for the first time ever. More than 500 performers from Catalonia will showcase their traditions right in the centre of Prešov. You can already look forward to a breathtaking experience at the 36th edition of Aplec Internacional in Prešov - ADIFOLK, which will take place from 9 to 11 August 2024.

APLEC INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL HAS A 35-YEAR TRADITION

In 1988, with the aim of bringing Catalan popular culture to the attention of the whole of Europe, the first event was organised in Amsterdam. The initial motivation for the international festival was the desire to contribute to the projection of Catalan folklore in cities where the festival was of great importance because of its cultural, historical or social affinity with Catalonia. Each celebration of the International Festival brings together a wide range of participants from different areas of popular culture, as well as hundreds of supporters who also make up the Catalan expedition. The festival features a mix of performers from different groups who transform the events into street shows. Bringing this festival to Prešov is an exceptional opportunity to show that our city can be attractive to tourists and that it offers many opportunities for the development of tourism in the east of Slovakia. The City of Prešov will co-organize Aplec Internacional in 2024 based on the successful nomination and the signed Memorandum of Cooperation with Adifolk.

THE FESTIVAL IS ORGANISED BY ADIFOLK AND THE CITY OF PREŠOV

Adifolk is an association made up of people closely linked to the world of Catalan folklore and popular culture. Its main objective is to promote and revitalise Catalan popular culture at international level. Adifolk belongs to the CIOFF - Comitè Internacional d'Organitzadors de Festivals Folklòrics - recognised in the UNESCO STATUS B category. It is also dedicated to promoting and advising on topics related to Catalan popular culture at international festivals and at Catalan promotional events abroad. Organizer of the international festival Aplec Internacional with the support and collaboration of the Generalitat de Catalunya for Central Europe. On 1 March 2023, the City of Prešov signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Adifolk, officially becoming the host of the 36th edition of the Aplec Internacional Festival. The complete organization of the festival and the coordination of cooperation is provided by the Park of Culture and Leisure (PKO). PKO's mission is to develop and promote cultural areas, events in the city across a wide spectrum of artistic genres and for all ages. The media partner is OOCR Región Šariš. The intention is to bring cultural activities and opportunities to the city centre and housing estates, to increase the cultural literacy of the city's inhabitants and to create a supportive ecosystem for the local cultural and creative community. PKO has a clear goal to support, promote and dynamise cultural events in Prešov. The festival programme includes performances by the following bands: and many others. In cooperation with the Caraffka Municipal Gallery and the Regional Museum in Prešov, we prepare various interactive events for children and adults. They will be able to take part in a creative programme or see an exhibition of paintings by artists from Catalonia. Make the most of your spring holidays full of activities with the Šariš region. If you belong to active families, visit the corners of Šariš, where you will definitely not be bored. Fill your family free time together. We have three tips for family adventures and discover Šariš together.

Discover the jewel of the Slovak mountains

In the middle of the Slanské vrchy mountains, between the villages of Zlatá Baňa and Červenica, you will find the mysterious underground world of the famous opal mines. For centuries, Slovak opals have stood out for their intense play of colours, the so-called opalescence, and they are highly valued on world markets for their unique properties. The oldest opal mines in the world are located between Zlatá Baňa and Červenica and are also known as the Dubníckie mines. The underground network of tunnels reaches up to 35 kilometres in length and connects a complicated system of underground mining. They have been closed and forgotten since mining ceased in 1922. It took over 90 years before they were reopened. Today, you can experience a guided tour of this unique monument with expert commentary on the history, geology and mineralogy and learn many interesting facts about the treasure of the Slanské Hills. There is a lot of adventure waiting for you in the mine. Somewhere in the darkness, the spirit of the underground is hiding, and those who are not afraid will see its luminous gaze. A test of courage awaits you in the corridor of complete darkness. You will become true opal seekers. After the tour, you will regain the necessary strength in the Visitor Centre - Josef's Shed. If you remember to take your Šariš Card with you, you will be even more refreshed with a discount. Continue to make the most of an exciting day in the Protected Area of the Dubnické mines, where the Educational Trail has been built. This will take you through the Libanka mining district, where you will find old mining works created during the mining of precious opal. This trail, located in the 4th level of nature protection, offers fun and education at the same time. On the trail of approximately 1.5 km, there are 14 information boards dedicated to the origin and mining of opal, bats, selected mining works as well as the vegetation and zoology of the Slanské vrchy Mountains. Entrance to the trail is free of charge and is suitable for both children and adults.
Photo: Slovak Opal Mine

Picturesque canyon

If you are a lover of natural beauty and adventure, the Lačnov Canyon should not be missing on your list of visits to Šariš. This picturesque canyon with impressive rock formations and waterfalls provides an immersive experience for the whole family. It is located in the northeastern part of Branisko between the villages of Lipovce and Lačnov, dug by the Lačnovský brook. This gorge is about 2 km long, nicknamed the Little Slovak Paradise. You can admire rare and diverse vegetation in it. A walk through the area will take you between steep slopes and high walls with bizarre rock formations. Among the most famous is Kamenná Baba, whose shape resembles a woman with a child in her arms. This area was declared a state nature reserve in 1965. Other interesting formations include the 60 m high Moses Pillar and the rock eye of Vrátnica. In the rocks there are also the well-known caves Komín and Zlá Diera, which is the only accessible cave in the Šariš region. The cave is exceptional for its very sensitive way of access, where you walk with a guide through the mysterious underground with a helmet on your head. Your attention will be attracted by the Pond of Happiness. According to legend, it is supposed to be especially popular with young maidens. If they dip their toes in it, they will find their life partners within a year. Currently, the cave is home to 12 species of bats that hibernate there. Around the cave there is a rest area with benches and swings and beautiful scenery. On the way through the forest to the Zlá Hora (Bad Hole) Cave there is the Srdiečko (Heart) lookout point. Around the cave there is a rest area with benches, swings and beautiful nature, which every visitor will appreciate. There is a well-maintained trail through the forest leading to the cave. On the way through the forest to the Zlá hole cave there is the Srdiečko lookout point. The untouched village of Lačnov in the mountain locality is one of the few in Slovakia that has been completely preserved. The atmosphere is completed by cottages with wells and wooden troughs with clear water. Even if you go from Lipovce towards the village of Lačnov, you will experience a „gravitational anomaly“, which will offer you an interesting spectacle.
Photo: KOCR Northeast of Slovakia

Relaxation in the water world

After a day of exploring nature's beauty, relax in the thermal pools. Visit the newest water park in Slovakia and the only one located in the mountains - in Lipany. Enjoy water fun with a view of the mountains. Aquapark Lipany has seasonal pools that are open during the holidays as well as year-round pools - both indoor and outdoor. Kids will enjoy the fun on the water slides and it is an ideal place for relaxation and family fun. Children can enjoy the playful world of water attractions while parents relax in the warm water pools.
Photo: Aquapark Lipany
  A great way to keep fit and to spend cold days in a pleasant atmosphere is ice skating. Whether it's on the pond, the rink or on the prepared ice, skating is another way of exploring and discovering Šariš. Winter skating in Prešov Test your skills and abilities on the ice in Prešov several times. PWG Arena in Prešov offers the general public the possibility of public skating on individual days and also offers skating courses for the little ones under the guidance of experienced coaches. If you don't have skates, the arena will rent them on site during all opening hours. If you already have skates but they need dusting, sharpening and maintenance, the arena will also take care of the quality of the skates. The skates will be perfectly sharp and after just a few minutes they will be as good as new and ready for the next ride. The rink can be used by anyone who has visited the PWG Arena and purchased the increased admission fee of € 1,-. This ticket is then presented at the entrance to the small area. Each PWG Arena ticket will allow entry to a 1.5 hour block (children's lid, mix lid, adult lid) - max. 40 people or a 1 hour block (hockey stick and puck lid) - max. 15 people on the small area for FREE until 30.03.2024. For those who don't want to use the small area behind the PWG Arena, credit passes are available for € 50,-, which are usable and transferable for the whole family and which will get you the original reduced prices for the PWG Arena. The season tickets are valid until April 31, 2024. After this date, the small area will be dissolved. For pricing, ice space occupancy and other necessary information, please visit the website: PWG Arena
Regular public skating is also held at the Ice rink on Pod Kalváriou Street on weekends. Warm up in the newly opened café upstairs, where you can enjoy not only hot drinks, delicious coffees but also desserts The café is open during the whole week. Price list, ice space occupancy and other necessary information can be found on the website: winter stadium Prešov
Photo: Winter stadium Prešov
You can find great skating with improvements in Lipany too The gates of the Multifunctional Ice Rink are open in the City of Green Lime Trees also during this winter season. The area is designed for all generations. Children under the age of 10 are only allowed to enter when accompanied by a person over the age of 18. Several improvements have been made to the hockey hall in Lipany. The parking conditions have been improved, a changing room has been built next to the hockey hall with more comfortable seating and there is also a vending machine for hot drinks. Parking during public skating is available in the parking lot of the Komenský 113 school and the Gymnasium. The current schedule can be followed on the website: Multifunctional ice surface Carnival on ice Don't miss out on a fun event on the ice - Carnival on ice, which will take place on 11 February 2024 from 14.00. on the multifunctional ice rink in Lipany. A competition for the best carnival costume, a disco on the ice or a meeting with fairy tale characters awaits you. Free entry. https://www.regionsaris.sk/podujatia/fasiangovy-festival-na-lade/ Natural skating on Sigord 
In case of favourable weather, OZ Čavargy will take care of winter fun on the frozen Sigord. They provide services to visitors with the possibility of renting skates for children and adults. In addition, there are free hockey gates, aids for small skaters, pucks and snow throwers. There are also small refreshments to warm you up in the form of hot chocolate, tea, mulled wine and various snacks. This winter season, if conditions are suitable, services are open during the week from 1pm to 6pm and at the weekend from 10am to 6pm. You can also extend your time in this beautiful setting by taking a walk along the nature trail around Sigord. If there is enough snow, take advantage of the tobogganing on the adjacent hill near the Shipyard. Follow the FB page for the latest information: Sigord Shipyard
Photo: OZ Chavargy
Šariš ice rink In Veľký Šariš there is a possibility to use the ice rink near Kolkárna, in case of good cooperation with the weather. The area is used not only for the hockey team Šariš Team but also for public skating. More information and entrance must be arranged in the cafeteria in Kolkárna.
Photo: Hockey team - Šariš Team in Veľký Šariš
Did you know that the strawberry is a symbol with which the city has been associated since the 12th century? The first hints come from the legend of King Bel II, who named the town after the strawberries that grew on the territory of today's town. Later they were incorporated in historical seals and coats of arms. A fresh, unique, modern and strawberry town. This is also how you can know the metropolis of Šariš, the city of Prešov.

Promoting city life and tourism

The Strawberry City Prešov is an independent initiative whose aim is to promote life and tourism in the city of Prešov and to distinguish it from other cities in Slovakia and in the world. In the Strawberry City, everyone has plenty of opportunities to spend their time to the full. It brings energy, fun, taste and joy to the city. It was the Strawberry Night event that convinced and enchanted hundreds of visitors. The iconic Florianova Street is changing beyond recognition. A night that all visitors enjoy and can compete with other international events. The culmination of Strawberry Night 2023 was a mapping that told the story of Prešov and its connection with strawberries. There was a cultural programme and a rich offer of quality food, drinks in the theme of strawberries.
Photo source: Prešov - Strawberry Town
Another initiative that has come out of Strawberry Town is to educate locals about interesting facts about the town, the personalities associated with the town, or historical events and other nooks and crannies of several buildings. Several dozen curious locals attended the tours with questions answered and guided by the well-known city guide, Ms. Sivanic.

Explore the city's attractions

You can see how well you know the city of Prešov and its surroundings at www.jahodovemesto.sk, which brings a range of tips on creating experiences, quality accommodation, delicious food, culture in the city, natural treasures and various other highlights of the city.

To make sure you don't leave Strawberry Town empty-handed, you can purchase an experience backpack on the e-shop, which you can pack with a little something to eat. Take with you an original T-shirt decorated with the iconic stamp of the St. Nicholas Cathedral monument in the form of a stained-glass artwork, a stylish mug or strawberry spirit - the real Prešovská Jahodovica, limited edition. All products are available for purchase on the website in the e-shop section.

Already, well-known entertainer and influencer Domi Haly has discovered Strawberry Town, having purchased Strawberry Truffles and a unique, limited-edition Strawberry Shortcake.  

Realized with financial support of the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic.

If it is true that treasures are not shown, treasures are hidden, then this is doubly true for eastern Slovakia. For those who don't dream of exoticism far from home in winter, Šariš is the perfect place for it. It offers a number of outdoor and indoor winter attractions that make it worth visiting this magical corner of Slovakia for at least a few days even in this season. Add new resorts to your ski map Šariš is mountainous. And as soon as the beautiful forests and mountains full of hiking trails are covered with snow, they turn into a paradise for skiers. There are three ski resorts within easy reach of the capital of Šariš - Prešov. Among the most famous is Ski Drienica in the Čergov Mountains, where in addition to regular skiing you will find several opportunities for ski mountaineering, skiing and cross-country skiing. Although they are popular with locals, they are not overcrowded and some of them also offer night skiing or tobogganing. Another not inconsiderable pleasant bonus is the bargain prices.
SKI Drienica
And from the slope straight into the warm water If you prefer swimming to skiing, you will be surprised by the rich offer of wellness centres at the top level, 3 aquaparks - the most modern of them is in Lipany, a short distance from Drienice. In the region itself there is the beautiful historic Bardejov Spa, which was also a favourite of the Empress Sissi.
Bardejov Spa
Your smile won't freeze even in winter in Šariš Šariš is rich in historical and cultural monuments, which you can discover even in winter. Choose from a number of museums, castles and manor houses, galleries. You will find more than a hundred of them in this region! Discover the world's unique - the oldest opal mine in the world, as well as an exceptionally well-preserved unique complex of technical buildings for pumping and boiling salt from brine. These attractions are also open all year round. A useful guide to help you create your winter holiday itinerary is the www.regionsaris.sk. Here you will find all the information you need about leisure activities in Šariš and all the available attractions. You can also activate the Šariš Tourist Card, which allows tourists to experience the best that the region has to offer. Thanks to it, you can enjoy discounts on experiences and relaxation. Stay in the metropolis of Šariš and discover all the treasures throughout the region. Where to stay? Šariš, these are varied experiences. Come and enjoy the winter in the Šariš region. Skiing in Šariš is an ideal choice for those who long for a winter holiday full of skiing, fun and beautiful nature. Šariš offers several excellent ski resorts that are ready for this year's season 2023/2024, among which Ski Drienica, Ski Lysá and Ski Búče stand out. Family skiing in Drienica The resort area SKI Drienica is perfect for family skiing, located in the district of Sabinov, in the village Drienica. The resort is located at an altitude of about 700 meters, so it has good conditions for a long ski season, which is also helped by artificial snow. It has four ski slopes with a total length of almost 2.5 km. Depending on the current conditions, two small (children's) lifts, two large lifts and the full length of the main slope are in operation. The groomed "poratraked" slope is ready for quality and safe skiing.
SKI Drienica
The experience is not only daytime (09:00 - 16:00) but also night skiing (17:00 - 21:00) during the whole week. The wide, gentle slope is ideal for beginners. However, beginners and more experienced skiers will not get lost on the slopes. Under expert guidance, you can learn to ski or improve your skiing here. STAR SKI will take care of the ski and snowboard school. You don't even have to take your ski equipment with you to the resort. Šolty Ski will provide ski and snowboard equipment rental and service even for those who do not own it. Even a glider for the little ones.
map of the centre SKI Drienica
There is a fast food buffet right on the slope. The wide range of accommodation in this resort is complemented by the nearby Hotel Šomka with restaurant. Parking is directly under the slope for free. For the current price list, please visit the website: www.skidrienica.sk
Hotel Šomka **
  Ski resort in the heart of Čergov Plan a visit to another nearby resort SKI Lysá in Drienica, where skiing, snowboarding, sledding, skialpuje, simply living. This season the resort offers four groomed slopes with a total length of more than 6 km, which are designed for both advanced and beginners. Skiing on the slopes is preceded by a double chairlift ride to the top. Lysá is one of the highest peaks of the Čergov Mountains with a height of 1 067 m above sea level. From the top there is a magnificent view of the main ridge, Veľká Javorina, Minčol and, with good visibility, the Tatra Mountains. Skiing in the heart of Čergov is a real experience. You can find the current price list on the website: www.skilysa.sk 
SKI Lysá
If you are a skialp enthusiast, we recommend a hike along the marked slopes of Lysá or the peaks of the Čergov Mountains. White track enthusiasts are delighted by the groomed tracks on several marked trails, which you will not find anywhere else in the region. Ski equipment rental is located directly upon arrival at the resort. The building is located behind the ticket booths at the chairlift boarding station behind the buffet. After your sporting feat, replenish your energy in the Sport Chalet, where you will experience true mountain accommodation in ten triple rooms. The chalet is open every day.
If you haven't got your New Year's Eve fun sorted yet, enjoy it right on the mountain slope.
  Bachureň picturesque resort Due to the varying difficulty of the slopes in the resort SKI Búče - Renčišov, every skiing, skialpu and cross-country skiing enthusiast will find their own. Access to the resort is from the village Renčišov, where you will find ski slopes, ski school and children's rope tow. The resort has technical snowmaking, but its location and altitude are the factors that cause the resort has no shortage of natural snow during the winter. There are 5 ski lifts of different lengths in the resort. The ski slopes in the resort are of all levels of difficulty with a total length of 4 km. If you are going to ski in the area of SKI Búče, don't forget the chains to go up to the upper parking lot with your car. However, you will not go hungry. In the middle of the resort there is a mountain chalet Bukvica with a catering facility at an altitude of 810 m above sea level. The resort offers a number of ski mountaineering and cross-country skiing trails suitable for both beginners and advanced enthusiasts of this increasingly popular winter sport. The ridge of the mountain with its alpine character offers many interesting views of the highest mountains of Slovakia. Popular are cross-country skiing trails near the Biatlonová area with a length of 3 km, the Little Lipovecky circuit with a length of 5 km, the Bachureňská ridge trail with a length of 8 km or the circuit around Mindžová with a length of 7 km. The current price list can be found on the website: www.skibuce.sk
SKI Búče
Skiing in the Šariš region with Ski Drienica, Ski Lysá and Ski Búče is not only about slopes and slopes. It offers the whole spectrum of winter experiences from adrenaline sports to quiet walks in the charm of the snowy landscape. Whether you're a keen skier, snowboarder, family with children or a couple looking for romance, the Sharis region has a wintertime charm worth discovering.

Children's joys

As winter slowly wakes up and spring approaches, the Šariš region creates an ideal environment for unforgettable experiences for the whole family. Let yourself be carried away by the atmosphere of Šariš and discover what this region has to offer for every member of the family. Sledding and building snowmen simply belong to winter. Relive memories of your childhood and create new shared experiences with your family. A guarantee of great fun during the cold months is surroundings of the Dark Forest in the village of Zlatá Baňa. Another popular place is the nearby Sigord recreation area, where you can swap your winter hiking boots for skates or cross-country skis. Ice rink on Sigord after freezing will please not only skaters but also hockey players. Skaters can also be found on winter area near the bowling alley in Veľký Šariš, but skating is subject to favourable conditions. Visit the region's ice rinks, which allow public skating at the ice rink in Sabinov and Prešov, or at the multifunctional ice rink in Lipany.

Winter hiking for families with children

Views of the snowy panorama of the Šariš region are revealed by the lookout tower above Sabinov on a wooded hill called Šanec. There are many routes leading to the lookout tower, known as „Švablovské trails“. Below the lookout tower is another resting place nicknamed as „Crosses on Chance“, which are part of the Švabľovka Forest Park. Even small children can manage this easy walk. In the vicinity of the unique Slovak opal mines in Zlata Bana you will find another one. If you like to listen to the sounds of the forest, the singing of birds or the rustling of trees, sit in the 4-meter wooden megaphone, where the sounds of the surrounding nature will be multiplied. The megaphone is unrivalled in Central and Western Europe, but you will only find a similar megaphone in Estonia. This 2.5-tonne structure is shaped like a nine-sided icicle, which concentrates the rays and waves bouncing off its walls into a single point. This unique structure can be found just 200 metres from the gazebo and fire pit in the Dark Forest.
Wooden Megaphone Golden Mine

Winter hiking for more demanding hikers

Majestic top Stráž is one of the most distinctive natural landmarks of the Prešov area, which rises between Fintice and Veľký Šariš. At the very top there is a radio transmitter, under which there is a statue of the patron saint of firefighters - St. Florian. The peak is wooded and does not provide views. However, in winter there is an opportunity for partial views not only from the top but also from the hiking trail itself. On the way to the summit itself, stop at the imitation weather station where you will learn to determine the current state of the weather. The path is also accompanied by stops along the Way of the Cross. Not far from the crossroads of Bodas is the Uhliska spring, which springs up in three places close to each other. The blue hiking trail accompanies you on a moderately difficult ascent from the village of Fintice or from Prešov (Šídlovec) by following the green trail.

Skialp possibilities

If you are a skialp enthusiast, we recommend your hike on Lysá on marked ski slopes, cross-country skiing trails or on the peaks of the Cerkhov Mountains. The surroundings of Lysá offer 4 circuits of different difficulty levels:
  1. Besná saddle circuit - 8 km
  2. The Big Javorina Circuit - 19 km
  3. Salt Flats Circuit - 26 km
  4. Minčol circuit - 46 km

Overview of ski resorts in the Šariš region

1. Ski resort SKI Drienica 2. Ski resort Renčišov - Buče 3. Ski resort SKI Lysá 4. Ski resort Medvedie 5. Ski resort Makovica
Photo: Ski Drienica

Magical Christmas atmosphere

The Šariš region also brings extremely attractive Christmas markets. The most spectacular Christmas markets are just in Prešov, which will take place this year from St. Catherine's Day to New Year's Eve on two dates: from 25 November to 22 December 2023 and from 26 to 31 December 2023. It will be the longest-lasting Christmas market in the Prešov Region and the second longest in the regional towns in Slovakia. However, they will surprise with several novelties. In the centre of South Park you will find a Christmas corner away from the busy pedestrian zone. Take a photo by the light installations in the newly created rest area. New features include a children's market with a children's zone, which will delight the little ones in particular. Among the 65 stalls you will find a brand new attraction in the form of a carousel with hand-powered wicker baskets. The guarantee of a true Christmas experience is also a more varied programme with well-known bands and performers such as Richard Autner, Fragile, Robo Opatovský, Tomáš Bezdeda, DJ EKG and others. That is why the new location of the stage in front of the St. Nicholas Cathedral is also new. The enlarged zone will connect you directly with the gastronomic section. So you can enjoy Christmas drinks or food in all weathers, in comfort and warmth under a large illuminated tent. The Christmas market in Prešov will be rounded off by a light and laser show, which will replace the classic fireworks display as a greener and more tolerant version of the New Year celebrations. Equally interesting will be Christmas markets in Lipany (14.-15.12.) with a fashion show and performances by the bands Ružový Panter, Bonanza and Medium. Hanus market (9.12.) will be refreshed by the Christmas concert of Veronika Rabada, who will also sing at Christmas markets in Sabinov (18. - 20.12.). Come to the Veľký Šariš St. Nicholas Day and Christmas markets (9.12.).

TOP winter events in the Šariš region

25. 11 - 31. 12. 2023 - Prešov Christmas Markets, Prešov 05. 12. 2023 - St. Nicholas' Day stuffing, Sabinov 06. 12. 2023 - St. Nicholas meeting, Lipany 06. 12. 2023 - St. Nicholas night run to the lookout tower on Balažka, Lipany 07. 12. 2023 - Vinum Vinorum Slovaciae 2023, Prešov 09. 12. 2023 - St. Nicholas Night Bike Ride, Prešov 09. 12. 2023 - St. Nicholas afternoon with Christmas markets, St. James Square Veľký Šariš 14. - 15. 12. 2023 - Christmas markets of Lipany, Lipany 18. - 20. 12. 2023 - Christmas markets Sabinov, Sabinov 26. 12. 2023 - St. Stephen's climb to Kapušian Castle, Kapusany 26. 12. 2023 - St. Stephen's climb to Bachureň, Lipany 26. 12. 2023 - Christmas fun, pedestrian zone Prešov 31. 12. 2023 - New Year's Eve climb at Šariš Castle, Veľký Šariš 31. 12. 2023 - New Year's Eve crossing through Kamenná lúka, Renčišov 31. 12. 2023 - New Year's Eve ascent to Minčol, Lipany 31. 12. 2023 - New Year's Eve ascent to Chrasť, Hermanovce 31. 12. 2023 - New Year's Eve in Prešov, pedestrian zone Prešov 13. 01. 2024 - Winter Night March, remembrance of Imrich Jacko-Lysák, Šariš Castle 27. 01. 2024 - Pisan cross-country skiing, Vyšná Pisaná 04. 02. 2024 - Winter triathlon ROKA, Bears 05. 02. 2024 - Carnival on ice, Lipany 10. 02. 2024 - Carnival in Sabinov, park on the square in Sabinov 12.02. 2024 - Crossing the Demjanka, Lipany 13. 02. 2024 - Carnival, pedestrian zone Prešov 14. 02. 2024 - Valentine's Day Pulley, Šariš Castle 17. 02. 2024 - Bachureň Seven, Uzovské Pekľany 18. 02. 2024 - Podminčolská trail, Lipany 25.02. 2024 - Crossing Čergov by Ján Turlík, Lipany 29. 03. 2024 - Living Stations of the Cross, Prešov 26. - 28. 04. 2024 - Street food festival, Prešov As the leaves begin to change colour and autumn brings a crisp, cooler atmosphere to the air, the Šariš region offers a flood of opportunities to enjoy this magical time of year to the full. With its rich history, beautiful nature and varied culture, it offers a range of activities to satisfy every lover of autumn experiences. That's why we offer you some tips on how to spend your free time in the Šariš region during autumn.  

Adventure with breathtaking views of the region

For those who like adventures in nature with views of the Šariš countryside, lookout towers are an ideal place to stop during hiking. Enjoy the colourful palette of leaves with panoramic views from Okružná lookout tower or of a lofty hill Malkovská hôrka with a lookout tower, located in the forest park Cemjata near Prešov. There are several marked hiking trails leading here. The forest path also allows access by bicycle, which is built for adrenaline lovers through the Prešov singletracks.
Lookout tower on Balažka
There are several castle ruins in the Šariš region, which are witnesses of the rich history and culture of this region. They offer the opportunity to delve into the past, such as Šariš Castle, Kapušian Castle or Robber Castle/Solnohrad, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. For those who prefer less strenuous hikes on marked trails, we recommend the newly opened Educational trail near the Slovak Opal Mines.
Educational trail near the Slovak Opal Mines
 

Water paradise in Lipany

After a day spent exploring the beauty of the Sharis nature, you deserve rest and relaxation. Even though the weather outside will be drizzly and rainy, the thermal pools in the Lipany Aquapark are still hot. In addition to autumn relaxation with a beautiful view, an indoor and outdoor relaxation pool, children's pool, jacuzzi, water slides and other attractions of the complex await you. The new water paradise is open during the whole week.   57th annual musical enthusiasm Autumn in Šariš is also a period rich in cultural events. The Prešov Music Autumn is already a classic in the field of autumn activities in Prešov. Visitors to PKO Prešov can thus feel a strong experience through the 5 concerts scheduled. More information about the event: https://podujatia.pkopresov.sk/.  

Get to know the Šariš region with the Šariš Card

Plan your autumn holidays in the Šariš region. Thanks to the purchase of the Šariš Card, your exploration of the region will be even more profitable. You will get discounts on accommodation, restaurants, various cultural institutions or other attractions. You can buy it online on the website: https://www.regionsaris.sk/sariscard_podmienky/ or in person at the Municipal Information Centre in Prešov. You can get it for free in selected accommodation facilities when staying more than two days, such as Hotel Dukla, Hotel Lineas, Center City Apartmants, Apartmánay Kolégium or Poetika and others.   In the Šariš region you can enjoy nature, history and culture at one of the most beautiful times of the year. Treat yourself during the autumn holidays to the unforgettable experiences this region offers. Don't forget to take your camera with you to preserve these memories.
One of the most original painters of the famous epoch of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries was Teodor Kosztka - Csontváry. This year marks the 170th anniversary of the birth of the world-famous painter, whose birthplace is Sabinov. At the age of ten, after the great fire in early September 1863, which destroyed his family home, he moved to Seredny in Ukraine.
From 1861 he studied in Prešov and later law in Budapest. It was during his treatment in Spišská Nová Ves, where he also worked as a pharmacist, that he caught a mystical vision of becoming a more famous painter than Raffaello Santi. He was an avid traveller, collecting subjects for his drawings on his travels. He saw the mystical beauty of creation in nature. This was also reflected in his work. His paintings of Castellammare di Stabia were made in Italy, as well as Flowering Almond Trees in Taormina. A sense of the elements was also evident in his work. Motifs of sun, water, wind or others were therefore an important part of his work. One of his most famous paintings, which he painted in 1907, is entitled The Lonely Cedar. At the same time, this painter worked very interestingly with different colours, reflecting important works such as the paintings of the Roman Bridge in Mostar or the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. The work of Kosztku - Csontváry is rich and its evaluation requires a demanding assessment of the work of art historians. This exceptional painter secretly sought in his works answers to the philosophical questions of our existence. The extraordinary work of this native probably concludes with his most famous painting - Riding a Horse by the Sea. He was honored with exhibitions in New York and in other galleries. He was a misunderstood genius of his time. In 1919 he died in Budapest, disillusioned and in the throes of schizophrenia, which made his life miserable. It took many years for the doors of the Five Churches Museum to open with his paintings, but you can also find some of them in the National Gallery in Budapest.
"It is in Sabinov that this native is honoured to this day. In 1993, a memorial plaque was unveiled at his birthplace in Sabinov on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the birth of this important native of Sabinov. It took place on the Square of Freedom No. 43. The plaque is the work of Ján Nagy, and besides the representatives of the town, the art theorist Dr. Gábor Papp was also present at the unveiling," says Juraj Vrábel, an employee of the town of Sabinov.
"Teodor Kosztek - Csontváry is commemorated in Sabinov with an art competition. Every year there is a competitive exhibition of art works of pupils under the name of Csontváry's wandering shoes, which is under the direction of art teacher Mgr. Antónia Iľkivová. In it, pupils show their talent, but often improvise, inspired directly by the work of the native Csontváry," noted Juraj Vrábel.
Yet in 2019, on the initiative of the Mayor of Sabinov, Ing. Michal Repasky, 13 copies were imported directly from the Five Churches. This was done on the occasion of the centenary of the great man's death.
"Many locals and visitors to the town do not know the story of the world-famous painter, who is a native of Sabinov. It is at the Municipal Office that they can see famous paintings or copies of them by the painter, such as the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Castellmare di Stabia, the Lonely Cedar, Mary's Well in Nazareth, the Moroccan Teacher, the Roman Bridge in Mostar, the Temple of Jupiter in the Roman Temple in Athens, the Storm in Hortobaga, the Waterfalls in Egg, the Great Cold Valley, the Little Taormina and many others," said the mayor of Sabinov, Michal Repaský.

Slovenské opálové bane, s.r.o. in cooperation with the state enterprise Lesy SR and the Regional Centre for Nature Conservation in Prešov, built a nature trail in the Protected Area of Dubnické mines.

The nature trail leads through the Libanka mining district, where there are old mining works that were built during the mining of precious opal.

Along the route, which is approximately 1.5 km long, there are 14 information boards dedicated to the formation of opal, mining, selected mining works as well as the geology, vegetation and zoology of the Slanské vrchy Mountains and bats separately.

After the end of mining, the vast underground spaces of the opal mines became an important hibernation area for bats. In 1964, for this reason, they were declared the Dubnické mines Protected Area.

The forests located in the Protected Area of Dubnické bane are under the administration and management of the State Forests of the Slovak Republic, Organisational Component of OZ Šariš, in the territorial scope of the Kokošovce Forest Administration.

Due to the fact that the forests through which the nature trail leads are located in the Protected Area of Dubnické Bane, which is an internationally important site and the favourable condition of these biotopes depends on human management, these stands No. 2060A, 2060B have been included in the reference areas - areas without intervention.

The area through which the nature trail leads is located in the 4th level of nature protection. Entrance to the trail is free of charge and is suitable for both children and adults.

The information boards are bilingual, in Slovak and English.

The aim of the nature trail is to present the history of opal mining in this locality, to draw visitors' attention to the living nature of the Slanské vrchy Mountains, the need for its protection and, to a necessary extent, to manage forests in a sustainable way, with regard to the use of forests by visitors to the mines, tourists and, last but not least, the population living in the countryside.

 

Source: the Slovak Opal Mine

A region of unmistakable sights, tastes, folklore, but also sound in the form of a unique dialect. Captivating nature, preserved folk architecture and diverse cultural and technical monuments make Šariš the king of Slovak regions.

In its centre lies the “strawberry town” Prešov. Its history dates back to the 12th century. The third largest city in Slovakia was once the site of the famous Royal Route - the Via Regale - connecting the Black and Baltic Seas. There is one more interesting feature running through it, namely the 49th parallel. The town and its immediate surroundings have an extremely rich and even unique mining history. In Prešov (Soľná Baňa), salt mining began in the 16th century as the first salt mine in Slovakia. So is the Šariš metropolis of Prešov, originally Eperjes, the city of strawberries or the city of salt?

If you head to the Slanské vrchy Mountains, in their hills you will find a world unique, the oldest and most extensive opal mine in the world, up to 30 kilometres long. This is where the largest opal ever found, the Harlequin opal, comes from. Opals from this part of the world were part of the royal jewellery.

Slovak opal mines in Slanské vrchy

When you come out of opal fever, you can go straight from the underground into the hills to the surrounding castles. The historical centre of Šariš was once Šariš Castle and offers incredible photogenic views.

Love history? From Prešov you are close to it in every direction. Right in the centre, in beautiful spaces Rákoczy Palace houses the Regional Museum. Visit the most important sacral building St. Nicholas Cathedral and preserved Jewish orthodox synagogue with a rare collection of Judaica.

Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Prešov

After a rich dose of history and tasting typical Sharis gastronomic specialties, discover ski & bike centre Lysá in Drienica. You can take the longest cable car in Slovakia.

You will fall in love with Šariš with every view. You will love it with your eyes, taste buds and ears. You will gain strength in the newly built aquapark Lipany and get to know Oscar's city along the way Sabinov. If you want to travel back in time, visit the unique place Archaeopark in Hanušovce nad Topľou.

The Šariš region has produced a record number of well-known musicians and actors. Folklore is still alive here today. So, if you're looking for a multi-experience and multi-genre region that has something for every side of your adventurous self, be sure to head to Šariš. And before that, learn the basic phrase: “Her?”

Walking enthusiasts are increasingly looking for places to enjoy views of the wider countryside. The weather is of course a big help, but nowadays lookout towers are a very attractive feature to make these views of the surrounding area more enjoyable. 

In the Šariš region you will find a number of beautiful lookout towers with views of the whole surroundings. In 2019, a wooden lookout tower was built above the town of Lipany on the forested mountain massif of Balažka (643 m above sea level), which is bordered by a railway line. The lookout tower below the top of Balažka, made of spruce wood, is almost 14 metres high. Its location at an altitude of 598 m offers views of the town of Lipany itself, Kamenický hrad, the nearby surroundings, the Čergov Mountains, the Levočské vrchy Mountains and, in good visibility, the Slanské vrchy Mountains.

Increased attractiveness of the lookout tower 

The Regional Tourism Organization (hereinafter referred to as "OOCR") Region Šariš develops many interesting activities for visitors to the region. One of them is the telescopic sightseeing at tourist attractive places. In 2021, OOCR Región Šariš, in cooperation with the town of Lipany, installed an observation telescope on a lookout tower at the end of the Balažka nature trail, named after the forest massif. The telescope has met with an excellent response from visitors to this place by providing a unique panoramic view of the town of Lipany and the mountains that surround it.

We have continued to enhance the attractiveness of the tourist site. In this recreational zone, which is one of the landmarks of the town, we added 3 photo panels on the lookout tower. „From the resources of the state subsidy of OOCR Región Šariš we have made this lookout tower even more attractive and added panoramic photographs processed on photo panels with a description of the places that are visible from this vantage point," said Branislav Švorc, Executive Director of OOCR Región Šariš. 

The majesty of the tower offers you an almost panoramic view from the Bradl range, Kamenický hrad with Minčol and the ridge of Čergov in the background, through Stráže, Slanské vrchy, Šariš Castle, Šarišské mezihorie, Marduňa, Bandovce, Homôlka to Čierna hora. With the help of panoramic photographs with descriptions you can easily orient yourself in the surroundings and point out all the villages and towns that are visible from the tower.

Ascent to the lookout tower

What you must not forget, however, is the fact that you have to work a little hard to get a nice view. Two basic tourist circuits have been created. The "Small Rock" circuit offers a view from the cross. There is an Italian well, partisan trenches, a sitting area and information boards. The "Big Rock" circuit offers a route along the ridge of Balažka, with both routes being interconnected and having multiple connection points. It can be reached from the town centre from the old cemetery, from where a green hiking trail leads. The distance is approximately 3 km and the route is suitable for all ages. With children it takes about an hour to complete.

This activity was implemented with the financial support of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic.

The Regional Tourism Organisation (hereinafter referred to as "OOCR") Region Šariš is becoming more and more known not only to Slovak but also to foreign visitors. Already at the beginning of 2023, it participated in two international fairs, where it presented the best of the region.  

IMTM Tel Aviv, Israel

In the days 14 - 15 February 2023 the Šariš Region participated for the first time ever at an international tourism fair IMTM TLV 2023 in Tel Aviv. It was one of the largest tourism fairs in the Mediterranean, attended by approximately 100 countries. The Šariš region under the auspices of Slovakia Travel presented Slovakia to Israeli visitors. The good news is that Israelis are attracted by Slovakia, our nature, spas and Jewish monuments. Israeli tourists are among the best foreign tourists in terms of the number of overnight stays in our territory. We also have a lot to offer them in our region. During the fair, we established cooperation with Israeli journalists who will take part in an info tour of our region this autumn.  

UTAZÁS Budapest, Hungary

In a week (23 - 26 February) we have once again made ourselves visible during the biggest travel trade fair in Hungary. More than 100 exhibitors from 34 countries presented themselves at the Hungexpo exhibition centre. Visitors were interested in how to extend their stay in eastern Slovakia beyond the Košice region, which is quite familiar to most. Also during of the Budapest UTAZÁS fair we have started preparations for Hungarian journalists who will take part in an info tour of our region in May this year.  

HOLIDAY WORLD & REGION WORLD Prague, Czech Republic

In March, we continued to showcase our region. We took part in the 31st International Fair Holiday world & Region world in Prague (17 - 19 March 2023), which is the largest in Central Europe.

"Czech visitors like to get to know our country, but we can still surprise them with unique places they don't know about. Our region still has a lot to offer them through natural scenery, unique places or cultural and historical monuments," said the employee of OOCR Región Šariš.

During the fair, in addition to the presentation of the Šariš region, we gave visitors several prizes from our region, which were part of a knowledge quiz. One of the prizes was vouchers for a period dinner at Šariš Castle and a bread baking workshop. Slovakia was the partner country of the fair, presenting tourism across the country under the auspices of Slovakia Travel.
  The promotion of our country and our region was covered during the foreign exhibitions by the national organization for the promotion of tourism Slovakia Travel and the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic.  

ITF Slovakiatour Bratislava, Slovakia

Šariš region was again part of the Slovak tourism fair ITF Slovakiatour in Bratislava (20 - 23 April). In the Bratislava Inchebe, the Prešov Region was presented to visitors by the Regional Tourism Organisation of the North-East of Slovakia in cooperation with the member tourism organisations of which we were a part.

The Danubius Gastro Gastronomy Exhibition and the Motor Show were held simultaneously in Inchebe, covering products and services from nearly 250 exhibitors from 13 countries.

"We introduced visitors to our publications, tour options, sights and unique experiences at the destination. They were particularly interested in the Šariš Castle Route and the high number of castles and ruins in the Šariš region. Their attention was drawn to the unique opals from the Slovak Opal Mines. Visitors could thus get a glimpse of the real treasures of the region, which are deeply hidden underground," said Bartková.

The stand also attracted thermal spa enthusiasts who were interested in the possibilities of Bardejov Spa treatments with a tasting of water from the healing springs of Bardejov Spa.

 

The event is realized with the financial support of the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic. Implemented with the financial support of the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic.

    These days we are experiencing a season full of fun, dancing and food. Carnival is a time of merriment and feasting, associated with the transition from winter to spring. It lasts from the feast of the Three Kings to Ash Wednesday. This period is one of the merriest times of the year. There are various parties, balls and slaughters, which are associated with a large number of dishes. In villages in the past, there was a tradition of various carnival games in which various magical acts were performed. Young men dressed in various masks would walk in procession through the village, from house to house, and the locals would skewer various foods (bacon or sausage) onto their spits. A typical carnival meal is doughnuts (kreplach) fried in lard. After the last carnival party, it was customary to bury the basa to symbolise the end of the period of feasting, dancing and singing and the beginning of the 40-day Easter fast. In the Šariš region you have the opportunity to take part in several carnival festivities. The long-awaited carnival festivities in Prešov, the Šariš carnivals in Veľký Šariš or Sabinov and various killing feasts.
Carnival festivities
In Prešov, you can look forward to a carnival parade of folklore groups from the Prešov region, full of dancing and singing along the Main Street. You will enjoy great food and a performance by the Basawell band. The event takes place on 21.2 from 16:30 in the city centre. https://www.regionsaris.sk/podujatia/fasiangove-slavnosti-2023-v-presove/
Šariš carnival
In Veľký Šariš there is an equally interesting programme prepared for you. Šarišske gavaľire and FS Sabinovčan will perform. Children from the kindergarten and primary school in Veľký Šariš will also perform with the programme. During the programme you can enjoy the specialties of the killing. The programme also includes the burial of the bass. The programme starts on 19.2. from 15:00, at St. James Square. https://www.regionsaris.sk/podujatia/sarisske-fasiangy/
Carnival in Sabinov
The last of the trio of carnival events in the region is the Fasiangy in Sabinov. A cultural programme awaits you here as well. A carnival masquerade through the town and in the afternoon a cultural programme in which FS Sabinovčan, DFS Sabiník with dancing and singing will perform. At the end you will also take part in the burial of the bass. From 15:00 the BRAVO group will perform. During the programme, you can buy killing specialties. The programme starts at 11:30 on 18.2. https://www.regionsaris.sk/podujatia/fasiangy-v-sabinove/
Killing feast
Killing feasts are associated with carnival. Come and enjoy delicious kebab dishes, accompanied by folk music. https://www.regionsaris.sk/podujatia/fasiangove-zabijackove-hody-v-obci-krasna-luka/ https://www.regionsaris.sk/podujatia/zabijackove-hody/  

Regional Tourism Organisation (hereinafter referred to as "OOCR") Region Šariš has published the second edition of the booklet Welcome to Šariš. The practical guide reveals the most beautiful places in the Šariš region.

In 2018, OOCR Región Šariš published a printed guide to the region for the first time ever. It was published in Slovak and English. The guide to the region was published in cooperation with OOCR Šariš - Bardejov. The official guide "Welcome to Šariš" is a continuation of the successful Šariš region guidebook, which has been updated and supplemented with new locations.

Tourist guide to the region offers the tourist approximately 100 tips, in which it fully informs about the history of the towns, natural attractions, cultural amenities and necessary services.

95 full colour pages guides the visitor through the mapped places in the region. For example, you will find information about the historical centre of Šariš, which was once the Šariš Castle. It also includes information about the most visited towns in the region, such as Bardejov, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the third largest town in Slovakia, the region's metropolis - Prešov.

the city of Prešov

In the booklet you can find information not only about the towns of Prešov and Bardejov but also about the Bardejov Spa, Sabinov, Veľký Šariš, Lipany, Svidník, Drienica, Nižný Slávkov or Ruská Nová Ves. In the region there is a large number of royal and noble residences of both defensive and representative character. It guides the visitor through 17 castles, mostly ruins, such as Šariš Castle, Kapušian Castle, Zbojnícky Castle, Plaveč Castle and others.

However, traces of history appear everywhere. It informs about the world-famous Slovak opal mines in the Slanské vrchy Mountains or about a set of unique historical objects for pumping salt from brine in the Solivar in Prešov. There is also information about the villages with wooden churches, which are characteristic sights of Šariš, such as Brežany, Ladomirová, Tročany, Hervartov and others.

Slovak opal mines

Tourists can be inspired by the enchanting nature of the Eastern Carpathians, the mysterious Čergov, Busovo and the Levoča and Slanské Hills, which are accompanied by numerous hiking and cycling trails. It is worth exploring the impressive Lačnovský canyon or the underground beauty of the Zlá hole cave. As the chairlift in the heart of Čergov serves visitors to Ski Lysá all year round, it is also used by many cyclists in summer. Among the popular relaxation places surrounded by beautiful fir-beech forests are the Bardejov Spa, which was visited by the Austrian Empress Elisabeth in her time.

Chair lift Ski Lysá

Although the Šariš region is not a typical "water" destination, there are many ways to enjoy your free time by the water. The only aqua park with thermal water in the region is the recently opened aqua park in Lipany. Water activities are offered by the towns of Prešov, Sabinov and Svidník.

The booklet also contains useful information and contacts, accommodation and dining options. As the inhabitants of Šariš speak an eloquent Šariš dialect, which other Slovaks will recognise at first hearing, it also contains a short Šariš-Slovak dictionary.

"The Šariš region offers many picturesque natural corners, technical monuments and folk culture of world importance, which are certainly worth seeing. Visitors can be inspired by our tourist guidebook, which is available at the Prešov city information centre and the information centre at Šariš Castle in Veľký Šariš. We will gradually add them to other information centres and various cultural institutions," said Branislav Švorc, director of OOCR Región Šariš.

The electronic version of the Tourist Guide to the Šariš Region can also be found here: https://issuu.com/vitajte_na_sarisi

Realized with the financial support of the Regional Tourism Organization of the North-East of Slovakia and the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic.

One of the things that distinguishes SKI Lysá from other ski resorts is its unique location. SKI Lysá is somewhat hidden in the heart of Čergov. From the top of Lysá (1 068 m above sea level) there is a magnificent view of the main ridge, Veľká Javorina, Minčol and, with good visibility, the Tatras. Access to the resort is from the village of Drienica. During the winter season, a snowmaking system guarantees snow. It offers skiers and snowboarders a chairlift, ski lifts and groomed slopes over six kilometres long with beautiful views of the valley. Visitors can also view a map of the resort online at www.skilysa.sk/mapa-strediska/. She put a lot of effort and a big heart into the reconstruction of the SKI LYSÁ resort. The aim is to create the best possible conditions for the visitor. However, they realized that price is a strong deciding factor in the dilemma „Where to go skiing?“. That's why this year they are offering unbeatable prices for skiing. Overview of tcurrent ski passes.  SKI LYSÁ annually pleases cross-country skiers with groomed trails on several marked tracks, which you will not find anywhere else in the Šariš region. During favourable conditions are available cross-country tracks such as the 15 km long Čergovský natural sports area, the 35 km long Čergovský nature trail or the 5 km long track through Boguš. Ski mountaineering is becoming more and more popular in the resort, so they do not forget about the enthusiasts of this winter sport. The ski resort is perfect for a number of hiking nature trails and downhill possibilities. In addition to the ski slopes and cross-country skiing trails in the resort, they have also prepared proposals for four circuits from Lysá to the surrounding mountains, according to different levels of difficulty.
  1. Besná saddle circuit - 8 km
  2. circuit Veľká Javorina - 19 km
  3. Solisko circuit - 26 km
  4. Minčol circuit - 46 km
Various activities complement the attractiveness of the resort. Experience the unique evening tobogganing snow enthusiasts big and small can already February 11 from 16:00 to 20:00. A 3 km long sledge track will appear on Lysá, which will lead from the chair lift exit station all the way down to the car park.

The joy of snow in masks can be repeated this year. If you combine sport with fun, you will create a skiing in masks on Lysá, which will take place on 18 February. In addition, children in masks will enjoy a sweet reward. Skiers in masks will get 10% discount on their ski pass and free tea to warm up at the Mountain Sport Chalet.

The Prešov Christmas markets continue on an extended date.

Christmas is above all a holiday of peace and long-awaited gatherings. Christmas markets are an essential part of the Christmas season in Prešov. In recent weeks, Prešov's town square has become a place for sharing festive moments together. However, the Prešov Christmas markets do not end, and so visitors can enjoy the Christmas atmosphere even between the holidays. They continue for the first time in an extended period.

The Park of Culture and Leisure together with the City of Prešov and the Regional Tourism Organisation Región Šariš organise Christmas markets in the city of Prešov. After a two-year break, the organisers have delighted visitors with an extended date for the markets. The opening ceremony of the Christmas markets started on the traditional date, on 25 November. These will run continuously until 22 December and after Christmas they will continue from 26 December 2022 to 06 January 2023. Visitors will find more than 60 stands selling refreshments and goods. A busy cultural programme, mainly featuring local artists, is also an enrichment. Many market visitors enjoy not only the musical performances but also the accompanying events, which are unmissable in the city centre. The fragrant gastro zone adds to the unmistakable atmosphere of the Christmas markets.

Wooden nativity scene

The wooden carved nativity scene is a permanent Christmas decoration in the town. Visitors can admire the beautiful work of Juraj Antoňák from Ličartovce, which is located in front of the St. Nicholas Cathedral, for joy and spiritual caress. In his carving workshop, he again made not only life-size figures of the Holy Family, but also shepherds, angels, animals and others.

Christmas tree and light park

The square and the Christmas tree were traditionally lit by St. Nicholas and his helpers. The city park is decorated with Christmas light installations. Beautiful 3D decorations add to the magical atmosphere in the city centre. In the South Park there is an Advent wreath, an angel, flowers, ice crystals, Christmas balls and a family of penguins.

In addition, there is an avenue of Christmas trees. This year, the tradition of decorating Christmas trees by primary schools in Prešov continued. The pupils decorated the trees with their own ornaments.

Ascent to the church tower

Also this Christmas season, visitors can enjoy the view of Christmas Square from the church tower of St. Nicholas Cathedral. The church tower is open every day from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. until December 23, 2022. In case of inclement weather, the tower is closed.

Christmas markets with charity intention

The Christmas market in Prešov also hides 2 charity stalls. Some schools and institutions decided to make their own products and sell them for charity. Visitors to the markets can thus support those who help others with their donations.

In addition, help was also given through scented punch. The Mayor's punch was offered for a voluntary contribution by the Mayor of Prešov František Oľha, members of the Municipal Assembly of Prešov and employees of the Municipal Office. The proceeds from the charity event will be redistributed to several organizations that are dedicated to the social field. The inhabitants of the city of Prešov themselves can decide who will receive the Christmas joy through online voting.

Part of the aid is the ongoing Charity Concert for the residents of the fire-damaged apartment building at 3 Prostějovská Street in Prešov. After three years since the tragic event, Prešov residents can again help in the form of a public concert with a voluntary entrance fee or a contribution to a transparent account for this purpose. The band Hrdza, Stopa, Michaella, Edo Klena, Rasto Papp, Slovak Pink Floyd Rerival and others will come to support the good cause. The charity concert will take place on 20 December from 16:00 to 20:00.

Štefanská fun and New Year's Eve in Prešov

In the city centre it will be alive and well on St. Stephen's Day. There will be a great St. Stephen's Day party on December 26 at 6:30 pm. To round off the Christmas festivities, the eastern bands Heľenine oči and Nocadeň will rock out to the fullest.


After a three-year break, the New Year celebrations are returning to the centre of Prešov. "The New Year's Eve programme will be opened by the Prešov bands Akustika and Chiki liki tu-a, after them the New Year's Eve entertainment will be literally taken over by the Batida drum show and Prešov will welcome the year 2023 with fireworks and a New Year's Eve speech. However, the fun in the city will not end even after midnight. The acclaimed DJ Dlugosh will take care of its build-up," added Patrícia Nagyová, PKO Culture Manager.

OOCR Region Šariš is again part of the Christmas markets

The central seating area in the square by the Church of St. Nicholas is also part of the Prešov Christmas Market. There are Christmas blankets, warmers and Christmas music.


"In 2019, as OOCR REGIÓN ŠARIŠ, we became co-organisers of the Prešov Christmas Markets, where I have been personally participating as a vendor since 2012. We had the competence to dedicate ourselves to the gastro zone and make it an ecological event. After two years of cancelled Christmas markets, we continue to cooperate with PKO and the city of Prešov. We have created a cultural central seating area where visitors can enjoy their food and drinks in comfort. We have provided tables, chairs, heaters, blankets and seat cushions. To keep with the original idea of an eco-friendly Christmas, we came up with the idea of replacing disposable paper cups with ceramic mugs. This year, visitors to the market can also buy them at our Región Šariš stand," said René Pavlík, a member of OOCR Región Šariš.

Vendors repeatedly pour visitors' favourite Christmas drink into mugs with Prešov Christmas motifs, thus reducing the amount of unwanted waste. After the Christmas market is over, they can also reminisce about the nice moments of Christmas in Prešov thanks to an original and ecological souvenir.


In addition to mugs, the Región Šariš stand offers unique items and experiences. „Our Región Šariš stand is not the typical one that visitors usually expect at Christmas markets. We are an experience stand with tips on how to gift and delight loved ones. At the same time, we inspire them how to spend not only this Christmas time in our region. Visitors may also find interesting the wide range of products from our partners who visit us from Veľký Šariš, Drienice or Zlatá Bana," said Katarína Bartková, employee of OOCR Región Šariš.

From the castle hill, guides from Šariš Castle will visit Prešov from 6 December to 12 December. They will offer their services, souvenirs and a demonstration of historical fencing. The staff of the town of Veľký Šariš will show how to spend time actively in this town.

Slovak Opal Mines will also bring their jewels from Zlata Bana. They will not only present the story of the oldest opal mines in the world, but will also offer a wide range of products for sale. This will include a wooden puzzles depicting symbols associated with opal mines, various types of vouchers for the tour, cut opal itself, jewellery with opal, which has different colouring and much more. The unique occasion when the Slovak Opal Mines will visit Prešov for visitors is from 13 December to 19 December 2022.

Winter sports enthusiasts will find something for themselves. The SKI Lysá ski resort will share information on what skiing is like in the heart of Čergov, what activities and changes it is planning for its visitors during the winter season 2022/2023. In addition, they will offer discounted ski passes, tickets for chairlift rides, a book about the ski resort, maps of the resort and its surroundings, and various tourist accessories in the form of caps, T-shirts, sketchbooks, headbands and energy drinks. And that's only from 20 December to 22 December 2022.

Stalls with goods and refreshments at the Christmas markets are open as follows:

Stalls with goods: Monday - Saturday: 10:00 - 19:00, Sunday: 12:00 - 19:00

Stalls with refreshments: Monday - Saturday: 11:00 - 22:00, Sunday: 12:00 - 22:00

Text and photo: OOCR Región Šariš

Posters.

Authors and literary enthusiasts will meet again in the metropolis of Šariš after a year. The seventeenth annual reading festival is organized by the P. O. Hviezdoslav in Prešov. Three festival days Prešov reíta rád, promise a packed programme full of domestic and foreign guests, which will take place on 21-23 September 2022.  Arpád Soltész, bestselling author of crime novels from the 1990s, will be presenting his latest novel, The Thief, alongside his well-known titles at the 17th annual Prešov reads like festival. Based on the bestselling book of the same name by the writer Arpad Soltész, the film Swine was directed by the young director and scriptwriter Mariana Čengel Solčanská. Discussion with the authors will be 21 September at 17:30 at the Regional Document Centre. In the morning, individual guests will meet with pupils from primary and secondary schools, as well as grammar schools in Prešov. During the second literary festival day (22 September), can not miss nor Literary talkshow, which will be moderated by Zuzana Belková and Dado Nagy. From 18:00 at the Kmet's Tree Garden will bring together well-known authors not only from Slovakia but also from the Czech Republic and Ukraine. In the programme you can look forward to the author of children's books and lecturer of Slovak for foreigners, Andrea Gregusa. He is also behind the creation of the musical group FidliCanti. Undoubtedly one of the most interesting personalities of contemporary Slovak culture is the director, screenwriter and writer Mariana Čengel Solčanská, who is the author of several historical novels and major motion pictures. Writer Vanda Rozenbergová, besides writing, she has tried several professions. From a grammar school teacher, through a worker in a betting office, to a bibliographer in the Hornonitrian Library in Prievidza. She is also an award-winning writer, director and a significant part of the Czechoslovak cultural space, Jana Micenkova. A well-known writer will visit Prešov Pavel Rankov, a native of Poprad, who graduated in book science at the Faculty of Arts of the Charles University in Bratislava. He currently works at the Department of Library and Information Science. Successful author of children's books Tonia Revajová, is very active and although retired, she is still working and editing children's books for publishers and translating series from German and Czech. The author of fantasy literature will also come again Natalja Ščerba. The popular young Russian author became famous for her series Chasodei and Chharodol. Writer and translator, popular author of young adult literature Kristína Ježovičová, does not shy away from controversial and sensitive topics that often divide society. From the Czech Republic will come George Walker Walk, who is a writer, lecturer and screenwriter. He also lectures on literature, conducts literary workshops for children, students, adults, teachers and librarians. In her research, she connects the problems of contemporary art and culture with theory and philosophy, author and philosopher of art Ivana Komanická. He is particularly interested in ethical issues. Another guest of the Prešov reads like festival will be also on this day Arpád Soltész. The last guest is a poet and translator Eva Luka. In the microworlds of her poetry, various strange creatures, creatures and creatures, partly human, but mostly animal, come to life. It is the emphasis on human animality that is the subject of many of the poems. The musical guest will be a singer, composer and pianist from Košice, SKYVA. The last day of the festival will end with an evening Fantastique PO From 6 p.m. at Libresso Books & Coffee, where there will be a discussion with authors of fantasy and sci-fi genres Natalja Ščerba and Jiří Walker Procházka. Information about the Literary Festival can be found at Page or to social networks Read also the article about our treasures in the region.  

Public funding supported FPU as Main Project Partner.

Video and audio recordings will be made of the event in accordance with Article 6(1)(f ) of the EU Data Protection Regulation.

The Šariš region is one of those places where you can find the history of monuments in the bosom of nature. It is situated in the northern half of eastern Slovakia, which in the past formed an important territorial-administrative unit. The strategic northern border with Poland and several important trade routes crossing the entire territory of Šariš have contributed to a large number of royal and noble settlements of both defensive and representative character. The Regional Tourism Organization (hereinafter referred to as "OOCR") Región Šariš has therefore launched a new project "Šariš Castle Route" in 2019. It has mapped more than 80 unique monuments. The intention was to highlight the beauty of historical monuments such as castles, manor houses, castles, fortresses and city fortifications.
„All sites deserve attention as they are part of our history. Our first step was to link the objects to each other on the web portal www.sarisskahradnacesta.sk. In order to make the project even closer to the visitors of the Šariš region, we have gradually published three accompanying booklets of the selected sites. At the same time, our goal was and still is to increase the number of visitors and awareness of the monuments, thus keeping tourists in the region as long as possible,” said Branislav Švorc, Executive Director of the OOCR RŠ.
Visitors to the region can already find a wealth of interesting information in three accompanying booklets. The first is the castle bedecker, which maps the nearest castles and castle ruins near the city of Prešov, as a starting point to the region of Šariš. The second publication is devoted to selected manor houses, curios and other noble residences in the territory of Šariš. There are more than sixty of these objects in the region and each of them deserves its due attention because they are exceptional in some way. They range from manor houses with secret passages to those with ice-houses or mythological scenes. The third in the series and also the latest bedecker is a comprehensive guide to the best that the Šariš Castle Route in the surroundings of Prešov has to offer. These are available not only in information centres but also in selected historical monuments. It is also possible to browse through them virtually on the Castle Route Internet portal, via computer or mobile phone. To these practical aids was also added mobile application. Users will find photographs of monuments and sites, basic information about their development, history, current status and necessary contacts. It also includes a map, which they can use to navigate in the field. The app is easy to use and works even without an internet connection once downloaded to your phone.
„Thanks to the mobile application, everyone can have the thematic route Šarišská hradná cesta directly in their mobile phone. The intention of the mobile guide is to provide the visitor with useful and engaging information about the monuments, which are often without a guide service. At the same time, it provides inspiration on how to spend your free time discovering the Šariš region,” added Katarína Bartková, an employee of the OOCR RŠ.

Installation Instructions:

Discover with us the beauties of castles, manor houses, curios and town fortifications in the Šariš region. Start the PWA application Šariš Castle Route on your phone or tablet from the URL app.sarisskahradnacesta.sk . Install the app with simple instructions on your device by following the instructions in the video. The app also works offline without an internet connection.

This project was created with the financial support of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic.

After last year's successful race, SKI LYSÁ has prepared the 2nd edition of the MOUNTAIN RUN FOR the lovers of running LYSU. In addition to the sporting performance, the participants will be rewarded with prizes in kind. Come and compete in the heart of Čergov on Lysá on Saturday, 17 September 2022. 

The main race starts from 10:00 hours from the boarding station of the chairlift SKI Lysá Drienica. The cross-country trail will lead along the blue hiking trail through the Stone Altar, with the goal of running up to the top of Lysá to an altitude of 1 068 m. The length of the trail is 3.7 km with an elevation of 423 m. Registration of competitors for the 2nd year of the race called Mountain Run to Lysá is also available through registration form on the page www.skilysa.sk/horsky-beh-na-lysu. When registering online, the entry fee is 9€, which includes food, refreshments and a gift included in the price for online registered competitors. On the day of the race, participants can register on site from 08:30 to 09:30 for a fee of 10€. The top three places in each category will be rewarded with prizes in kind. In addition to the good feeling of sport performance, the participant can also be motivated in the following way. The evaluation of the race will take place at the Mountain Sport Chalet at 12:30 p.m.. Category
Juniors + Juniors 2003-2006 Men A : 2002-1982 Men B : 1981- 1972 Men C : 1971- 1961 Men D 1961- ... older Women A: 2002- 1987 Women B : 1986-1972 Women C 1971 - older
We look forward to seeing you. The Šariš region and the city of Prešov are rich in culture, tradition, original ideas and innovation. The pilot year of the Treasures of the Region event will kick off in Prešov at the end of September. It will build on the tradition of the Prešov city markets and will present authentic products of regional producers and stories of successful companies in the field of technology, crafts, design, ecology and food industry in a new way. Exceptional hand-made creators will also be presented. Treasures of the Region will offer a space for original presentation of exceptional creations, brand stories and products of important Prešov and regional companies, organisations and individuals. It is an opportunity to raise awareness of local production wealth, human potential, technological innovations. It is also an opportunity for companies to reach new customers and present themselves as an attractive employer. The event will will take place from 23 to 25 September in the centre of Prešov on Hlavna and Florianova Street. During the three-day event from 11.00 to 19.00, visitors can try individual products, get involved in their production, be part of interactive workshops and participate in various activities from regional creators. In the pedestrian zone will present companies, producers and artists not only from the region, but from the whole Prešov region. The Elmira company, which incorporates elements of Slovak tradition into the costumes, will point out that we should preserve our traditions. A world unique in the east of Slovakia - the Slovak Opal Mine will present novelties that have made this place more attractive in recent months. With their products and expertise you will find companies such as Spinea, Tomark, MK Illumination, SEAK, Bamida, Lear, Sadex, Zupelig, Miron Glass and others. Garment manufacturing will be well represented. Gemor Fashion, Odeva and A4ka will be present. Street drink zone near the main stage will be co-created by Prelika Distillery, Šariš Brewery and Víno Verita. During Saturday, the event will be held directly at the recording of the podcast special „On the Trinity in Pairs“ with Jozef Verbovsky. A live stream with the exhibitors will also be available later on various platforms. In addition to the presenting stands, the event includes rich cultural programme. Local bands, local artists and theatre and film will also perform. All visitors will be energized by the children's folklore ensemble Šarišanček and the folklore ensemble Šarišan. After a monodrama performed by Milka Zimkova, the tragicomic story of the film She Grazed Horses on Concrete will be projected on the screen. There will also be well-known songs by the bands Iconito and Hrdza, which combine Slovak culture with contemporary music. Sabinov's own, acclaimed DJ Dlugosh will also perform. The bands BB Country, Zojco & STF Band, Eleven Hill and Gapa will convince you that Prešov is a mecca for musicians and singers. Detailed programme can be found on the website: https://www.facebook.com/events/1182609269001103?active_tab=about In addition to musicians, singers and actors, the authors of quality literary works are also among the gems of our region's culture. Part of the Prešov exhibition markets is also a presentation of books for children at the "Book Yummies" booth" authors such as Peter Karpinský, Gabriela Futová, Dávid Dziak, Marka Staviarska, Katarina Ilkovicova, Valentín Šefčík and Alžbeta Verešpejová At the same time, the successful Street Food Festival at St. Nicholas Cathedral, which guarantees an exceptional gastronomic experience with a selection of local and exotic cuisine. We invite the general public to discover the unique creativity and talent of the Šariš region, where they will meet a wide range of local producers, designers and artists in one place. Treasures of the Region is organised by the Park of Culture and Leisure (PKO) and the Regional Tourism Organisation of the Šariš Region (OOCR). Prešov Street Food Festival is jointly organized by 3 city companies - Technical Services of the City of Prešov, Transport Enterprise of the City of Prešov and Park of Culture and Leisure.

The event was financially supported by the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic.

The project is supported by the budget of the Prešov Self-Governing Region.

The regional tourism organisation Región Šariš together with the Slovak Technical Museum is trying to gradually awaken and revive the Solivar area, which is unique of its kind in Slovakia. One of the ways is the event „Day of Salt“, which will take place on 3 September 2022 in the Solivar Museum for the fourth time. This year the event will again be rich in a varied programme. For the little ones there will be theatrical performances. Portal Theatre tells the story of the mixed-up fairy tales that spilled into the magic pot. The fact that salt is indeed more precious than gold will convince Cililing Theatre. An explosion of fun will bring Smiley, which will teach the children new dances, songs and compete in various disciplines. Magician Gabi will perform incredible magic tricks and juggling skills. Musical entertainment will be provided by bands Beetles Band, Mafia Corner a mining orchestra from the Polish salt mine Bochnia. There will be free entertainment provided by DJ Majki. The event will not be missing stalls with crafts and refreshments. Visitors can see a live demonstration of various handicrafts, the production of salt-ban lace or gingerbread, the work of a tinker and basket maker, the production of costumed dolls and other handicrafts. Wieliczka Museum of Krakow County from Poland will present the production of ropes or cooking salt. Various creative workshops and a children's carousel will be prepared for young and old alike. During the event there will be photo wall with original mining motif. Via touchscreen info kiosk visitors can virtually view all the objects that are open to the public, as well as those that are not. They can also find further practical information about the museum. Throughout the event, they can enter a raffle for interesting prizes such as a bag of salt, a mobile phone, blenders, carafes and many other tempting prizes. The event also includes guided guided tour, which will guide visitors after the reconstructed Salt Warehouse. It has been used for centuries to store, handle or distribute salt. From October 2014 to September 2015, the building underwent extensive reconstruction, which resulted in a representative multifunctional cultural and social space designed for exhibitions, presentations, congresses and educational activities. Undoubtedly the most enticing part of the program will be the ”living museum”, which is again prepared by Lukáš Matufka with his theatre Portal. Thanks to them in the Salt Warehouse a story from the ancient history of the salt works comes to life. Visitors will get a unique opportunity to see something unusual during the event in Prešov's Solivar, which they will not experience during regular tours. The year 2022 is also another cause for celebration. The Slovak Technical Museum is celebrating three important anniversaries this year, 50th anniversary of the Solivar Museum in Prešov and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Museum of Aviation in Košice. The STM in Košice opened its doors to visitors at the end of July, who could experience a special programme. The Solivar Museum celebrations are still to come in early October. The celebrations will also include the release of the fourth edition of the commemorative coin - Soľnobanski toliar, which collectors will be able to buy later. This commemorative coin is dedicated to 450th anniversary of the start of salt mining in the Imperial shaft. The unique coin has a diameter of 40 mm and was produced in two limited editions (pure silver and ZAMAC alloy). The front side of the toliara depicts a miner and a shaft. The reverse side of the toliar depicts a double-headed eagle with a royal crown, holding a sword in one hand and a royal scepter in the other. Such a motif was used on topiaries between 1792 and 1835. The author of this year's original graphic motif is an illustrator from Prešov Katarína Ilkovičová. After graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, she began to study illustration and graphic design. In her illustrations she mostly uses various traditional techniques, acrylic and tempera. EVENT PROGRAMME: https://muzeumsolivar.sk/den-soli-2022/ GALLERY OF PHOTOS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS OF THE EVENT:  https://muzeumsolivar.sk/galeria/ SOLNOBANSKY TOLIAR 2022: https://muzeumsolivar.sk/toliar/  

The event was financially supported by the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic.

COME TO THE CASTLE OF SHARIŠ “TO BE BEATEN”

Robbers at Šariš Castle! On 21 August 2022, you can experience the unrepeatable atmosphere of brigandage at Šariš Castle. You will be drawn directly into the action as part of the brigand „work“ and entertainment.

The Šariš Castle Games are one of the largest events of their kind in the Prešov Region. Every year it attracts more than 3 thousand visitors and all ages look forward to the always differently themed programme.

This time it will be 15th annual programme full of brigand history opened at 2 p.m. on the main stage. Encounters with robbers in different variations can be avoided throughout your stay in the castle area, and not only as part of the accompanying programme of the Friendly Games of Robbers and Robbers.

“You can expect bandit passes, ambushes but also period songs and dances and a lot of other interactive entertainment. The robbers are lapaji and will show you their mastery of robbing. So watch out for your gold coins, pennies or ducats,”  informed Mária Gáborová, head of the Department of Culture, Sport and Youth at the Municipal Office in Veľký Šariš.

From a different keg will be the performance of falconers, which is prepared from 16.30. Children will be delighted with a theatre - Polepetko, there will also be a medieval carousel and other accompanying programme for the little ones.

The historical-theatrical show will offer the services of an executioner in a medieval torture chamber, and a dereche in the arras will be prepared for those who can't do without their afternoon „nap“ even off their couch. The brigands will be happy to train everyone in the brigand's dance, while the representatives of the fair sex will be waiting for the heroes in front of the medieval beauty parlour, „period dress rehearsals and photo shoots allowed“, stressed the head of the Department of Culture.

 

SELF-MADE JEWELLERY AND FINE DELICACIES

The educational part of the Sunday programme will consist of demonstrations of blacksmith's art, traditional coin minting or something from the history of knitting.

For children and adults there is a workshop focused on the production of period jewellery, „so that from the castle everyone, both skilled and less skilled, can take away not only an experience but also a handmade ring or earrings,” said Mária Gáborová.

Šariš Castle Games always have their gastro-fans, so not only for them will be prepared fine delicacies. For example, kendice pancakes or potato loaves prepared by a clever team from Folkmar, traditionally we will also serve „Šarišský hamburger“, pierogi will be cooked by women from Herliany and so on.

“The programme will be rich and we invite everyone not to forget about the entertainment programme at Šariš Castle on 21 August 2022. Come and experience the unforgettable atmosphere of this event,” invites all the Mayor of Veľký Šariš Viliam Kall.

Photo: smARTin

Prešov Beer Festival has been a part of the Prešov summer for 12 years, which will be in full swing from 21 July to 14 August in the Equestrian Complex in Prešov.

The beer festival thus becomes a meeting place for friends and acquaintances not only from Slovakia. Fans of the golden beverage brings approximately 100 beers every year. This year the festival will last 25 daysduring which visitors will be able to taste a wide range of beers, including several specialty beers, craft beers, flavoured ciders and non-alcoholic beers for all ages. There will be not only domestic production, but also beers from Bohemia and Moravia, Germany and England. There will be miss beer Koňar, which for the third year has been cooked by the festival organizer Artúr Benes. It can be tasted in three versions, namely Koňar light 10°, Koňar lager light 12° and special Koňar Porter Strawberry 14°.

www.flashphoto.sk

For the third year, visitors enjoy a cashless payment system where they charge a chip on entry for the amount you have chosen. Throughout the Beer Festival area, patrons pay for beer, food and snacks by simply attaching a chip (on a wristband) to a mobile device that each tap and booth vendor has.

Chill out zone every Thursday will be a new feature of the Beer Festival, where there will be plenty of tuli bags to relax and where a special programme is prepared especially for the young. After last year's success, the beer game Man Don't Be Angry will be repeated, a live Barberia show will be performed and a DJ will provide musical entertainment. The absolute novelty of the festival is the tournament of 2-person teams in Beer Pong.

This year's edition also brings a series of three fun and knowledge quizzes. Wednesdays will be dedicated to the popular PubQuiz. During the festival there will be a cinema screening, the Eastern Slovakia Championship in hand-pressing, or a Latino evening with a dance school, where you can learn a few dance steps.

This year, people had the opportunity to vote via social media to decide on the star they wanted to see and hear at the summer festival. The audience votes decided with the choice of the main headliner, namely the band Hokryže Slíže. Besides them, the bands Peter Bič Projekt, Duchoňovci, the band On Off, Muzika z Viceža, Otto Weiter and Petra Maxin, the revival bands GeRock Kabát, Bon Jovi, Beatles Band and others will perform. The band Basawell will christen their new CD on this occasion.

The whole festival is situated in a natural environment right in the centre of the residential area of Prešov. It offers visitors parking capacities directly in front of the entrance to the festival area.

We invite all residents of the city of Prešov, as well as the surrounding area to the Equestrian Complex and we believe that every visitor will find „their beer“ at the Beer Festival and will spend many a pleasant evening with us.

Have you already visited the Slanské vrchy Mountains? In the middle of them, between Prešov and Košice, the oldest opal mines in the world hide their underground secrets from the world. With their amazing surface area, which consists of approximately 30 km of tunnels, they are also the most extensive in the world. In their golden days, some 300 miners worked here in search of the most beautiful of all gems for the royal courts - the opal. Ours, the Slovak one, has a specific colour, background and colour scheme. It is beautifully sparkling and different from the others. Although mining was stopped in 1922 and the mines closed, exactly one hundred years later, in the 2022 season we welcome tourists to tour the new conditions.  

After a hundred years, visitors have a lot to look forward to!

Directly in the area near the Jozef shed we have built a beautiful new modern tourist centre, where you will find a café, a souvenir shop, sanitary facilities, as well as exhibits from the mine. There is also a conference room on the first floor of the building, as the interest of companies and work teams in team building in opal mines has been growing in recent years. Also new is mobile buffet with a selection of hot meals, located outside, right next to the building.

 

More than 25 000 tourists from different parts of the world visit the Jozef Shed every year.

Visitors can explore the opal underground full of historical exhibits as part of the basic guided tour. For foreign tourists are prepared audio guides in six languages. The basic tourist circuit is almost a kilometre long and the tour takes an hour. Those who would like to see more can take the 5-hour stay underground in a small group with a guide and walk according to your own condition and 12 km underground, discover various nooks and crannies, great halls, the opal church, the alunogen and many other amazing underground sites where visitors do not normally get to. On selected summer dates, the mines will also organise the extremely popular opal hunt for children, usually every Tuesday and Thursday at 10.30 a.m. Follow our Facebook page, where you can find fresh information.

The 10th Film Night is coming to Šariš Castle. Experiences under the stars will be taken care of

The unique festival full of extraordinary outdoor experiences - Film Night at the Castle (FNNH) is back. The organizers have filled the program with interesting films, performances and workshops. An attractive novelty will be the Warm up event with the premiere film at the ponds in Veľký Šariš. The 10th edition of the multi-genre festival Film Night at the Castle, which is the only one of its kind in the whole of Central Europe, is heading to Šariš Castle. From 14 July to 17 July 2022, the historic grounds of the castle will be the place to be for cinematic delights, excellent music and entertainment. However, there will also be stimulating discussions, a varied programme for children, engaging theatres and, above all, a lot of good and quality films.
„Of course, we will also offer long-form films to visitors. One of them will be The Shop on the Waterfront, which this year celebrates the 65th anniversary of winning the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. We will be screening it on 35mm film, which is a great rarity these days, so I'm sure it will appeal to younger visitors as well. In addition, we will be screening this film in the presence of distinguished guests,“said Peter Vlkovič, organiser of the FNNH festival.
The hot news of the current edition of the festival will be the Warm up event, which is planned on the eve of the festival weekend - 14.7.2022, in a pleasant environment near the ponds in the cadastre of Veľký Šariš. It will be a beach cinema with two films, which will be an absolute premiere in Veľký Šariš and the surrounding region. The first film will be a family-friendly fairy tale called The Enchanted Cave, starting at 5:30 p.m. It will be followed by a nationwide cinema premiere in the form of the comedy Hádkovci, which will come on at 21:00. On Friday 15.7. and Saturday 16.7.2022 the festival will continue with the main programme, which will traditionally take place on the castle hill at Šariš Castle. Experiences under the stars will be perfectly taken care of and enthusiasts who decide to spend the whole night at the castle will again have the opportunity to camp directly in the castle grounds. Feel free to join. Visitors to the Film Night at the Castle festival could During its nine years of existence and one year in between, see more than 700 films (including shorts and features) and enjoy nearly 50 musical performances by artists. In addition, the festival offered a number of discussions, lectures, workshops, chill out zones, radio zones, children's corners with complete childcare. A number of films were screened nationally and some even had their world festival premiere. These were important Slovak film works of world importance, and there were lively discussions for fans with the participation of guests and filmmakers.
Throughout the duration of the festival there will be in the children's zone SWAP. It is a mutual exchange of clothes in a friendly way. Give clothes a chance to shine again and relieve our planet of more unnecessary things. SWAP will be general in nature, not just focused on clothing. You can bring anything from plants to books to jewelry.

Tickets and more information about the programme at www.filmovanocnahrade.sk

Source. Photo: Martin „smARTin“ Švec

Enlivening the historical centres of cities with sightseeing activities with a non-traditional guide - an actor dressed in historical costume is a very interesting and popular way for visitors to visit the city. It is a kind of “theatre performance” of one actor in a public space. The Regional Tourism Organisation of the Šariš Region has decided to bring this popular “Living History” activity to the visitors of Prešov in the summer tourist season 2022 (during every Saturday and Sunday in July and August).

The purpose of this activity is a product innovation of traditional city tours and revitalization of the destination offer of the city of Prešov during the summer tourist season 2022 with the benefit of promoting one-day and weekend visitation of the city and gradually prolonging the stay of the city visitor in the destination Šariš.

The meeting of the group with the guide will be in front of the Municipal Information Centre. In case of bad weather (rain) the event will not take place.

 

 

The event was created with the financial support of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic.

After two years of pandemic restrictions, the Fragaria Cup will take place in Prešov again.The 20th edition of the international youth football tournament, for which all football fans have been eagerly awaiting, will take place from 1 to 5 July 2022. For 19 years of its existence it has gained FRAGARIA CUP is firmly established in the calendar of youth football tournaments across Europe and has become one of the biggest and most sought-after youth tournaments of its kind. Since its inception, the tournament has been visited by almost 80 000 participants, of which more than 65 000 male and female players in total from 3 382 teams from 29 European countries and Asia. The tournament will be played from 2 to 5 July 2022, daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., on 7 natural grass pitches and 2 artificial turf pitches within the city of Prešov. Young footballers fight for victory in 8 boys' categories (8 - 15 years). The youngest boys' categories U8 to U11 will play their matches on the pitches in the 4 SPORT area, where will be located also call center, which will provide participants and visitors with all information about the tournament, including online results service and match schedules. There will be an on-site „FUN ZONE“ with refreshments, workshops for participants, sale of promotional items, LCD screens with online results service and various attractions for participants and visitors of the tournament. Age categories U12 - U15 will play their matches on the fields: The award ceremony for the winners in all age categories will take place on Tuesday 5 July 2022 at approximately 4.00 pm at the 4 SPORT venue. In addition to medals, diplomas and winning cups, winners in all age categories will also receive prizes in kind and all participating teams will take home a „Certificate of Participation“ for the FRAGARIA CUP 2022 as a souvenir. Already among the nearly 70 registered participants are teams from 9 countries - Albania, Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia and Georgia, which will participate in the tournament for the first time. Official programme 1 July 2022 /Friday/ 9.00 - 20.00 - arrival and registration of teams in Bowling at the track, ul. Jazdecká 1/A ( 4 SPORT Areal) 12.00 - 20.00 - accommodation in dormitories, hotels 2 July 2022 /Saturday/ 8.00 a.m. - 8.00 p.m. - matches in basic groups in all age categories (ONLINE results service on the LCD in the tent in the FUN-ZONE) 8.00 - 20.00 - FUN ZONE in 4 SPORT Areal is open 8.00 a.m. - 8.00 p.m. - sale of sporting goods in FUN-ZONE 8 p.m. - opening ceremony of the tournament 3 July 2022 /Sunday/ 8.00 a.m. - 8.00 p.m. - matches in basic groups in all age categories (ONLINE results service on the LCD in the tent in the FUN-ZONE) 8.00 - 20.00 - FUN ZONE in 4 SPORT Areal is open 8.00 a.m. - 8.00 p.m. - sale of sporting goods in FUN-ZONE 9 p.m. - festive reception  for coaches and invited guests 4 July 2022 /Monday/ 8.00 a.m. - 8.00 p.m. - matches in basic groups in all age categories (ONLINE results service on the LCD in the tent in the FUN-ZONE) - play-offs, play-offs 5 July 2022 /Tuesday/ - playoffs, playoffs - play offs and finals in individual categories - approx. 16.00 - ceremonial evaluation and closing of the tournament
"We cordially invite all football lovers and visitors to the Equestrian Complex to be part of the spectacular celebrations of the 20th birthday of our international youth football tournament Fragaria Cup. During the tournament, there will be some interesting novelties, quality teams and additional attractions for visitors to try out," said Artúr Benes, chairman of the FRAGARIA CUP organizing committee.
During the tournament you can use 4 SPORT mobile app, where you will find all the information about the schedule, courses, results, shuttle service, accommodation, tournament programme and free time. Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details... Iphone: https://apps.apple.com/sk/app/4-sport-mobile/id1460811648... The company 4 SPORT s.r.o. in cooperation with REDEA Consulting s.r.o. organizes this tournament in cooperation with the city of Prešov and the Prešov self-governing region. More information about Fragarii cup on the website www.fragariacup.4sport.sk

The town of Sabinov and the Municipal Cultural Centre in Sabinov invite you to the Days of Sabinov 2022 and the 48th edition of the Sabinov Fair, which starts this weekend. This year's edition is all the more rare as it opens after a long hiatus. From 11 to 18 June, a rich programme is prepared for visitors. Cultural events as well as sports activities will be part of the celebrations of the city days.

Sabinov Town Days opens 11 June 2022 theatrical performance called Davey would so like „Fly Me to the Moon“  performed by Kontra Theatre from Spišská Nová Ves. In the cinema hall of MsKS in Sabinov at 18:00 they will introduce you to the action of a black comedy about two nannies who can resist everything except temptation. And about small decisions that have big consequences.

On Sunday 12 June 2022 you will be able to witness a benefit concert called „Music unites us“ and support such a good cause. The concert is organized in cooperation with the Primary Art School in Sabinov. In the Parish Church of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, the guests will be Anna Hitrikova on vocals, Liubov Gunder will accompany on piano and Filip Burgr and Dávid Dráb will play the organ. Admission is voluntary and proceeds from the concert will be donated to the non-profit organization Man in Peril.

In the modernized Municipal Library B. N. Nezabudova June 13 at 10:00 a.m. don't miss the discussion with Sabinov native, actress, director, playwright and writer Katarína Želinská. She will talk about the novel „Women without pedigrees“, which is a generational testimony about the times in which we live alien ideas or do not live at all. We are only chasing what we do not know, but someone called it life instead of us. About a time in which we not only lose our ideals, but sometimes can't even create them.

„One of the main themes of the City Days will be the personality of Janko Borodáč. The founder of professional theatre in Slovakia, he worked in Sabinov in 1922-1924 as a teacher and founded the amateur theatre ensemble Palárik. The opening ceremony of the exhibition will take place on 13 June at 11:00 a.m. in the Concert Hall of the KC Na korze. The exhibition will run until 30 June 2022.“ said Jozef Váhovský, director of the Municipal Cultural Centre in Sabinov.

Evaluation of the 6th year of the art competition, which has an international character called „Csontváry's wandering shoes“ is on the programme as part of a moderated artistic evening „Future (?) personalities of Sabinov“. The programme will feature performances by current and former laureates and prize winners of the Sabinovský Author and Reciter May and small reciters of the Sabinovský Čim -Čim.

There will also be no lack of sports competition and its place has once again found its place Pentapolitan. The 20th year of the competition of high school students in non-traditional sports disciplines, sports day for pupils of the second stage of primary schools operating in the city in the disciplines of futsal, basketball, or running relay. A long-standing part of the City Days is also an international tournament of internationals or a fair doubles tennis tournament.

On Tuesday 14 June the book will be launched and presented in the Cultural and Information Centre Na korze „Oscar musicians“ PhDr. Viliam Tarjányi PhD. The publication is a tribute to musicians who have spread the good name of the city of Prešov in the field of artistic activity. It captures hitherto unpublished data on their activities in the film industry. The inspiration and impetus for writing the publication was the book Shop on the Corridor (essays on film topics) by Juraj Vrabel Jr. The guests will be Mgr. Anna Bakajsová and Jozef Blažovský.

K Janek Borodac will also return again 15 June, where his name in the development of Slovak drama will be presented by the theatrologist doc. Mgr. art. Karol Mišovic secondary school students. The lecture will be on the occasion of 130. anniversary of the birth of Janko Borodáč. In the evening, there will be space for invited guests to attend a gala evening associated with the awarding of the Sabinov Town Prize and the Sabinov Mayor's Prize. The gala evening will also be screened during its duration on the website Life in Sabinov .

Sabinov Town Days have a number of accompanying events in their repertoire. One of them is the open day of the KC Na korze and KIC Na Korze and the exposition of the Regional Museum Prešov. Open Day will take place 16 June from 09.00 - 17.00.. Visitors will have the opportunity to mint their own coin for good luck or as a souvenir.

In addition, Sabinov's Marek Hockicko lent a model of the Roman Catholic Church of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, which he created with his own hands and spent 1800 hours on its construction. His inspiration came from the models of the buildings of the square made of spires that he had seen as a child in the Sabinov library. It will be his greatest pleasure if you come to see this model in person.

During the morning in the library of MsKS, Sabinovská native Viktória Moser (Semaníková) will present his book Mindmages - Fog Island and in the evening during the baptism he will introduce her to the life of books. It will be the first book of her work, in which she describes a world ruled by a strong mind and the ability to know how to work with one's own thoughts and innate predispositions. It is certainly worth mentioning Promenade concert of pupils and teachers of the ZUŠ in Sabinov, starting at 5 p.m. on the small stage.

From 16 June all other events will be accompanied by 48. Sabinovo Fair. The fair programme will be presented during three days with the motto: „In Sobinovo /finally/ the yurmak will be.“

During the fair days, historical swordsmen from Club Sarus Prešov, Old Slavic goddesses of the Alimah Fusion group, and the winner of the Czechoslovak Superstar 2020 will perform. Barbora Piešová. On Friday 17 June The XVII Roma Festival, a folklore festival featuring various artistic ensembles, will take place. At the end of the day, the Slovenian hip-hop duo will perform on the fair stage Don't. The concert will be the finale of the evening Kmet'band - Igor Kmet'o st..

On the last day of the week-long programme, the youngest visitors can look forward to 1st Children's Fair. Throughout the day they will be accompanied by activities, demonstrations by the falconry group Sabina, performances by children's groups, a song show and a puppet troupe.

On Saturday 18 June concludes with great fun Sabinov is having fun performances by bands such as Karel Gott revival SK, Katka Knechtová and HEX.

„48. The Sabin fair, however, also brings several novelties. The main stage at the ÚPSVaR in Sabinov will be fenced during the main evening performances, with a symbolic entrance fee of 1€. As we want to focus on security, this new space will be protected by a private security service. We will build a second small stage in the upper part of the town near the statue of "Oscar". During the fair there will be a "children's zone" for families with children. Saturday morning's fair programme will witness 1st Children's Fair. Jozef Váhovský added in conclusion

After two years of restrictions, it is here again 18th European Night of Museums and Galleries (La Nuit européenne des musées), which will take place on Saturday 14 May 2022. On that evening, many museums will open their doors across Slovakia from dusk to midnight. Guided tours, entertaining educational tours, workshops, screenings, live performances, and special events will provide visitors with an unusual museum experience. This year, cultural institutions in the Šariš region are also taking part in the pan-European event, which is carried out under the patronage of the Council of Europe. The aim is to present cultural heritage, the importance of its preservation and protection in cultural exchange, dissemination of information about the cultural diversity of individual countries and regions of Europe, informal education and cultivated leisure.  

SNM - Museum of Rusyn Culture in Prešov

Visitors to SNM - Museum of Rusyn Culture in Prešov with 14 May 2022 from 12:00 to 22:00 Throw. can look forward to a varied program, in which they can see not only permanent exhibitions museums, but also current temporary exhibition - Lemkos. The latter is dedicated to 75. Anniversary  Visla shares. The exhibition also includes works by the world-famous Lemko insite painter Nikifor Krynicki, on your own behalf Epiphany of Drovnyak. The magic of ornament can be discovered by adults and children with Gabriela Čiasnohová, connoisseur of the Slovak ornamentalist Štefan Leonard Kostelničák, from 14:00 to 18:00.. The real ancestral wealth in the form of Ruthenian folk customs and beautiful costumes will be presented to the audience through the performances of two folklore groups. From 14:00 to 15:30. it will be FS Vorodai from Veľký Lipník in the district of Stará Ľubovňa and from  16:30 to 18:00 Throw. FS Pacific Pointan from Tichy Potok in Sabinov district. In the meantime, we will offer literature lovers poetry of contemporary Ruthenian authors performed by DAD actor emeritus Igor Latta. He prepared for this event verses of Ruthenian authors, but also verses bard of Ukrainian poetry, the immortal Taras Shevchenko in Ukrainian. Children of Rusyn nationality, as well as children of Ukrainian refugees currently living in Prešov, were also kept in mind when designing the programme. Fairytale everything s Jana Truščinská From 18:00 to 7:00 p.m.. Conclusion of the programme from 19:00 to 22:00. will belong to the well-known group Rolland a Girls trio z Chirca and a tour of the museum. Night of museums and galleries 2022 in the Museum of Ruthenian Culture in Prešov is financially supported By Prešov.  

Regional Museum in Prešov

Regional Museum in Prešov also invites everyone to visit the museum premises. On this occasion, the museum will open its doors to everyone, and it will be completely FREE. Programme: 15:00 Guided tour of the exposition of the Historical Pharmacy 16:00 Music and dance performance of the Private Primary Art School of Miroslav Kobelák 18:00 Guided tour of our new exhibition of Folk sculptures from Šariš "People's faith in wood embedded" In addition, you can enter the premises, which are for visitors in normal days inaccessible.  

STM-Museum Solivar

Also in STM-Museum Solivar in Prešov prepared a varied programme from 17:00 hours. Programme:5:00 p.m.: Opening - 5:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m.: Ascent to Klopačka - 6:00 p.m.: Tour of the museum grounds (large circuit) - 8:00 p.m.: Portal Theatre performance: The Proud Princess - 9:00 p.m.: Performance of the Solivarčan folklore music ensemble - 10:00 p.m.: Conclusion - Game for children „Hidden letters in the museum“ - Refreshments, craft stalls, accompanying activities  

Regional Gallery in Prešov

The celebration of the International Day of Museums and Galleries is regularly joined by Regional Gallery in Prešov, organizing various cultural activities (lectures, talks, trips to historical monuments) and exhibitions, free admission for all visitors, providing advisory services in the field of restoration and evaluation of works of art, which were addressed not only to schools, members of the Club of Friends of KG, but especially to the general public. With Slovakia's accession to the EU in 2003, new cultural activities and interests in the presentation of European cultural heritage also began to be promoted in our territory and applied in practice. What programme awaits visitors to the Regional Gallery this coming Saturday? Guided tours, entertaining educational tours, workshops for children and adults, screenings, live theatre performances. Simply a variety of options on how and where to spend a pleasant day with the family. Visitors to the museum will 14 May 2022 from 16:00 to 22:00. can look forward to a varied programme. During the event there will also be side events: 16:00 - 22:00 - Screening of documentary films from the gallery's archive 16:00 - 22:00 - Catalogue Exchange 16:00 - 22:00 - Individual ancestors of exhibitions   We look forward to seeing you on Saturday 14 May 2022 at the 18th annual Night of Museums and Galleries full of surprises!

After a one-year break, we once again experienced the atmosphere of a travel adventure. Last week we took part in the International Tourism Fair ITF SLOVAKIATOUR 2022. From 28 April to 1 May, we presented the tourist potential of the Šariš region at the Incheba Expo in Bratislava. Its exposition was part of the stand of the Prešov Self-Governing Region and was under the sign „Prešov Region - Unesco Region“.

We, the Regional Tourism Organisation Región Šariš, were also represented in the Prešov Region. During four days we presented our offer, which allowed potential visitors to look into our promotional materials, inform and inspire them with the rich offer that our region has to offer.

In addition, we introduced our project „Šariš Castle Route“ to the visitors of the fair, which aroused the greatest interest. Another positive response was the comprehensive tourist guide - Welcome to Šariš, which guides tourists through the diverse cultural and historical monuments, preserved folk architecture, captivating nature, accommodation options and gastronomic experiences. The limited edition Salt Bansko toliar, which has also found its collectors in Bratislava, has also attracted attention.

We believe that the tourism fair brought visitors a dose of inspiration for a holiday in the Šariš region and, in turn, new inspiration for its further development.

 

The lookout tower on Balažka is a popular place in the surroundings of Lipany. It offers views of the Čergov Mountains, the Levoča Hills and, in good visibility, the Slanské Hills. Visitors can now observe these attractive views with the help of a new telescope.

Photo: town Lipany archive
In October 2019, the observation tower on the Balažka mountain massif (643 m above sea level) was inaugurated. The lookout tower on Balažka, made of spruce wood, is located at an altitude of 598 m above sea level and its height is 13.69 metres. It provides the most beautiful views of the whole Lipany and the surrounding mountains, which visitors can observe from the new year 2022 with a new observation telescope.
Photo: town Lipany archive
„The Regional Tourism Organisation Region Šariš develops many interesting activities for visitors to the region. One of them is the telescopic sightseeing at tourist attractive places. In 2019, we purchased the first observation telescope and placed it at the Prešov Calvary, a year later we purchased an observation telescope and placed it at the Šariš Castle. The last telescope purchased so far is the telescope at the Balažka lookout tower in Lipany.“ said Branislav Švorc, Executive Director of OOCR Región Šariš. Tourist enthusiasts have a reason to visit the popular tourist attraction again. „The observation telescope was given as a Christmas present to the inhabitants of Lipany and hiking enthusiasts. It was installed in December 2021 on the top floor of the observation tower. The installation was helped by gentlemen from the maintenance department of the Municipality of Lipany. This telescope is mine-free and visitors can use it free of charge.” said Michal Višňovský, project manager of the Municipal Office in Lipany.
Photo: town Lipany archive
Using the telescope and its 25x magnification, visitors can observe the scenes at their fingertips. Binoculars thus allowing views of the whole surroundings, thanks to its attachment to the base, which is infinitely rotatable by 360 degrees. When observed from 146 cm eyepiece height and The 100mm lenses ensure a clear and bright image. Thanks to the telescope, the lookout tower has become even more attractive, which is also confirmed by the number of visitors. Additionally, the lookout tower has been equipped with two pedestals, which will allow telescope views even for children tourists.
Photo: town Lipany archive
„We are very grateful that the regional tourism organisation Región Šariš has helped us to make our lookout tower on Balažka even more attractive and we are already looking forward to the positive reaction to the telescope we have received from visitors so far.” Michal Višňovský, project manager of the Municipal Office in Lipany, added at the end.

This activity was also created with the financial support of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic.

  The 2021/2022 winter season on the ski slopes has started. See an overview of skiing opportunities in the Šariš region.

Ski resort Ski Drienica

Photo: Ski Drienica
Ski Drienica is located in the village Drienica in the Sabinov district and offers its visitors ski trails of different difficulty levels. The resort is an ideal choice for families with children. There are wide slopes and safe lifts for children. However, beginners and more experienced skiers will not get lost on the slopes of Ski Drienica. The resort is located at an altitude of around 700 metres, so it has good conditions for a long ski season, which is also helped by artificial snow. The total capacity of the resort is 2 500 people, the number of ski slopes is 4. The total length of the ski slopes is 2450 m, which are technically snow-covered including artificial lighting. Visitors do not even need to bring ski equipment to Ski Drienica. He can fully rely on rental skis, snowboards and other ski equipment. Depending on the current conditions, two large lifts and two small lifts are in operation. Ski Drienica can also become a place where you can learn to ski. Alternatively, it can be a place where you can improve your skiing under expert guidance. The ski resort has several experienced ski instructors. There are several tea rooms and fast food restaurants right on the slope. The wide offer of this resort is complemented by a nearby restaurant in hotels Šomka. Opening hours of Ski Drienica Ski Centre: Day skiing (09:00 - 16:00) | night skiing (17:00 - 21:00). Price list: For changes and more info follow the Ski Drienica ski resort website: skidrienica.sk  

Ski resort Ski Lysá

Photo: Ski Lysá
One of the things that the centre SKI LYSÁ distinguishes it from other ski resorts is its unique location. SKI LYSÁ is hidden in the heart of Čergov. From the top of Lysá (1 068 m above sea level) there is a magnificent view of the main ridge, Veľká Javorina, Minčol and, with good visibility, the Tatra Mountains. It is located 25 km north of Prešov, above the town of Sabinov. Access to the resort is from village Drienica. The centre offers four groomed slopes over 6 km long, which are designed for advanced and beginners. In good snow conditions, it will be possible to ride on up to seven slopes. During the winter season, a new snowmaking system provides a guarantee of snow. In winter, a short poma will take you up to the top of the mountain after you have been lifted by a double chairlift. In the resort area there is Mountain chalet Sport, which provides accommodation, as well as restaurant services and an outdoor terrace. Ski, snowboard and sled hire is available directly at the gateway to the resort. Opening hours of Ski Lysá Ski Centre are from 08:00 to 16:00. Price list: The 2-hour ski pass is also a novelty. The ski pass includes a chairlift ride, parking and ski bus. For changes and more info follow the Ski Lysá ski resort website: skilysa.sk  

Ski resort Ski Buče

Photo: Ski Buce
Ski resort Renčišov - Búče is situated 28 km northwest of Prešov. Access to the resort is from the village of Renchisov, where there is a car park. The road to the mountain hut is passable with a 4×4 drive or a car with snow chains. In the case of a larger group of people it is possible to arrange a lift from the lower car park. In the resort there is mountain chalet Bukvica with catering facilities, in the form of a dispensing window. There is a complete ski equipment rental. The resort has technical snowmaking, but during the winter it has no shortage of natural snow. According to the current conditions, three ski lifts are usedy - two children's (S1, S2) and lift (P) under the forest. Lift F12 (Black slope) will be launched only when the snow base is high enough. Opening hours of Ski Buče Ski Centre are from 09:00 to 16:00. Price list: For changes and more info follow the Ski Buče ski resort website: skibuce.sk   On the basis of the currently valid decree of the Office of Public Health of the Slovak Republic, which supplements the covid automat, all ski resorts in Slovakia are subject to the OTP regime. For the purposes of the decree, OTP means vaccinated (O), tested (T) and passed (P). Cover photo: Ski Drienica

In the past, the Šariš region formed an important territorial-administrative unit. Thanks to this, a number of royal and noble settlements of both defensive and representative character were established on its territory.

In order to draw attention to these unique monuments, while at the same time promoting tourism in the region, the Regional Tourism Organisation (OOCR) Region Šariš launched its new project last year - Šariš Castle Route.

Our intention is to highlight the beauty of castles, chateaux, fortifications, manor houses and castles, or town fortifications in the Šariš region. To connect individual objectsto increase the number of visitors and to keep tourists in the region for as long as possible.“, said Branislav Švorc, Executive Director of OOCR Región Šariš.

On the territory of the Šariš region there is more than eighty such monuments. In this project, the OOCR Region Šariš has set itself the ambition to interconnect these unique historical monuments.
Within the framework of the project Šarišská hradná cesta (Šariš Castle Route), it published several promotional materials. The first castle booklet was published with the support of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic to promote the visitation of castles in Šariš. It maps the nearest castles and castle ruins in the surroundings of Prešov, as a starting point to the Šariš region. This castle booklet guides the visitor through ten of the most famous castles. It also includes an illustrated map with all the castles in Šariš.

This year OOCR Region Šariš has expanded its collection of promotional materials. Fifteen-page booklet Mansions in the surroundings of Prešov guides the visitor through ten locations with manor houses that are worth visiting. Here you will find the impressive manor house in Hanušovce nad Topľou, the most beautiful Renaissance town palace in the territory of the then Upper Hungary, a noble residence in Fintice, or the splendid residence in Pečovská Nová Ves. The Bedeker is full of high quality photographs, supplemented with brief information, which also includes an illustrated map.

There are more than 60 manor houses, curios or other noble-landed residences in the territory of Šariš. Despite the fact that some buildings disappeared before some were built, all the sites deserve attention. They are an essential part of our history. They are uniformly presented on the internet portal www.sariskahradnacesta.sk. It provides practical and interesting information for visitors with inspiration to spend their free time exploring the Šariš region. Via interactive map with monuments in the region the visitor can plan a route to their knowledge. They will learn the latest information about the Šariš Castle Route project, as well as old and sometimes forgotten stories from the castle ruins.

You can find the castle booklets in the information centres or in selected historical monuments. You can also browse through them virtually via the Šarišská hradná cesta (Šariš Castle Route) internet portal.

Work is currently underway on mobile app as an online guide to the Šariš Castle Route project. It guides the visitor through historical monuments, castles, chateaus, forts, manor houses, curios, town fortifications with a lot of information not only about them, but also about how to get there.

 

The Regional Tourism Organisation Región Šariš together with the Solivar Museum is trying to gradually awaken and revive the Solivar area, which is unique of its kind in Slovakia. One of the ways is to „Salt Day“ event“, which, after last year's very good response, will take place on the premises of Solivar on 4 September 2021.

Salt Day 2018 was the first year of the cultural event, during which the organizers commemorated the historic event of the visit of Emperor Francis II. Habsburg, who in 1800 put the Franz Varna into operation and thus started the production of salt by cooking from brine. The attendance of the event was over 1500 visitors. In 2019, the second edition was held and the event was visited by over 2000 visitors from all over Eastern Slovakia and there were also visitors from Bratislava and Žilina. In 2020, due to the pandemic situation, the event was moved to 2021.

The third edition of the event will again be rich in a varied programme for families with children and individuals of different ages. There will be salt cooking demonstrations, creative workshops for children, period food tasting, craft stalls and a presentation of the new commemorative coin - Soľnobanski toliar, which collectors will be able to purchase during the event. This commemorative coin was issued on the occasion of 450th anniversary of the start of the excavation of the Leopold shaft, located in the Gápľa building. The unique coin has a diameter of 40 mm and was produced in two limited editions (pure silver and ZAMAC alloy). The front side of the toliar depicts the Gápľa building, which houses the Leopold shaft. The reverse side of the toliar depicts a double-headed eagle with a royal crown, holding a sword in one hand and a royal scepter in the other. Such a motif was used on the drayards between 1792 and 1835.

Undoubtedly the most enticing part of the programme will be Living Museum, which is again prepared by Lukáš Matufka with his theatre Portal. In the Četerní building thanks to them a story from the ancient history of the salt works comes to life.

Many expositions will also be an attraction glass craft from the Polish town of Krosno or demonstrations by craftsmen and miners from the partner salt mine in Wieliczka.

A novelty of the museum is also new touchscreen info kiosk, where visitors can virtually view all the objects open and not open to the public and where they can also find other practical information about the museum.

Salt warehouses have been used for centuries to store, handle or distribute salt. From October 2014 to September 2015, the building underwent extensive reconstruction, resulting in a representative multifunctional cultural and social space designed for exhibitions, presentations, congresses and educational activities.

More information on the Solivar Museum website: www.muzeumsolivar.sk

The event was supported by the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic and the European Regional Development Fund under the Interreg V-A Poland-Slovakia 2014 - 2020 programme.

Solivar National Cultural Monument

Planning to enjoy some free time with your family and don't know where to go? Here are some tips on where to go with your children during nice summer days in the Šariš region.

Forest nature trail Stráže

The local part of Veľký Šariš Kanas is only 10 km away from the town of Prešov. Start at Forest nature trail Stráže you will find at the final stop „Kanas Stráže“. During ten stops we recommend a stop at the wood carvings and the well - Očiarka.

How to get to the start of the route:

PUBLIC TRANSPORT - bus 14; auto (to the final bus stop); on foot (via Dúbrava and the dirt road „Mezi bachty“); bicycle (along the marked cycling route - the trail from Prešov to the brewery Šariš, then along the local road to the final stop of local transport)

 

Wooden megaphone

Amplified sounds coming from the surrounding area can be heard in a wooden megaphone near the village Gold Mine. Into this 4 m long megaphone you can sit down and immediately absorb the sounds of nature.

Getting to the megaphone here:

The wooden megaphone stands near the cycle path connecting Prešov with the surrounding villages, approximately 1 km behind the village of Zlatá Baňa in the Dark Forest, 200 m from the gazebo and the fireplace.

 

Miklusz the Goblin's Fairytale Trail

The fairy tale trail is located in village Miklušovce, near Prešov. This original trail was realized as nature trail inspired by the story. At each station you will gradually get acquainted with the whole story Miklus the leprechaun.

Getting to the trail:

The trail is well marked in the village. The starting point is marked on the map, it is a bus stop in the direction of Klenov.

 

Dzhandzur's Djura

Mysterious, enigmatic, mysterious, legendary hole above Sabinov. It is located on the top of Stavenec at an altitude of 510 m above sea level. interesting natural formation, known as Djandjur's Djur.

How to get to Djanje Jur:

It is located in the Bachureň Mountains at an altitude of 510 m, called Stavenec. It is accessible by several hiking trails from the town of Sabinov.

 

Šariš Castle

Currently, the Šariš Castle is slowly being restored and offers stunning views not only of the surrounding hills but also of the surrounding castles and ruins. The surroundings are clearly visible with the naked eye or with the help of telescope on the Donjon tower. The castle has many events throughout the year.

How to get to Šariš Castle:

A paved asphalt road leads to the castle, also accessible to cyclists. The easy trail marked with a yellow hiking trail takes just over an hour.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT - bus 45; auto (to the parking lot under the castle in Veľký Šariš)

For both options (on foot, by car) it is necessary to get to the only parking lot under the castle, from where a forest path leads to the castle hill.

 

Archaeopark Hradisko Lipany

Lipián Castle is located in a quiet forest location near Rožkovianske ponds. The castle combines an archaeopark in the form of a Slavic hillfort, a historical archery range, a contact menagerie and a small amphitheatre for non-commercial cultural events and workshops.

How to get to the Archaeopark Hradisko Lipany:

It is located just 5 minutes from the center of Lipany, in a quiet location and close proximity to three large ponds.

 

Ranch Pohoda - horse riding

Pohoda Ranch is a sports and recreational area focused on riding lessons, horse riding tourism and horse stabling. It offers various possibilities of relaxation and entertainment in a cozy natural environment on the banks of the Sekčov River, from shooting with an Olympic bow, crossbow to carriage rides.

How to get to Ranch Pohoda:

Located 2.5 km from the center of Prešov, Kúty.

 

Other tips:

Solivar National Cultural Monument

Slovak opal mines

Nature Reserve Dubová Hora

Malá Zobrana and Winter Rock

Cave of the Bad Hole

 

Trees are an essential part of the environment and our existence. They hide the immense power of nature, produce oxygen, reduce temperature fluctuations, beautify the environment or shade busy places. In addition to their usefulness, they are linked to history, culture and many customs that have been preserved to this day. The Šariš region is home to several rare and interesting trees that will enchant you with their beauty, size or age.   PREŠOV PLANE TREE Platan javorolisty, Foto: mesto Prešov The mighty crown of the tree with the botanical name Sycamore Platanus (Platanus acerifolia), situated near the Florian's Gate, closes the main axis view from the centre of Prešov towards the west. This ancient, 29 metres high The plane tree was planted at the end of the 19th century. The exact age of the tree is unknown, but it is estimated to be approximately 150 years old.            

GINKGO IN THE GARDEN OF ART IN PRESOV

Ginko v Záhrade umenia, Foto: OOCR RS Ginkgo biloba (lat. Ginkgo biloba) is a tree specimen that is a botanical jewel in the green system of the city. It is considered an unusual representative of the plant genus. Biologically it is neither a coniferous nor a deciduous tree. However, it is taken as evidence of their evolutionary interconnectedness. It has an ancient lineage. In the geological evolution of the Earth, it was most widespread in the Mesozoic Era. Southeast Asia is thought to be the original homeland of the ginkgo. It was introduced from Japan to Europe in 1730 and was cultivated in the collections of botanical gardens. A representative of this rare species was introduced to the moat in Prešov in the interwar period in the 20th century. The large prastrom survived as if by a miracle. It grew its first years in a beautiful burgher garden. In the socialist period, they decided to build a swimming pool in this area. Fortunately, the tree avoided being uprooted - they were unable to pull it out with its strong roots. To this day it still dominates the central space of the Garden of Art.   LINDEN AVENUE IN ŽUPČANY Lipová alej, Foto: obec Župčany Linden avenue belongs to the natural gems of the Šariš municipality Župčany. It is included in the list of natural and cultural monuments. In the avenue there are more than 50 trees of the species lime. According to conservationists' estimates, these trees have more than 100 years. Not only the rich but also the poor liked to walk along the avenue. Today the avenue is lined with new buildings. However, it is worth a visit at any time of the year, either on foot or by bicycle.         800 YEAR OLD SUMMER OAK IN OAK Dub v Dubinnom, Foto: TASR/Milan Kapusta Dubinné is a village which, according to oral tradition, was founded on the edge of an ancient oak forest. Oak was the most sacred tree for the ancient Slavs. It was dedicated to the thunder lord Perun and impressed with its strength, strength and hardness of wood. The summer oak in the village is considered to be the oldest tree in Slovakia. It is also one of the oldest oaks in Europe. Oak has at least 800 years. Its age can no longer be accurately determined because it is decaying and the oldest part of the tree is irretrievably gone. The height of the tree today is 25 m. In the 18th century, the local inhabitants in the crown of the tree, the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared. Out of respect, they attached her image to the trunk of the tree and later built a chapel. In 1913 a fire struck the village. Almost all the houses from the oak down were destroyed, but the oak survived without much damage. In 1995 it was struck and damaged by lightning. The people of Dubin have preserved their oak to this day.   130 YEARS OLD MAMMOTH REDWOOD IN UZOVSKY ŠALGOV Sekvojovec mamuti, Foto: obec Uzovský Šalgov In the 19th century in the village of Uzovský Šalgov the local noblemen built a manor house with a park. Some trees have been preserved, such as pine, beech and several lime trees. But the most famous specimen of the park is Protected Mammoth Sequoia. The unique tree is a rare conifer, which is due to its unique occurrence declared a protected tree in 1989. The conifer grew to a height of more than 20 m. Its trunk is massive and straight, the growth is considered to be very symmetrical, with a crown diameter of about 14 m. Its age is estimated for approximately 130 years. According to the literature, this tree species originally originated in California and was introduced to Europe as an ornamental park tree. Experts estimate that the maximum age of the mammoth redwood can reach up to 4000 years.     „TREE OF LOVE“ IN JACOB'S OX Strom lásky, Foto: FB Jakubova Voľa South above Jakubová Vola is a hill with a distinct plateau and with the local name Hradisko. In the past, during the post-Moravian period, there was a fortified hill fort. Today, a tree in the village attracts attention. Tree tended by locals is called as „Tree of Love“, according to the shape in which it grows. In the shape of a heart. Its colouring during all seasons is breathtaking, as is the idea of the inhabitants to create a piece of love for their village.     320 YEAR OLD SMALL-LEAVED LIME TREE IN LIPANY Lipa v Lipanoch, Foto: OOCR RS The linden tree is a symbol of the Sharis town of Lipany, which, according to historical sources, had this tree in its original name. For the first time in documentary records at the beginning of the 14th century as The Seven Vines - Septemthillis, the Hungarian form of the name was Héthárs and the German Siebenlinden. The municipal coat of arms depicts seven green lime leaves in a silver field. People remember that there were hundreds of trees in the town in ancient times, but they were gradually thinned out. Even today, despite the expansion of development, there are not a few of them. There are several lime trees in the city park in the very centre. However, only one of them is exceptional. Supposedly the last of the seven mentioned in history. Linden tree is over 320 years old and its the last petals reach a height of 23 m.   600 YEAR OLD OAK TREE IN GIRALTOVCE Dub v Giraltovciach, Foto: mesto Giraltovce Among the highlights of national importance in Giraltovce include the oldest summer oak in Svidník district. About 600 year old summer oak „stands“ by the former manor house (by the cultural house), as a remnant of the former manor park. Protected by law the historic summer oak (Quercus robur), is of natural and historical importance, which makes it noteworthy. Its trunk circumference is 643 cm and height 17 m. It was planted in the 14th century by a member of the Széchy family, owners of the land on these sites. It is majestic, the trunk is well preserved and the crown of the tree is regular. In 2007 it was included in the Tree of the Year 2007 survey.  

LYSHISTORICALLY FIRSTYES IT WILL HAPPENSEE

 

Until now, the Ski Lysá ski resort has been subject to the weather and the moods of nature. The start and length of the season depended on whether it snowed properly and also what the temperatures were. Lysá has long dreamed of one day being able to help itself to ideal skiing conditions.

 

At a time when natural snow is becoming less and less every year, artificial snow is a necessity for ski resorts. Why? ,,Seasidea vJust don't let goí. Snow, whichhey would be sustainedUnfortunately, below 700 m above sea level is notReal. Today atinsketches lyžiarské centresYes, it workson artificial snow. We mwe got it Happiness, that they nachWe are above 700 m above sea level and the snow isás udrthey live betterThese. Nie inforks on skisharvesting, just to skialp and beWomen, explains one of the owners of Ski Lysá, Kamil Kozma.

 

The Ski Lysá team has been working for many months to make sure that there will be snow this winter season. ,"PurposeI'm dreamingharvesting, vrin the state ofShekof technical equipment as withú pumping stations, retenNoe supersectorsthat and hadwaterThe work took almost half a year, cites the length and scope of Kozma's work and adds ,, It wont byno morea year of work. With allSeewhile deployedT h e wholetT hey are nI managed to do it in half a year.

 

Introducing a snowmaking system to a resort whose location is so unique was a real nut to crack. It was necessary to obtain a number of permits, to haul water from a distance of three kilometres and, last but not least, to face the many obstacles that (as it happens) are associated with such a project. ,,Foundthe more they were indiggers. Tothat we have come across extrextremely hardthe floorLives. It must be saidť, already downhe bringsNo, almost 50% intanks are alsowent in pure rock. It nyou snaphas increased and complicated the nI got it extrémne life,Kozma recalls the most difficult moments.

 

On 18 December, the Ski Lysá team managed to carry out a functional test of the snowmaking system and was able to start snowmaking. Visitors are interested to know what the current skiing conditions are like. Kozma reports the current situation: ,"Snow on the slopesin the15 - 20 cm is readyý. Waitwe'll be on aftertimes, whiché nto enable meReaphe falls asleeplivethat the conditions are eof high qualityThese.

 

The historical moment for Lysá in the form of snowmaking is enjoyed by visitors and the resort itself: ,,We are awareí, which we have proved, but fromploughsnot inľme tiredí. Thank you to your familiesI thank them for their patienceť, tothat we have sacrificed a lotSee time, energy and nerves to make this dreamyjovacthey have implemented the project.The Ski Lysá resort is closed due to the pandemic situation, like the others, and plans to open its doors to visitors on 24 January.

A tour of the Solivar Museum is a unique experience because it includes a guided visit to up to four objects: the Salt Storehouse, the Gápel, the Ceterne and the Varna František. They are intended for individuals and groups, as evidenced by the annual increase in interest from schools and families with children.

Given the current situation, Regional Tourism Organisation Región Šariš (hereinafter referred to as OOCR) decided to lend a helping hand and bring the unique Solivar Museum closer to visitors in other ways. This year, it has created for the museum a new and separate website www.muzeumsolivar.sk, where the visitor can find all important information about the museum, online booking form, but also many other interesting facts and last but not least virtual tours. You can take a look, take a virtual walk and have a closer look, or from a different point of view, at all five objects of the museum (Salt Storehouse, Gápeľ, Četerne, Varňa František, Klopačka) and get at least an approximate idea of the history of mining and salt production in the Šariš region directly from the comfort of your home.

OOCR Región Šariš in cooperation with the Solivar Museum publishes every year and unique commemorative coins - Sołnobanské thalers, which are popular not only with numismatists, but also with those who like to take away something valuable from their visits. The toliar was once a large silver coin minted in several variations in different countries (including Hungary). The first toliar was minted at the end of the 15th century in Tyrol. The Solnobanski toliar is a commemorative coin inspired by the old toliars and grajciar from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, which were used in our territory during the reign of Emperor Franz II. Habsburg. The toliars in 2020 were issued in two limited editions with a depiction of Varna Francis. of pure silver (1 ounce) and Solnobanski toliar zinc-aluminium alloy (ZAMAC). You can buy them at the ticket office in the Solivar Museum, at the Municipal Information Centre in Prešov (Hlavná 67), or by mail by appointment at the following email address: info@muzeumsolivar.sk.

The Solivar Museum is looking forward to online visitors, but of course most of all to those who come in person. OOCR Region Šariš came up with the idea of new promotional material for the Solivar Museum and at the end of 2020 prepared another attraction - the first and only cartoon map of the Solivar salt works, which will bring closer the real process of salt mining and the appearance of many now extinct objects in the Salt Mine.

Thanks to the Regional Tourism Organisation Región Šariš and the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic all these innovations could be implemented this year, through which the Solivar Museum will be able to further promote and highlight the uniqueness of this technical monument, so that the experience of the visit will be perfect for tourists in the Šariš region.

You can find out more about the Solivar Museum on its new website: www.muzeumsolivar.sk and also in the audio guide of the city of Prešov (app). More info: http://www.gopresov.sk/prakticke-informacie/audiosprievodca/

Traditions and customs in Šariš as you know and do not know them.

There is perhaps no more beautiful and tradition-rich holiday of the year than Christmas. They begin with the Advent season , which in the past was associated with snow crunching underfoot, frost stinging the face. The blanket of snow had the significance of covering everything that people experienced throughout the year, bringing peace and tranquillity into the lives of families. Just as the snow fell to the ground. Quietly. And it was at such an expectant time that families and homesteads prepared for Christmas, interwoven with traditions and customs. We present a few of them in region of Šariš, which can still be found in more than one household today. Their wisdom, their wit, is our heritage that should be preserved.

Cleaning

In order to make sure that Santa Claus came to a clean environment, the houses in Šariš were cleaned for the last time just before Christmas Eve, usually a week before the holidays. If there was an incantation, it was for three days.

The gazdines first „carved out coverings“ (woven carpets, rugs) in the stream. Then they scrubbed the wooden floor. If it was earthen, they scrubbed it, covered it with sackcloth or fresh chachin. The walls were whitewashed, the windows were washed, and white curtains were hung. Clothes could not be hung up, so they were laid out and duvets were changed. The kitchen wasn't cleaned much because there wasn't much cooking. It was Lent, after all, and fewer pots and bowls were used. Waffles In the past, baking wafers was one of the duties of the rectors, who also had the income from baking wafers listed in the decree. The grain for grinding the flour or the flour for the wafers was brought to them by the pupils who went round the houses in the run-up to Christmas, especially on St Catherine's Day. The wafers made of simple unleavened dough began to be baked in iron tongs just after Lucia. On one side of the tongs there was usually the sign of the cross, on the other a twig or a chalice. The best pupils, selected and examined by the rector, distributed the baked wafers in baskets to the houses according to orders two or three days before Christmas Eve. Each family received between ten and twenty water wafers, a few sugar wafers and rolled wafers in a basket. When the pupils had made a nice wreath, they were given food and money in the basket for Mr. Rector. House and home decoration Baby Jesus was born on straw, therefore Christmas holidays were in the past also marked by straw. On the Vigil - Viliya, the father of the family brought a bundle of straw to the room and the first and second night the whole family slept on straw. Even the symbolic decoration for Christmas was made of straw. Outside, people used to tie straw around the trees and then tap it with a stick and say: „You're going to be a parent!“ In Šariš they also used a potato - gruľa - into which straw stalks were densely stuck, decorated at the end with bows made of brightly coloured paper. This created a straw hedgehog called zvizda - star, which hung from the loft above the table. Trees as we know them today were not. The top of the trees usually hung above the table were made of fir or spruce and were decorated with apples, nuts, wafers and holy pictures from the indulgences the family visited during the year. Customs and traditions on „Viliya“ On Christmas Eve, a strict fast was announced - the strictest of the year. This day has always been considered not only the last day since Lucia, in which darkness prevails over light, but also evil forces over good ones. That is why, for example, in Torisa in Šariš, adults used to tell children on Christmas Eve to avoid fighting, because it was said that whoever earned a fight on Christmas Eve would be beaten for the whole year. In some villages in Šariš, on „Viľija“, children were allowed to eat only one baked potato and eat it with raw cabbage. This was despite the smell that wafted through the kitchen. In Saris it was a holy duty, so that the neighbor could go to his neighbor's house for the holidays. But it was always the shorter one who went to the taller one, never the other way around. Upwards meant more money, health and happiness in farming, more poultry, game, a rich yard. The Christmas Eve dinner in almost every family began with a prayer and anointing of all family members with honey. The honey cross on the foreheads of the girls was supposed to make them as sweet as honey and as diligent as bees in the year, while the boys were supposed to make the girls like them. In different parts of Šariš, seven- and in richer families even twelve-egg dishes were prepared. The traditional Christmas dishes included yucha, gentian soup with gribami, slifčanka or plum soup from boiled prunes with potatoes, Lenten cabbage soup with potatoes and baked bobalky with sweetened poppy seeds. Sourdough cakes, a round kuch cake and a gruel cake with potato filling were baked. Cattle and poultry were also taken from each dish. However, a cat was left empty, as it was considered to be fake, then a dog, as it was said to be born blind, and a horse, as it was said to have hooves like the devil. Traditions in the Šariš region were born mostly in villages, they have survived to this day and wherever they are found, their mission is to celebrate Christmas, to give peace, joy and to appreciate that the family is together. At the end, a vignette by the Sharis ethnologist Ján Lazorík, which belongs to Christmas: „... I blame, I blame, on the holy Hodi, too great a pile of chic fruit, all over the lush fertility, the good birth, the variety, of the fathers, and of the poor, and of the rich, and of the rich, and of the rich, and of the rich, and of the rich, and of the rich, and of the rich, and of the rich, and of the rich, and of the rich, and of the rich, and of the rich, and of the rich, and of the rich. Kirmakoch na sto yurmakoch, ramanoch jak vahanoch calf jahničkoch, jak na rakice guźičkoch babu machiňu, dzifku kokiňu, vipraśanku śviňu! Into the paws of the clever, and into the feet of the quick-footed blackbirds. And if we blame you, as many people as are on the outside, as many people as are on the hood, as a shepherd, may the Lord bless you...“  
Source: OOCR Region Šariš, zn.sk, raznany.sk, Jan Lazorik
Photo: Tibor Šarišský Photography, pixabay

The Regional Tourism Organization Region Šariš (hereinafter referred to as OOCR) brings a new feature for its „on-line“ visitors. On its YouTube channels started to present its tourist attractions in the form of „vlogs“ under the name „Discovering Šariš“ (#objavujemesaris). Vlog is an abbreviation of the term „video blog“ and it is basically a blog that contains videos. By means of such short, concise and, above all, authentic video tours, the OOCR will motivate its visitors to discover, visit and get to know these places personally.

Visitors could already see that a visit to the Šariš region is worthwhile in the first two parts of the vlog #objavujemesaris, when OOCR visited the world's unique Slovak Opal Mine (https://youtu.be/BMtcN8wAFmE) and the unique wooden cyclo-bridge Sarus in Veľký Šariš (https://youtu.be/P_NCYM9IsEw) .

As Branislav Švorc, Executive Director of OOCR, said, „Videos that are filmed in the form of vlogs are one of the most appreciated internet content nowadays. A vlog containing visually captured experiences of interesting locations can easily inspire people to visit our region, as evidenced by the very positive reactions to our first two videos.“.

I like this city (Prešov), it reminds me of my youth . When this coronation period is over, I will go to it as the first one based on this video.“, writes Jana in a comment on Facebook.

OOCR will continue to discover and map the most beautiful and interesting places in the region in the coming period. And that there are many of them is also evidenced by the website Šariš region, where visitors will find more than three hundred tourist attractions, destinations, tips for discovering the varied region - of the Šariš region.

PS: Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter YouTube channel!

This activity was implemented with the financial support of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic.

... “ait is precisely by reverence that man would differentiate himself from the animal....“

Every nation has its greats who have gone down in history and children learn about them in schools. Not all of them have made it into the textbooks. Some are mentioned in encyclopedias, others in historical facts, many in various rankings. In every city you will find monuments that belong to the personalities who lived in them, created, contributed to their development. Rarely is it anymore to mention and draw attention to a personality who has contributed to the preservation of the traditions and awareness of a region in Slovakia.

29.9.1920 Ján Lazorík, ethnographer, collector, dialectologist, writer, collector, archivist, museum keeper, but also botanist and fruit grower, was born. A man who deserves, at least in the regional consciousness, recognition, respect and remembrance.

Born before 100 years ago in the village of Torysa. He completed his studies at the state grammar school and the Teacher's Institute in Prešov. He worked as a teacher in Vysoká, Brezovička and Krivany, where he founded fruit breeding stations. He ended his more than 20-year activity in the Natural History Station in Šarišské Michaľany, which was moved in 1967 to Kolman's Garden in Prešov, to the location Pod Kalváriou.
He was known far and wide folklorist, ethnographer to the bone, a tireless fighter for traditional Slovak culture. As a person living in connection with nature, he had an innate sensitivity to its perception in symbiosis with folk art. Accented, that nature and folk art are the same genius, the same miracle of variety and contrast.

And so he lived. Saving a national treasure.He walked tirelessly with a violin under his arm, a tape recorder, a camera and his unforgettable „scripts“ from village to village, where he notated folk songs, wrote down people's narratives about life, without the influence of technology. He documented and instilled remembered the oldest language of the people in his region and collected an incredible number of artefacts of folk culture, which he saved from destruction and eventually donated to museums, scientific institutions or municipalities in the preparation of their monographs. Uploaded by old local philosophers and singers, he wrote not only local customs, weddings, superstitions or fairy tales, but also stories of old craftsmen (carpenters, furnace makers, stucco makers, plasterers) and war veterans. Saved by documents and objects of sacral and historical-artistic character from notariats, parishes, manor houses. Documented by crafts, emigration, tinkering, and above all he collected everything old and museum-quality - work tools, handicraft and art-industrial products, historical prints, original costume parts. There is so much that academician Mikuláš Mušinka once said:
„What Ján Lazorík has done on his own, without any scientific research grant, could be the work of an entire scientific research institution, and the activities of such an institution would be considered very successful.“. The idea is wonderful and if it happened who knows how he would react.

He was a true To the Šarišans, who sought to open the door to life Shariste and other dialects. Šariš dialect loved and perceived as a phenomenon that draws people into another dimension, into a space of humanity, warmth, interest and gender. He took it as his goal to preserve it asSharis heritage. He valued written languages as a necessity, but he considered them artificial because he saw them as a limited choice of words, while dialects for him meant otherness, diversity, and he often claimed that some words could not be expressed in Slovak. For example, the imperative form of the wordgrow ( grow up), in the Sharīʿah exists: „roshni !“  He compared the disappearance of dialects as such to natural tragedies, the extinction of some animal species, or the loss of the ozone layer in the atmosphere.

From 1992 to 2015published 24 books, mostly in the nativeSharis dialect, documenting an extraordinarily difficult but spiritually rich life in the past, with authentic photographs and sheet music. Each book is a treasure and a documentation of the Šariš region, written in the original Sharis dialect, is a value that will last, returning you to the times of your ancestors and showing you the beauty of this singing dialect. Regional Museum in Prešov published five titles of Šariš customs from its fund in the edition Spiritual Pearls of the Šariš Dialect. His works are still on sale and available in Regional Museum in Prešov, the Municipal Information Centre Prešov and the Municipal Office in Krivany.

A number of three-dimensional objects from the field of traditional folk culture obtained Regional Museum in Prešov are currently part of the ethnographic collection of Ján Lazorík and his permanent ethnographic exhibition. The museum has realized five thematic travelling exhibitions. The last of them, Bread making in the photography of Jan Lazorik, was a contribution to his untimely birthday. It was prepared by the Regional Museum in Prešov with the financial support of the municipality of Krivany. V  Centre of Folk Culture and Crafts in Krivany you will find an installed exhibition in an adapted stone granary with authentic period photographs and textual processing illustratively specifying the original function of individual exhibits / threshing machines, grain cleaners, sowing machines, etc./. Unique images include objects that no longer exist, which in the past were an integral part of the homestead or village. Apart from granaries and barns, these were mainly mills, which completed the cycle of bread production before baking.


Ján Lazorík
passed away on August 30, 2015, a few weeks before he turned 95 years old.divided in memoriam Pribinov cross II. class „for exceptional merits for the cultural development of the Slovak Republic in the field of folk art and folklore“


„The greatness of a man lies in his thinking,“ said the French writer and Christian philosopher Blaise Pascal. Ján Lazorík was undoubtedly a great man in the Šariš region.

A selection of highlights from his work, as well as from his life and thoughts to ponder:

Above the town of Sabinov Chance is off. It is the name for a part of the wooded hill right next to the Torysa river. Šanec is mainly used for recreation and because of its proximity to the town (entrance directly from the main road) it is a popular place in every season. The foot of the hill can be reached by all kinds of paths, the routes are known as „Švablovské chodničky“. On the top there is a plain, where in September 2020 the „Lookout tower on the Chance“ was inaugurated. The construction of the lookout tower was realized thanks to the financial support of the Government Office of the Slovak Republic, as a means to promote tourism and increase the attractiveness of the suburban forest park Švabľovka.

The lookout tower can be found at an altitude of 465 m above sea level and is located at the maximum height at which construction was possible due to the nearby Ražňany airport, its protection zones and the safety of air traffic. The lookout tower is 11m high, has two floors, wooden construction, where the most modern woodworking technology was used. The designer of the project was Ing. Juraj Lovich, and the contractor Interbau s.r.o.

At the tower you will find a seating area from which you can enjoy a beautiful view of the entire panorama of the Šariš region from Šariš Castle Hill, Hradová, Zobrana, Malkovská hôrka, through Makovica, Bodoň, Lysá, Čierna Hora to Šimonka.

At the lookout tower you will also find the cross road, which is often visited, as well as the well-known forest park Švábľovka. Within the framework of the local action group, the Sabinov town hall has submitted an application for its revitalisation, which will increase the number of visitors to the town and bring back the glory of the famous forest park.

World rarity near the city of Prešov and in the region of Šariš.

Only 20 minutes from the city of Prešov lies a unique and world rarity  Slovak Opal Mines. We visited them again to bring news and to remind our Šarišanians, but also the whole of Slovakia, where it is worth visiting. We were captivated by the visit. We walked through the new, about 300 m a longer route and a wonderful labyrinth of corridors that you just don't see. A place hidden in the green-green nature, in the intricacy of the paths and in the amazing Slanské hills, convinced us once again that the Šariš region is a diverse region. In the mines you will discover history through the eyes of opal tunnels, learn about ancient mining techniques Opal, you will walk through places where it is easy to breathe, „live“ the spirit of the underworld and the permonik - dwarf, who is waiting for small visitors - children. Mining open-air museum is also a great tip for a school trip, where you can learn the story of to the fairy Libanka, and you will pass the test of courage in a corridor of complete darkness. We guarantee an unforgettable experience with professional guides. Before entering the mine you will be given free flashlight and helmet, for small visitors you can buy cool metal minibatteries and the guide will bury you on the knocker, beginning your underground adventure. After the tour, you have the opportunity to indulge in a real forest roast in a natural fireplace. So don't forget to bring the right products with you. If you're an adrenaline junkie, we recommend taking the five-hour tour, where you'll explore the most interesting corners of the 35 kilometres of tunnels and try your hand at mining a rare gemstone.

Some interesting facts from Slovak Opal Mines

You can find out more interesting facts about the mines directly during the tour of the Slovak Opal Mines.

How to get to the Slovak Opal Mines :

Length of route: the tour route is 1 000 m long Difficulty : suitable for all ages. There are several other attractions in the region worth seeing. We recommend for example: Lacnov Gorge, wooden churches, Synagogues, Šariš Castle, Kapušian Castle Tulčík Manor House, etc.

A történelem nem tudomány, hanem művészet, amelyhez képzelőerőre van szükség - mondta Anatole François Thibault francia költő. A képzelőerő és különösen a turizmus népszerűsítése érdekében a Šariš régió regionális turisztikai szervezete továbbra is népszerűsíti régiója egyediségét."Az a szándékunk, hogy kiemeljük a Šariš régió területén található kastélyok, várak és kastélyok szépségét, összekapcsoljuk az egyes objektumokat, növeljük látogatottságukat és minél tovább a régióban tartsuk a turistákat" - mondta Branislav Švorc, az OOCR Región Šariš ügyvezető igazgatója. Az OOCR Región Šariš tehát elindítja új for tourists projektjét, amely szintén az Északkelet-szlovákiai Regionális Turisztikai Szervezettel együttműködve valósul meg. Ez a projekt összeköti az összes nevezetességet (várak, kastélyok, kastélyok, kastélyok, kuriózumok), és egyetlen név alatt fog megjelenni - Šariš Castle Route. A projektet eredeti logójáról is fel lehet majd ismerni, amelyet Svetozár Šomšák grafikus és visuális kommunikációs guru készített.

A Región Šariš Regionális Turisztikai Szervezet kezdetben a Prešov város környéki várakra összpontosított, és a "Šariš várút" projekt részeként kiadta első várfüzetét. A füzet tizenhat oldalon keresztül kalauzolja végig az érdeklődőket a tíz leghíresebb váron, amelyek tulajdonságaik alapján is ismertek. Például a második legnagyobb Šariš vár, a legváltozatosabb Soľnohrad, a leglátványosabb Kapušian vár, a legbájosabb Obišovský vár, a legkisebb Lipovský vár, a titokzatos Plaveč vár vagy a kőszépségű Zborov vár, vagy az újra felfedezett Šebeš vár.
A Región Šariš Regionális Turisztikai Szervezet kezdetben a Prešov város környéki várakra összpontosított, és a "Šariš várút" projekt részeként kiadta első várfüzetét. A füzet tizenhat oldalon keresztül kalauzolja végig az érdeklődőket a tíz leghíresebb váron, amelyek tulajdonságaik alapján is ismertek. Például a második legnagyobb Šariš vár, a legváltozatosabb Soľnohrad, a leglátványosabb Kapušian vár, a legbájosabb Obišovský vár, a legkisebb Lipovský vár, a titokzatos Plaveč vár vagy a kőszépségű Zborov vár, vagy az újra felfedezett Šebeš vár.
A Prešov környéki várakról szóló várfüzet csak az első fecske. A következő lépés a virtuális formája lesz - a www.sarisskahradnacesta.sk internetes portal vagy később egy külön mobilalkalmazás létrehozása. Ezek az online eszközök olyan további várakról is tartalmazni fognak információkat, amelyek nem fértek bele a kiadványba, valamint olyan várakról, amelyek már eltűntek, a történelemről, a jelenről, valamint olyan pletykákról és tényekről, amelyekről nem is tudtunk. A Región Šariš regionális turisztikai szervezet projektjének célja, hogy a Šariš várút the concept of the más műemlékekkel, például kastélyokkal, várakkal, kuriózumokkal vagy városi erődítményekkel. Ezekből több mint ötvenöt található a Šariš régióban. Ezek összekapcsolásával átfogó képet kapunk, és lehetőségünk lesz naponta több műemlékkel is megismerkedni, megismerni történelmüket, történeteiket és tulajdonosaikat, vagy részt venni különböző rendezvényeken, a nyári szezonnyitóktól kezdve a várjátékokon át a különböző több műfajú fesztiválokig. A Szlovák Köztársaság Közlekedési és Építésügyi Minisztériumának támogatásával jelent meg a "Šariš Castle Route" projekt keretében az első várfüzet, amely a várak látogathatóságát hivatott elősegíteni Šarišban. A papíralapú brosúrát bármelyik jó információs központban megtalálhatja, vagy itt böngészheti online:

History is not a science, it is an art that needs imagination - said the French poet Anatole François Thibault. To promote imagination, and especially to promote tourism , Regional Tourist Organisation of the Szarysz Region continues to promote the uniqueness of its region."Our aim is highlighting the beauty of the castles, palaces and manor houses in the region Saris, connection of individual objects, increase their visitor numbers and keep tourists in the region for as long as possible" - said Branislav Švorc, Executive Director of OOCR Región Šariš. In this context, OOCR Región Šariš is launching new project tourism, which will also be implemented in cooperation with the regional tourism organisation of North-Eastern Slovakia. This project will connect all interesting places (castles, palaces, manors, kuron) and will be presented under one name - Trail of the Sharis castles. The project will also be recognizable thanks to the original logo, created by a graphic designer and visual communication guru Svetozár Šomšák.

To begin with, the Regional Tourist Organisation Región Šariš focused on castles around the city of Presov and published her the first brochure on castles as part of the "Szarisz Castle Trail" project. The sixteen pages of the brochure will guide you through ten of the most famous castles, which are also known for their attributes. For example, the second largest Šariš castle, the most diverse Soľnohrad, the most striking Kapušian castle, the most charming Obišovský castle, the smallest Lipovský castle, the mysterious Plaveč castle or the stone castle Zborov or the rediscovered Šebeš castle.
To begin with, the Regional Tourist Organisation Región Šariš focused on castles around the city of Presov and published her the first brochure on castles as part of the "Szarisz Castle Trail" project. The sixteen pages of the brochure will guide you through ten of the most famous castles, which are also known for their attributes. For example, the second largest Šariš castle, the most diverse Soľnohrad, the most striking Kapušian castle, the most charming Obišovský castle, the smallest Lipovský castle, the mysterious Plaveč castle or the stone castle Zborov or the rediscovered Šebeš castle.
The booklet about castles in the Presov area is only the first swallow. The next step will be its virtual form - Created by portal www.sarisskahradnacesta.sk, and later also a separate mobile application. These online tools will also contain information about other castles that didn't fit in the brochure, as well as castles that have disappeared, history, the present, and rumours and facts you didn't even know about. The ambition of the Región Šariš regional tourism organisation project is concept mix Šariš Castle Route with other monuments such as mansions, castles, curiosities or urban fortifications. In the Šariš region there are over fifty-five. By combining them, you will have a comprehensive idea and the opportunity to explore several monuments a day, to learn about their history and owners or to take part in various events, from the opening of the summer season, castle games to various multi-species festivals. The first castle brochure of the project "Trail of castles in Šariš" was published with the support of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic in order to promote visiting castles in Šariš. The paper brochure can be found in any good information centre or viewed online here:

History is not a science, it is an art that needs imagination - said French poet Anatole François Thibault. To promote imagination and especially to promote tourism Regional Tourism Organisation Región Šariš (OOCR) continues to promote the uniqueness of its region. „Our intention is to highlight the beauty of castles, chateaus and manor houses in the Šariš regionconnect individual objectsto increase the number of visitors and to keep tourists in the region for as long as possible.“, said Branislav Švorc, Executive Director of OOCR Región Šariš. OOCR Region Šariš is therefore starting with its new projects tourism, which will also take place in cooperation with the regional tourism organisation North-East of Slovakia. This project will link all points of interest (castles, chateaus, manor houses, curios) and will be presented under a single name - Šariš Castle Route. You will also recognize this project by its original logo, created by a graphic designer and visual communication guru Svetozár Šomšák.

To begin with, the Regional Tourism Organisation Region Šariš focused on castles in the surroundings of Prešov and within the project „Šariš Castle Route“ published its the first castle bedecker. The sixteen pages of the booklet will guide you through the ten most famous castles, which are also known for their attributes. For example, the second largest castle Šariš, the most diverse Soľnohrad, the most distinctive Kapušiansky castle, the most charming Obišovský castle, the smallest Lipovský castle, the mysterious castle Plaveč or the stone-beautiful castle Zborov, or the rediscovered castle Šebeš.
To begin with, the Regional Tourism Organisation Region Šariš focused on castles in the surroundings of Prešov and within the project „Šariš Castle Route“ published its the first castle bedecker. The sixteen pages of the booklet will guide you through the ten most famous castles, which are also known for their attributes. For example, the second largest castle Šariš, the most diverse Soľnohrad, the most distinctive Kapušiansky castle, the most charming Obišovský castle, the smallest Lipovský castle, the mysterious castle Plaveč or the stone-beautiful castle Zborov, or the rediscovered castle Šebeš.
The castle booklet about castles in the surroundings of Prešov is only the first swallow. The next step will be its virtual form - create internet portal www.sarisskahradnacesta.sk or later also a separate mobile application. These online tools will also contain information about other castles that didn't fit in the brochure, as well as about castles that have disappeared, history, the present, but also rumours and facts that you didn't even know about. The ambition of the project of the regional tourism organisation Región Šariš is linked concept Šariš Castle Road with other monuments such as manor houses, fortifications, castles, castles or town fortifications. These are located in the territory of the Šariš region more than fifty-five. By combining them, you will have a comprehensive idea and the opportunity to get to know several monuments per day, learn about their history, stories and owners, or participate in various events, from the opening of summer seasons, castle games to various multi-genre festivals. The first castle booklet within the project „Šariš Castle Route“ was published with the support of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic to promote the visitation of castles in Šariš. The paper booklet can be found in any good information centre or you can also browse it online here:
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