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.
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.
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.
