Through the historic centre Prešov an invisible line runs around the entire planet – the 49th parallel. Escape Room Lockdown Prešov He used it as the basis for an urban escape game, in which the streets, squares and monuments are transformed into one huge playing area. The game The Secret of the 49th Parallel combines the thrill of an escape room with a stroll through the town’s history.
A town on an imaginary line
Prešov has one unique feature that no other Slovak city can boast: the 49th parallel runs right through its historic centre. The same line continues through Regensburg, Karlsruhe and the suburbs of Paris, crosses the Atlantic, forms a long stretch of the border between Canada and the USA, continues across the Pacific Ocean, the Kuril Islands, Mongolia and Kazakhstan, and returns to Slovakia via Ukraine. If you were to circumnavigate the globe following it exactly, you would travel over 26,000 kilometres.
It is precisely this fact – which children learn about as early as primary school, yet which few people are truly familiar with – that served as the inspiration for one of the most original escape games in eastern Slovakia.
An escape game without locked doors
Unlike traditional escape rooms, *The Secret of the 49th Parallel* does not take place in a single room. It is city game – an outdoor city game, in which the whole of Prešov city centre is transformed into a game area. The team’s task is to unravel the mystery of a small box they have found. The path to solving the mystery leads through puzzles, codes and clues hidden right in the streets and at the city’s most famous landmarks.
As well as solving puzzles, players also learn interesting facts, anecdotes and stories from the history of Prešov. Anyone who thinks they know their city inside out may be surprised at just how many details they usually overlook.
Who is the game aimed at?
The game is designed so that players can enjoy it experienced escape room players and complete beginners alike. Suitable for:
- groups of friends looking for something a bit different,
- families who want to combine fun with exploring the city,
- corporate teams and team-building events,
- birthday parties or hen parties,
- visitors to Prešov who want to explore the city in a different way to that offered by a traditional guide.
Practical information
- Number of players: 2–6 people
- Game duration: approximately 90 minutes
- Location: the historic centre of Prešov, starting at the Lockdown premises at Hlavná 124
Lockdown presents more than one challenge
As well as the city game, Escape Room Lockdown Prešov also offers classic indoor escape rooms – Prison Break, in which the team finds itself in Prešov in 1953, and the play Joker. Teams that can handle the streets can therefore also rise to the challenge within the four walls.
Will you take up the challenge?
The secret of the 49th parallel awaits those who aren’t put off by puzzles, enjoy working together and want to see Prešov through the eyes of a detective. The box is ready. The question is whether your team will be able to open it.
Source: OOCR RŠ
Source of photographs: OOCR RŠ
