The Pre\u0161ov Calvary is a Baroque religious complex situated on a hill on the western outskirts of Pre\u0161ov. The Pre\u0161ov Calvary was once considered the second most beautiful in the whole of Hungary \u2014 second only to that in Bansk\u00e1 \u0160tiavnica \u2014 and remains one of the city\u2019s most significant historical and spiritual landmarks, offering a stunning view of Pre\u0161ov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pre\u0161ov Calvary was established in the early 18th century through the work of the Jesuits during the period of recatholisation, on the initiative of the Society of the Dying Christ. Construction of the first religious buildings began in 1720, although some of the Stations of the Cross chapels were still being built as late as the 19th century. The first to be consecrated, in the autumn of 1721, was the Chapel of Christ on the Mount of Olives and the cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dominant feature of Calvary is the Baroque Church of the Holy Cross, dating from 1753. The construction was overseen by the Jesuit priest Franti\u0161ek Perger, also known as the architect of the Bansk\u00e1 \u0160tiavnica Calvary. It was funded by the town and donations from the townspeople and the local nobility. The entire Calvary complex was not completed until 1893.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to the Church of the Holy Cross, the complex comprises fourteen chapels of the Way of the Cross, the Chapel of the Holy Stairs, the catacombs and the adjacent cemetery. The Chapel of the Holy Stairs was modelled on the Roman chapel of Sancta Scala at the Lateran Basilica. In the past, the catacombs were used for the burial of priests, and in the adjacent cemetery \u2013 intended for prominent church benefactors \u2013 you can still find artistically valuable aristocratic and bourgeois crypts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The entire Calvary complex has been restored and refurbished on several occasions in the past. Construction, restoration and conservation work is currently underway on a number of buildings. A telescope is available for visitors within the Calvary grounds, through which they can enjoy the view of the town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pre\u0161ov Calvary is also a thriving place of pilgrimage \u2014 every September, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pre\u0161ov Calvary is the perfect addition to a tour of the city. You can combine your visit with other sights in Pre\u0161ov itself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n