Discover the captivating history of Košice, Slovakia’s second-largest city and the vibrant economic and cultural heart of the country’s east.

Begin your journey by tracing the city’s origins, first recorded in 1230 under the name Villa Cassa. Delve into the prosperous centuries that followed, particularly between the 13th and 15th centuries, when Košice flourished as a key medieval centre. A defining moment came on May 7, 1369, when the king granted Košice its coat of arms — the first such privilege in Europe — a date still celebrated today as the Day of Košice.

Continue your exploration at the St. Elisabeth Cathedral, the easternmost Gothic cathedral in Europe and a breathtaking symbol of the city’s architectural heritage. Then, uncover the storey of the local-born engineer who designed the Corinth Canal, further cementing Košice’s connection to world history.

As your journey unfolds, witness how Košice stood at the crossroads of major political and social transformations — from the anti-Habsburg uprisings of the 17th century, through the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, to the Velvet Revolution of 1989 that reshaped the nation’s destiny.