Prešov Region, Slovakia
Slovakia's third-largest city and the historic capital of the Šariš region, built on wealth from salt, wine and lace trading and centred on one of the country's longest pedestrian squares.
Prešov grew rich between the 15th and 17th centuries on opal and salt mining, wine trading and a well-known bobbin lace industry, wealth still visible in the stuccoed facades lining Hlavná ulica today. The town's position in eastern Slovakia, close to the historic Rusyn and Orthodox communities of the Šariš region, left it with a religious landscape unusual for a Slovak town: a Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral, a Baroque Greek Catholic cathedral, and a Neoclassical Orthodox cathedral all stand within walking distance of one another.
Most sightseeing runs along Hlavná ulica, a long pedestrian street that splits into two parallel arms lined with historic townhouses, cafés and shops. A short bus ride northeast, the Solivar salt-works preserves a working 17th-century brine-pumping and boiling complex, protected as a national cultural monument and run today as a branch of the Slovak Technical Museum.
Attractions, activities and experiences kept separate from stays and dining.
Attractions and landmarks
A wealthy Šariš trading town’s Gothic-to-Baroque main street and three cathedrals of different Christian rites.
Attractions and landmarks
A working 17th-century salt-pumping complex in the Prešov-Solivar district, protected as a national cultural monument.
Hotels, guesthouses and accommodation only.
Stay
A verified hotel on Námestie legionárov, within walking distance of Prešov's historic Hlavná ulica.
Restaurants and dining venues in their own selection.
Restaurant
A verified traditional Šariš-region restaurant directly on Prešov's Hlavná ulica.
1 to 2 days
May to June and September to October bring mild weather for walking Hlavná ulica and visiting Solivar without summer crowds. Winter adds a Christmas market to the main square.
The historic centre is compact, largely pedestrianised and easy to cover on foot. Solivar lies a short bus or taxi ride northeast of the centre in the Prešov-Solivar district. Regional trains and buses connect Prešov with Košice, the High Tatras and the rest of the Šariš region.
