Kosice is the second largest city in Slovakia and the most important commercial, industrial and administrative center of the eastern part of the country. They are famous for one of the most beautiful Slovak markets and the monumental Gothic cathedral of St. Elizabeth.
All monuments of Košice are concentrated in the very center, which in the past was surrounded by defensive walls. The city was founded in the Middle Ages and was from its beginnings an important point on the trade route from Poland to the central regions of Hungary.
The Košice market is shaped like an elongated spindle and is surrounded by tenement houses from various eras. It is a pedestrian zone and a place where various outdoor events take place. One of them is the famous Christmas market, which is visited by tourists from Slovakia as well as from Hungary, Poland and Ukraine.
The most important building in the market is the Gothic cathedral of St. Elizabeth. It is one of the easternmost gothic cathedrals and at the same time the largest brick church in Slovakia. The 14th-century Urban Tower and the 13th-century Chapel of St. Michael. Together, they form a common medieval building complex.
A large square in front of the National Theater occupies a separate part of the center. It is a favorite meeting place for residents. Illuminated, playing fountains operate here in summer.
