A Most Beautiful Old Town in Northeast Slovakia: Kosice

Often referred as the capital of eastern Slovakia, Kosice offers a rich and unique experience to visitors and residents alike. Located on the Hornad River, 12 miles from Hungary and 55 miles from the Ukranian border, Kosice grew and prospered in part because of its ideal location along the trade route between Hungary's verdant agricultural plains and Poland's population centers. Its importance is highlighted by the fact that Kosice was one of the first towns in Europe to be granted its own coat of arms in 1369 by King Louis the Great. In 2000 U.S. Steel took over the steelworks and currently serves as the area's dominant employer, making a significant contribution to the economic stability of Kosice. Tourism flourishes thanks in part to the great number of heritage sites, the thriving wine region to the south and the varied cultural activities. My interest in going to Slovakia was to do genealogy research in my maternal grand parents birth town of Zavadka, about 2 hours drive west of Kosice.

Now I'm going to share photos of this wonderful town with little explanation, as I think you will enjoy the journey...