Medieval Košice: along the walls
Circle the old town following the line of the walls, from the oldest church to the Lower Gate, via the executioner's bastion and the prison.
Route map
Route stops
- 1Greek Catholic Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God
Cathedral of the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Košice on Moyzesova Street; returned to Byzantine rite after 1990.
0.2 km·3 min - 2Dominican Church (Assumption of the Virgin Mary)
Oldest church in Košice (c. 1290); its tower is 8 m taller than the cathedral's. Crypts under the square.
0.0 km·0 min - 3Dominicans' Square
Plaza de los Dominicos is Košice's largest and oldest market square, where local farmers sell fresh fruit and vegetables daily. The square is dominated by the historic Dominican Convent, a striking architectural landmark that has presided over the marketplace for centuries. A visit here offers an authentic glimpse of local commerce and the city's religious heritage. The market remains the commercial heart of Košice's old town.
0.5 km·7 min - 4Alfarería Street
Calle Alfarería is a charming medieval pedestrianised street running parallel to Hlavná, locally known as the 'Street of Craftsmen'. Here you'll find working ceramicists, blacksmiths and shoemakers alongside artisanal shops, offering an authentic glimpse into Košice's traditional crafts and local character. A genuinely lived-in corner of the old town, free from tourist kitsch.
0.0 km·0 min - 5Calvinist Church
Former army storehouse turned Reformed church (1805–11) with a slender 48 m spire, beside Mikluš Prison.
0.1 km·1 min - 6Katov Bastion
Katov Bastion is a remnant of Košice's medieval fortifications, showcasing the city's military architecture. Part of the historical defensive walls that once protected this important Slovak town, the bastion stands as a tangible link to the period when Košice was fortified against external threats. Today, what remains of this structure offers visitors a glimpse into the engineering and defensive strategies employed during the medieval era. It's worth a visit if you're interested in exploring Košice's rich historical heritage and understanding the role such structures played in protecting the settlement.
0.1 km·1 min - 7Miklúš Prison
Miklúš Prison comprises two 15th-century buildings that served as a jail and torture chamber through to the 19th century. Today, the site houses the permanent exhibition 'Košice Through the Centuries', featuring original prison cells and medieval torture instruments. Visitors can explore this sobering piece of Košice's history and understand the city's evolution across the centuries.
0.3 km·4 min - 8Jakabov Palace
Palacio Jakabov is a striking neogothic palace built between 1899 and 1903 in Košice, designed to resemble a castle with its distinctive towers, gargoyles and arched doorways. Designated as a protected national cultural monument, this highly photogenic structure is best appreciated from the exterior, where its dramatic architectural details are fully visible.
0.5 km·7 min - 9Lower Gate
The remnants of Košice's medieval entrance gate, preserved beneath street level within an art gallery that also hosts concerts. These remains offer a glimpse into the city's medieval fortifications and defensive structures. The subterranean location provides an unusual setting to examine this important piece of Košice's architectural history.
