5 facts about Košice that may surprise you

Košice – the metropolis of Eastern Slovakia – has been enjoying increased international awareness after successful 2013, when the city was honoured with the title “The European Capital of Culture 2013”. This year Košice is proud to be “The European City of Sport 2016” and it is reachable from hundreds of destinations around the globe thanks to fantastic connectivity provided by Turkish Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Czech Airlines, Austrian Airlines and Wizz Air.

However, I´m pretty sure that following five facts about Košice will surprise many readers.

1. Košice has the largest pedestrian promenade in Slovakia

Not Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, but Košice, the republic´s second largest city has the largest pedestrian area in the country. It´s called Hlavná street (the Main street) and it´s almost one kilometre long promenade full of wonderful historical buildings, churches (incl. the Easternmost gothic cathedral in Europe – St. Elisabeth´s Cathedral), restaurants and cafés, with pictoresque atmosphere all year round. This is how it looks like in Košice:

 2. Košice is host of the oldest marathon run in Europe

The International Peace Marathon has been organized in Košice since 1924. The event takes place every first Sunday in October with more than 10,000 participants. For this year you can still register here.

3. There are 21 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES within 200 km from Košice

Tourists very often establish their base camp in Košice to explore the wonderful region of Eastern Slovakia from here. From the majestic Spiš Castle, through breath-taking  caves of Gemer to magnificent wooden churches, region of Košice offers as much as 21 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE locations.

4. More than 10 000 people work in IT sector in Košice

Košice doesn´t only breathe with history. It is also a modern city that has technology and innovation in its veins. In just ten years, companies gathered in Košice IT Valley were able to raise the IT jobs in Košice from zero to ten thousand. And the potential has not been used completely. Find out more about Košice IT Valley here.

5. Angelina Jolie´s origins are in Košice

I am not kidding. The father of actor Jon Voight (father of Angelina Jolie) emigrated from Košice to USA where he became professional player of golf. Paul Newman had also Slovak roots. His mother was a Slovakian coming from little village Ptičie, around 80 km from Košice.

So, what are you waiting for? Visit Košice!