Prešov – a historic city with a rich tradition
Discover the historic centre, important landmarks and places that shaped one of the most significant cities in eastern Slovakia.
Welcome to Prešov
Prešov is Slovakia’s third-largest city and the natural centre of the Šariš region. The earliest written mention of the city dates from the 13th century. In 1374, it became a free royal city. Together with Košice, Bardejov, Levoča and Sabinov, it belonged to the Pentapolitana, an association of five important cities in eastern Slovakia.
The city’s wealth came from trade and crafts. You can still see reminders of it in the historic centre’s townhouses and palaces, churches of different denominations and schools that shaped education throughout the region. Prešov has always been a meeting place for different peoples, languages and traditions.
This profile will guide you through eight places. Six lie along a short walking route through the historic centre. You can visit the Calvary and Solivar separately. At each stop, you can read or listen to its story.
Enjoy discovering the city.
Prešov step by step
Selected places in the historic centre that you can easily include in your own walk through the city.
Hlavná Street
Hlavná Street runs through the entire historic heart of Prešov and is one of Slovakia’s longest historic streets. It is lined with townhouses and palaces that trace the development of architecture from Gothic to Baroque. Take a look: beside the houses at Hlavná 115 and 124, a stainless-steel strip marks the 49th parallel north.
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Konkatedrála svätého Mikuláša
Construction of the Gothic church began after 1347. Its three-aisled structure was completed in 1505 and its tower in 1515. Master Ján Brengiszen led the rebuilding work. Take a look: the three aisles create the space characteristic of a hall church.
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Evanjelické kolégium
The decision to establish the college was made in 1665. Jonáš Záborský and Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav both studied here. Did you know? The Swedish king also contributed to its construction, and the college’s historic library holds more than 40,000 volumes.
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Prešovská Kalvária
The Baroque Calvary complex began to take shape in 1720, and further chapels were added until 1893. The Chapel of the Holy Stairs was built in 1765, following a Roman model. The Calvary stands on a hill above the city, giving you a sweeping view of Prešov. Did you know? The Lithuanian prince Radziwill funded the chapel in gratitude for the refuge he found in Prešov.
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Neptúnova fontána
The sculptural group was completed in 1826 by Vincent Staviarsky, a sculptor from Košice. The fountain was commissioned by the merchant Marek Holländer. Take a look: Neptune is also surrounded by a frog, a turtle and a crocodile. The fountain’s basin is the city’s last surviving original cistern.
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Jonáš Záborský
The bust commemorates Jonáš Záborský, a writer and priest who lived from 1812 to 1876. He studied theology here in Prešov, at Evanjelické kolégium, which you saw at the third stop. Did you know? He initially disagreed with Štúr’s codification of Slovak, but later accepted the new form of the language.
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Pamätník obetiam fašizmu
The memorial recalls the bombing of Prešov on 20 December 1944, when the prison was also hit. This date is one of the city’s days of remembrance. Remembering the past: on the 80th anniversary, the city also honoured the victims by symbolically lighting 120 candles.
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Solivar
Solivar preserves equipment used to extract brine, boil it to produce salt and store the salt. The complex includes the Leopold shaft, salt-boiling houses and a salt warehouse. Did you know? It is the only surviving above-ground complex of its kind in Slovakia.
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The city’s history does not have to remain hidden in information boards or tourist guidebooks.
Prešov on the map
Discover the monuments and historic places included in this profile. Click a point on the map, view the story of a particular place or start navigation directly on your phone.
Walking route through the centreBefore your visit
Walking through the centre: The recommended order is Evanjelické kolégium, stop 03, Konkatedrála svätého Mikuláša, stop 02, Hlavná Street, stop 01, Neptúnova fontána, stop 05, the Záborský bust, stop 06, and the memorial, stop 07. Allow about 60 to 90 minutes to view the sites from outside.
The Calvary and Solivar: Both lie outside the short route through the centre. The path to the Calvary goes uphill. Solivar is suitable for a separate visit. Use the navigation button to see the exact route and distance.
Solivar in September and October: Tuesday to Saturday, 9.00 to 17.00. Entry times are 9.00, 10.30, 12.30, 14.00 and 15.30. Standard admission for the full tour is €10. Opening hours · Current prices. Contact: muzeum.solivar@stm-ke.sk.
Interiors and accessibility: Access to the church also depends on the service schedule. Check the parish programme. The route to the Calvary climbs uphill. Ask the information centre or the operator about wheelchair access and step-free routes.
Parking near the centre: Options are available on Jarková, Slovenská and nearby streets. Current zones, prices and available spaces are listed on the city parking portal.
City information centre: Hlavná 67, Prešov, +421 51 3100 125, info@gopresov.sk.
Information checked on 2 October 2026. Opening hours and admission prices may change. Check the operators’ websites before your visit.
Listen to the story
Location
Historic centre of Prešov, Hlavná Street, 080 01 Prešov, Slovakia
Sources and authors
Texts: Lukáš Baloga, created with the assistance of AI. Photographs: Lukáš Baloga. Audio: SmartŠtítok.
Information on the history of the landmarks, opening hours and admission prices was drawn from the websites of the City of Prešov, GoPrešov, Prešov Region, OOCR Šariš, the Roman Catholic Parish of Saint Nicholas and the Slovak Technical Museum. Links to the specific sources appear at each stop.
Last updated: 2 October 2026.