BARDEJOV

The first written references about the town comes from the 13th century. The town’s economy reached its peak in the 15th century, when burgers prospered from the production and export of linen. In addition to the adjacent curative spa, the town also had , mills, a brewery, brickworks, a slaughter-house, and the town weighing scales, and it was a trading and craft centre. The oblong central square is the most significant part of the town. It is made up of major urban architectural, artistic, historic and cultural sites. The most notable sites include the Gothic church of St Egidius from the 14th century, the former town hall, built in 1511, which integrates the late Gothic form with early Renaissance elements, Gothic burger houses, The church of St Francis, a Greek-catholic church, town fortifications and a complex of former Jewish baths, a synagogue, farming and residential buildings.

The youngest amongst Slovak UNESCO Heritage sights is the historical centre of Bardejov town.

If you are looking for accommodation in Bardejov, you have wide choice of hotels and guesthouses, but there are also apartments or boarding house.

The heart of the city and its protective zone were officially added to the UNESCO list on the 30th November 2000. A settlement called Bardejov lying on the area road from Hungary to Poland has already been mentioned in records by Ipatjev chronicler in 1241. Only in 1320 Karol Robert granted the town privileges to Germans who had settled nearby this Slovak settlement on the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. That time Bardejov was already fortified and it had a rectangular market square with Roman Catholic St. Egidius Church on the North. The church is from the beginning of the 14th century, rebuilt into three naves in the first half of the 15th century. In spite of Gothic alteration in exterior by I. Steindl's projects and fire in 1878 the unique interior furniture have survived. The most remarkable is the set of 11 Gothic wing casement altars. Dominant feature of the square is a symbol of town administration independence - late Gothic Town Hall from the 16th century. However, Renaissance portals and alcove give in western side give it a hallmark of the first Renaissance building in Slovakia. The fortification built in the middle of the 14th century deserves a special attention, as it is one of the most perfect Gothic town forts. Most of the bastions come from the 15th and the beginning of the 16th century, the monumental barbicans are the outcomes of the third building stage caused by danger of Turkish attacks. Merchants' houses have their origin in the rich 15th century, in the first half of which the town had around 500 houses. Their typical feature is high peak endings or steep hip roofs and originally Gothic disposition, which was later modified into two wings. Some houses were modified in Renaissance and Baroque styles when the changes were initiated either by fire or extension of residential area to the exclusion of barn buildings. Merchants' houses around the grand market square in Bardejov are representing developed merchant's culture.

Bardejov reached the peak of its economic flourishing already in the 15th century. Significant contribution was its advantageous strategic position as well as business support of Hungarian and Polish kings. There were 64 crafts, 51 guilds and 146 craftsmen cumulated in the town at that period. More of them were only in Bratislava, Kosice and Levoca. Then already everything important was happening on the market square, which fascinates citizens of Bardejov as well as chance visitors. Preserved subjects especially are the town fortification with nearby Jewish suburb, unique merchants and craft houses, St. Egidius Church and Town Hall. All the buildings create harmonious complex of the square that belongs to one of the nicest in the world. Nearby the city centre surrounded by buildings of the past 40 years there is partially survived complex of former Jewish spa and synagogue - remains of suburbia centre from the end of the 18th century and systematically built according to talmudist regulations.

For preserving its historical sights Bardejov town was awarded European Gold Medal by International Curatorial Foundation ICOMOS at UNESCO in Hamburg in 1986. Bardejov became the first Slovak town awarded that honour.

www.e-bardejov.sk, www.cestaunesco.sk