THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON IN HERE
Something invisible that’s been the theme of stories and myths. Enter here and you’ll never leave. It sucks you in (if you‘ve got the map), it makes you come back (because you never left). It makes you love it, however much it takes. Košice is a vortex. Of people, culture, unhinged curiosity - whatever, you name it. One just needs to know where to look. The time spent hither prompted us to unveil the invisible part of Košice and highlight for you what we already know works best; real people telling real stories about real value. We talk random friendships, disorientated walks, offensively delicious tastes, killer views, strong spirits.
Introduction
3
arathon in The oldest m he second Europe and t world, oldest in the o 1924 dating back t
The third greatest zoo in Euro pe stretching out to 288 ha
The la rg garde est botanic ni al reach n Slovakia ing 30 ha
The oldest p reserved co at of arms in Eur ope awarde d to the king of the city on the 7th of May in 1369 by Luis I of Hungary
ty in the i c t s e i d e. The win n Empir a i r a g y n Hu ximatel o r p Austrop a ds blow The win a year s y a d 0 25
The largest Gothic cathedral in Slovakia
Learn the local alphabet, crack open the city of KoĹĄice.
Adventure time They say the best experiences cannot be planned, but rather come from unexpected moments in life. ÄŒervenĂ˝ Breh is exactly the kind of place these you would not plan on going unless a very spontaneous decision. In summer, a gently rising hill from above a botanical garden turns into an adventurous bike park; in winter, to a modest ski slope. If you have a chance, visit it on a day of an event. The biking community is pretty laid-back, welcoming to newcomers wanting those extra molecules of adrenaline. #relax
Červený breh No opening hours, best enjoyed in summer. Better to visit from Thursday to Sunday, in a day of an event. Check @BikeParkCervenyBreh beforehand.
On top and behind the Červený breh, 040 01 Sever Best take taxi or download Bolt (Taxify) app. No opening hours.
MORSKÁ CHATA SEA CHALET Unofficial, informal and very honest. Take a moment to visit, whether it be for work, to take a bike ride, throw a party, visit an outdoor cinema or to simply enjoy the views over the city.
+ INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE Many would not notice the abandoned magnesite factory behind Červený Breh. Scramble up the hill to the wooden cross and look to the right. Just a few minutes by foot and you see a strange silhouette lurking in the horizon. Not entirely opened but worth a look, a Bankov mine resembling a Chernobyl video game.
A Local Alphabet
17
Date hard, break hearts
One of the things you can never get ready for is dating. As much as we wanted to crack open this universe for you, there’s no one-size-fits-all method. Take the first steps towards successful falling in love, inspire yourself with our choice. Good luck! #see
Botanická záhrada Mánesova 1889/23 9am - 3pm
Kino Úsmev Kasárenské námestie 1 FB @usmevkino IG @kinousmev
SENSATIONAL HIPSTER EXPLORATION Botanical garden - and not just an ordinary one. A real perk of the gardens with wild lush grasslands, hot green-houses, lakeside picnic areas and orchids galore. It is a great place to romance for those who want to get out of the city’s hustle and bustle.
EASY COME AND EASY GO Kino Úsmev - The only remaining brick cinema with both top-notch premiere films and the art house repertoire. Laid-back atmosphere with a retro bar and an outside seating area, it is an easy, relaxed place for a fun date.
D Local Alphabet
25
Roam around with a suburb
CRUISER The Non-Guides
125
Certainly you’ve got things you don’t like, are not good at or purposely avoid. The grey areas of our own peripheries. The ones you know about, but don’t always feel like exploring. What does it mean waking-up at the periphery each day then? Does the spatiality of a town change the way you perceive the world around you? And if yes, how does it affect your personality? When it comes to translating the local suburbia language most coherently, we found someone who knows what he does quite well. During the summer of 2018 we were lucky to meet Maroš who said yes to highlight suburbs’ special features for you. Ramble your way through. It’s worth it. 126
The Non-Guides
Meet Maroš
H
igher standard of living? Suburbs represent the architectural vision of the left-wing, inter-war avant-garde period. The solution was based in the Athens Charter of 1931, of which the main aim was to raise the standard of living for those in the city. Projects for each housing estate or suburbs were generous and provided everything a person needed to live a quality life. The problems of Košice suburbia were rather incidental. The necessity of rapid construction, low craftsmanship, lagging of the construction of civic amenities and little flexibility of the panel house resulted in an ostentatious housing cityscape. As a result of this phenomenon, suburbs provided a great deal of interesting and absurd features in the public space. The Non-Guides
127
“Each person has his/her own eyes which he/she sees the suburbs through. But in its unwieldiness and imperfection, only few can see the beauty.” Maroš