Košice is the largest city in eastern Slovakia and, together with Marseille, France, was designated as the European Capital of Culture in 2013. It is located on the Hornád River, close the border with Hungary, in the eastern parts of the Slovak Ore Mountains. Košice, Slovakia’s second biggest city after the capital Bratislava, with a population of around 240,000 people.
Košice, the economic and cultural center of eastern Slovakia, is home to the Košice Region and Koice Self-governing Region, the Slovak Constitutional Court, three universities, many dioceses, and several museums, galleries, and theaters. Košice is an important industrial center in Slovakia, with the US Steel Košice steel mill being the city’s main employment. The city has substantial rail links as well as an international airport.
The city boasts the biggest and best-preserved historical center among Slovak towns. Many heritage-protected structures in Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Art Nouveau styles may be found, including Slovakia’s biggest cathedral, St. Elisabeth Cathedral. The lengthy main street, which is surrounded by aristocratic palaces, Catholic churches, and townhouses, is a vibrant pedestrian zone with numerous stores, cafés, and restaurants. The city is well-known for being the first in Europe to be awarded its own coat-of-arms.