Poprad, Slovakia: sights, interesting places, history of the city. Cathedral of Our Lady

It is imperative to dilute travel: sunbathing on the sea coast - go inland, the eye was glad to see the vastness of the fields - surround yourself with snow-capped mountain peaks, marveled at lively exotic countries - find peace in the sedate ancient neighboring states. For finding peace of mind and filling with pleasant impressions, for example, Slovenia is the best suited and, in particular, a very small town on the river, right under the famous High Tatras - Poprad.

In small bordering neighboring countries, I am invariably impressed by the feeling of neatness and regularity. Poprad is the embodiment of both. The first mentions of it appeared somewhere in the middle of the 13th century, however, one should not focus on an educational tour. Several ancient churches (including a whole ensemble that embodied the styles of "Renaissance" and "Gothic" right in the city center), preserved residential architecture and, perhaps, the local airport, famous as the highest mountain by world standards - that's, perhaps, and all. But people go to Poprad for something completely different. If you look at the map, you will immediately see that the town is literally surrounded by national reserves, the name of one of which speaks directly for itself - "Slovenian Paradise". Do not discount a very respectable ski resort with a well-developed infrastructure. Poprad becomes a cozy place of temporary residence for travelers, where leisurely ... read completely

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Weather in Poprad by months:

* This table shows the average weather data collected over more than three years

Prices for rest in Poprad. October 2016.

tour cost

Last October I decided to go to Slovakia. I bought myself a tour package for 5 days for 400 euros. The bus was dispatched from the city of Lviv at 8 am. Approximately every 2 hours, the bus driver made a short break for 10-15 minutes, because travel time is about 13 hours. The first city we saw was Kosice. A small, beautiful city with a beautiful main street. We were given 2 hours for a walk. I didn't go with a group and a guide, but decided to see everything myself. But the rain that suddenly started spoiled it a little and we all returned to the bus after an hour. And immediately went to the city of Poprad, where we stayed for the next 4 days.

Every day upon arrival in Poprad, our entire group, about 30 people, went to the sources of thermal waters. The entrance was paid, 8-10 euros per person. I was not interested in thermal springs at that time, so I did not go there. In principle, I was pleased with the whole trip. We had an intelligent and competent guide and an experienced driver. The hotel also received us very well.

Food and groceries

The most interesting thing is the prices in cafes and bars. They pleasantly surprised me. Could have dined pizza with juice and paid for all 4 euros. It is very cheap compared to other European countries.

Souvenirs and other goods

During my short vacation in Poprad, I several times managed to go to the shopping center, which was a 10-minute walk from our hotel. I liked the mall itself and the shops inside. The prices are quite affordable for everything. You could find things for any wallet. For example, I bought several pairs of shoes and paid € 20-25 each. And she took winter shoes. Souvenir shops were also pleased with their prices. Magnets from 1 euro and up. Figurines from 3. I bought a handmade Tilda doll, paid 25 euros. This is probably the most expensive souvenir purchase in Poprad.

Total money spent on vacation

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September holiday experience

Last year in September I went on a tour to a new country for me - Slovakia. It coincided that in the summer I did not succeed, and I decided to go at the beginning of autumn, which I am very glad about. There was no heat and stuffiness, and the air was clean and fresh. In my opinion, one of the best months for a calm and comfortable stay, when the thermometer shows +24, not +35.

Family holiday

Poprad itself is a small but very beautiful European town. Great for family walks, quiet get-togethers in numerous bars and restaurants. Also in this city is the Aquacity water park with thermal waters. Children will definitely have fun there, and adults too.

Holidays for the elderly

I think older people will like the calm atmosphere even in the very center of this city. Despite the fact that the streets of Poprad are filled with tourists, they do not create any chaos.

Rest alone

I went to Poprad alone. I was just interested to see some of the cities in this country. The architecture of the streets even reminded me in some way of Ukrainian Lviv. The weather was great, so I didn’t sit in the hotel. I walked around the city, went to numerous shops for tourists, had lunch and dinner in cafes and restaurants. There was a shopping center nearby, so we even managed to do some shopping.

What to take with you on vacation?

1. It will not be superfluous to take your usual medicines with you, just in case. I have not checked the assortment in the pharmacies of Poprad.

2. If you are traveling together or going to restaurants, you can bring an elegant dress and appropriate shoes. Although in Europe people usually don’t dress up to go to a restaurant as is customary in our country.

3. Take a swimsuit and a towel with you if you want to visit the thermal springs.

4. Comfortable shoes are useful for walking around the city.

5. Well, you can also take a warm jacket if your trip is not in the summer.

Where is the best place to stay?

Because my trip was on a tour package, I didn't have to choose a hotel. We were settled by two people in double rooms in the 3-star hotel "Poprad", which is located right near the city center, which is very convenient. The rooms in this hotel are very ordinary. Nothing special. The hotel staff is polite and attentive. And at the reception desk, a guy from Ukraine worked, who freely communicated with us in Russian. Breakfast was included in the price of the stay. In the morning from 8 to 10 a self-service Swedish table was laid. For breakfast we were offered yoghurt, fruit, tea, coffee, marmalade bread and croissants. The prices for this hotel are not high, about 30 euros per person. Poprad is not a very expensive city, so you can choose any hotel convenient for you at an affordable price, after looking at information about it on the Internet.

What can you buy?

During my stay in Poprad, I have visited the Max Poprad shopping center more than once. It is large enough, there are a lot of shops for every taste and budget. I bought myself several pairs of shoes, hats for the winter, several sweaters and jeans. Prices are not high for things, despite the fact that the city is tourist. In the very center of the city, I bought a lot of souvenirs, from magnets to photo frames, handmade dolls and figurines.

About the prices of goods

Prices for figurines range from 2 to 10 euros. Magnets from euros to 4, bought a handmade doll for 25 euros. Shoes cost me about 25 euros per pair, sweaters 15-20.

The center is full of various cafes and bars. The prices are very low. You can buy a large slice of delicious pizza for only 1-2 euros. Drinks, including alcoholic ones, are also inexpensive, from 1-3 euros. Dinner usually cost me 5-7 euros. I have not yet met such prices in European institutions.

Pros of rest in Poprad

Beautiful landscapes

Interesting architecture of the city

Nice locals

Low food prices

Hotels for every taste and budget

There is a water park and springs with thermal waters

Shopping centers with affordable prices

Cons of rest in Poprad

I can say that I liked almost everything. Hotels should be chosen from a minimum of 4 stars. Also, a disadvantage in this case may simply be an unsuccessfully chosen period for rest and the rainy season, and instead of walking, you will simply have to hide in a hotel or in a cafe.

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Poprad is located in the north, at the foot of the High Tatras, on the banks of the river of the same name, in the Presov region. Despite the fact that the city does not have a large number of striking attractions, it occupies a prominent place on the tourist map of the country, annually receiving thousands of guests from other regions of the republic and European states, stopping here on the way to the main ski resorts of the region.

Peculiarities

Being the capital of the district of the same name, Poprad has a small territory, but, nevertheless, it is quite spacious and convenient in terms of organizing infrastructure and transport links. Having a long and eventful history, the city is not too rich in cultural monuments or outstanding architectural structures, therefore its main advantage is its convenient geographical location. In the immediate vicinity there are the national parks Slovak Paradise and the High Tatras, symbolizing the beauty of the local nature, as well as well-known ski resorts and other tourist centers in the country. Narrow city streets here gracefully intertwine with low neat houses, and shop windows sparkle invitingly in the light of the sun's rays reflecting from the glass. The hotel industry in the regional capital is presented for every taste, from expensive hotels with all conveniences to banal economical hostels. The composition of the population is almost entirely formed from Europeans, including not only Slovaks, but also people from countries such as,. The main religion here is Catholicism. The townspeople communicate in the Slovak language, but the Roma language is also widespread.

general information

The territory of Poprad occupies an insignificant area, only 63 sq. km, with a population of just over 55 thousand people. Local time lags behind Moscow by 1 hour in summer and 2 in winter. The time zone is UTC + 1 and UTC + 2 in summer. Telephone code + (421) 052. Official website www.poprad.sk.

A brief excursion into history

The first mention of the city dates back to 1256, when the bulk of the population was German. At the beginning of the XIII century, for large debts, along with the rest of the Spiš towns and settlements that are currently forming the region, Poprad was given to Poland, in which it existed for more than 4 centuries. In 1871, a railway was laid in the region, after which the city began to rapidly transform and grow. Already a part of Slovakia, it reached its heyday and today is considered one of the most prosperous cities in the Presov region.

Climate

This area is dominated by a temperate climate with mild winters and warm summers. The average air temperature from December to February is about 0 degrees here, but sometimes there are very low temperatures. Snow falls regularly. The summer months are characterized by relatively warm days, when the thermometer fluctuates between +18 and +23 degrees. The period from June to September accounts for the bulk of precipitation. Tourists visit these places throughout the year, as the High Tatras are equally good both in winter and in summer.

How to get there

The local airport Poprad-Tatry serves as the central air gate of the region, accessible for aircraft flying here from different points of the continent, including from. It is located at an altitude of over 700 meters above sea level and is considered the highest airport in Europe. Also, Poprad has an established bus and train connection with other regions and with neighboring countries.

Transport

Within the city limits, buses and minibuses are common.

Attractions and entertainment

The central place of the regional capital is the St. Egidius Square, where the eponymous cathedral rises. An excursion to the suburb of Spisska Sobota, with unique museum expositions of folk culture, everyday life and architecture, exhibited in the open air, is also extremely interesting. The list of all kinds of entertainment is wide enough in Poprad and the surrounding area. The most striking object of such a plan is the magnificent aquatic center "Aquacity". In addition to traditional water slides, it includes Turkish baths, thermal pools with water from natural underground sources, playgrounds, a pool with ice water, excellent conditions for SPA treatments and other joys of life. In the vicinity of Poprad, there are hundreds of kilometers of scenic hiking trails, from different points of which incredibly beautiful views of the vastness of the Presov region open up. Lovers of winter entertainment can fully enjoy skiing from the snowy peaks of the High Tatras.

Kitchen

The city's culinary establishments enjoy great attention not only among foreign tourists, but also among local residents who like to look into the local eateries so as not to cook dinner at home and, at the same time, have a good and inexpensive meal. Local dishes are extremely varied and rich, so even the most fastidious gourmets can satisfy their needs here.

Shopping

City shops and stalls offer customers a wide range of goods, from clothing and jewelry to simple souvenirs for every taste.

Rare tourists who come to the High Tatras region pass the hospitable Poprad. Often being just a transit point, this small town has a lot of advantages and allows you to fully appreciate its charm, obliging its guests to remember the journey to the picturesque Presov region for a long time.

Poprad from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Poprad.

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Trains from Bratislava leave for Poprad every hour, the fare is 19 EUR. The price of a ticket for a seat on a train from Prague starts from 13 EUR. Prices on the page are for September 2018.

The E50 highway passes by Poprad, connecting the city with the capital of the region, Presov. The D1 route Zilina - Poprad is also laid here.

Search for flights to Bratislava (closest airport to Poprad)

Story

The first written records of Poprad date back to 1256, when it was a typical German town. For gambling debts at the beginning of the 13th century, he and several other Spish settlements went to Poland. As part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the city lived for about 4 centuries. In 1871, an important event took place: a railway was laid to Poprad. After that, the city began to actively develop, and its population grew sharply. It flourished as a part of Czechoslovakia, and today it is considered the richest in the entire Presov region.

Accommodation in Poprad

The hotel complex Poprad is presented with a variety of accommodation options for every wallet. So, in the Mountain View hotel at the AquaCity entertainment center, you will have to pay 136 EUR per night. But half board is included in the price. In a good three-star hotel in the city center, a standard double room with breakfast costs 35 EUR. A night in a guesthouse will cost 25 EUR on average.

What to see

The main attraction of the city is St. Egidius Square. Along the perimeter, it is surrounded by terraced buildings dominated by 18th century bourgeois baroque and classicist houses. The dominant feature of the city is the early Gothic Roman Catholic Church of St. Egidius from the 13th century. 400 years after its construction, a fire suddenly broke out in the temple. The fire element did not spare anything - neither the numerous chronicles, which were safely stored in the temple for several centuries, nor the details of the interior. It was possible to completely restore the Church of St. Egidius only in 1998.

Visitors to Poprad should also visit the Podtatransky Museum. Its exposition invites you to get acquainted with the history and geography of this picturesque region. The collection includes archaeological finds, stuffed animals of the region's inhabitants, and household items of local residents.

Another museum, the Tatra Gallery, acquaints visitors with paintings by local and foreign painters. The exposition is located in the building of a former steam power plant. Here, among other things, are presented objects of contemporary art.

Despite the fact that the mountains are the main symbol of Poprad, local artists began to sing them in their works only in the 19th century.

An important center of attraction for tourists from Slovakia and neighboring countries is the multifunctional entertainment center AquaCity. On its territory there is a huge water park, many thermal pools with water coming straight from underground sources, pools, hamams, playgrounds, spa complexes. AquaCity also includes hotels, a shopping center, and several restaurants. The cost of visiting the park for the whole day is 22 EUR, for children - 19 EUR.

Weather

Poprad and the region have a typical piedmont temperate climate characterized by mild winters and warm summers. In June-August, the thermometer shows +18 ... + 23 ° C. Most of the precipitation falls from June to September. The average temperature in the city from December to March is 0 ° C, however, colder temperatures are often recorded. It snows regularly in winter. Tourists love to come to Poprad all year round, as the High Tatras are beautiful both in winter and in summer. But the main stream falls on December-March - the ski season.

City of Poprad in Slovakia is often seen as a transit center before traveling to. However, Poprad also has its own sights that are of interest to tourists.

There are many small cafes in the pedestrian city center

First of all, it is the historical center of the city. Like many other cities in Slovakia, it is an elongated pedestrian zone (either a street or a square), in the center of which there are a number of important city attractions. In Poprad, this central pedestrian zone is called "Namestie Svateho Egidia", and in its center there are two historic cathedrals - the Church of St. Egidius and the Evangelical Church.

In general, the pedestrian zone of Poprad is very nice and green, albeit small. There are many trees, benches, outdoor cafes, bicycle paths along the sidewalks. There are no cars in the city center. As, however, and large shopping centers (the only shopping center in the city MAX Poprad is located a little to the side, a 15-20 minute walk from the center). The only large store located in the city center is the two-story H&M.

From the Poprad railway station (next to it there is also a bus station), you need to walk to the city center for about 7-8 minutes. A small pedestrian path leaves from the station towards the center through the park. It almost reaches a small river (which, like the city, is called Poprad), crossing which, after 50-100 meters, you get to the city center.

If you still have free time for a walk and a city tour, then in 15-20 minutes from the center of Poprad you can walk to the suburb, which is called. Once it was a separate independent city. Now Poprad has swallowed it up and only a beautiful historical center is left of it, much older than Poprad itself. However, a separate report is devoted to Spishskaya Sobota on our website.

When you walk from the center of Poprad towards Spišská Sobota, you will pass by another attraction in Poprad - the AquaCity water park, which is open all year round.

Many tourists who come to rest in the High Tatras prefer to rent a hotel room, not in the mountains, but in Poprad itself, which is generally justified. Prices here will be an order of magnitude lower than in the same or on, and getting to the mountains from Poprad is not a problem (it regularly runs between Poprad and the High Tatras). There are several large hotels in the city center such as Tatra Hotel, Poprad Hotel and others. But as for us, we decided to rent a room in a small one, located next to Bill's store near the train station. Here, for the same money as accommodation in the mountains (which is somewhere around 50 euros per day), you can take a room with two meals a day included in the price, which is pretty good, you will agree. Plus, the food is pretty good and the rooms are very original. Just do not take the cheapest number, it is very small.

Is a small Slovak town. In winter, it serves as a haven for skiers who are not far from the ski lifts from here, and it is not as expensive to stay as in hotels in the immediate vicinity. The airport is located a couple of kilometers from the city. Except as a base for skiing, the city cannot offer tourists any interesting sights or a transit point when traveling by car or plane.

Slovakia

After visiting Zakopane, we went to Slovakia.

Having driven away from the city to the west of about 20 kilometers along the border, we turned and ended up in Slovakia, of course, there is no border, we learned that in another country at the sign with the rules of the road.

Bath Chata Oravice

After another 20 kilometers, we stumbled upon a large swimming pool right next to the highway, next to the sign Chata Oravice. It is not clear whether this is the name of this place, or whether the hotel is nearby. We decided to stop.

Price

Entrance 5 euros.

2 pools with thermal water 35 and 38 degrees, respectively. There are a lot of people, because Saturday, I heard both Polish and Slovak speech. You can take baths for no more than 30 minutes, which we did while Vlada slept with the car. Slates and a robe, which we did not take, would not have been superfluous.

Because in Europe everything is close, then a little later, namely after 100 kilometers we arrived in the city of Poprad, part of the serpentine road through the Tatras, part of the highway.

Lonely Planet points out only 2 attractions in the city:

• Central square. But really there is nothing to do there, at least not in the season.
• Aqua City water park with outdoor thermal water. But we bought expensive in the same water and decided not to go.

The city is surprisingly empty! We walked around the main square of St. Egidius. The area is home to the Catholic and Lutheran churches. Most of the shops and cafes are closed.

Poprad, Slovakia.

Of the five cafes visited, none has the Internet.

We did not go to the protected part of Poprad Spisska Sobota; in this situation, there probably is not a single living soul at all! :-)

Somehow we found the Internet and booked the Penzion Fantazia hotel in the city, but upon arriving at it we found that it, like everything in this city, is closed on weekends. It's good that at least they didn't write off the money for the reservation.

Slavia hotel

I immediately ran to the nearby Slavia hotel and found a room that we all really liked, although there are no guests in the hotel except us, but so much the better - sleep more quietly. :-) It's just that summer-autumn is not a season here and the city is designed for skiers. Price € 30. Moreover, the local administrator washed (in the machine) and hung things up to dry for us free of charge.

Selfless people live in Slovakia :-). Yesterday we were given tea for free (because the seller did not have change from 100 euros), and today the administrator gave me the washed, ironed things and did not take anything for it. The average check in all motel laundries is usually $ 10.

And also, as it seemed to me, the Slovak language is closer to Russian than Polish. Yesterday the administrator and I had a great conversation on various topics, she was in Slovak, I was in Russian and we understood each other. :) And what is written is often also understandable. And you can often meet people who speak Russian.

We drove through Poland entirely, except for the north, it was put on later. More precisely, not completely the country, but those main attractions that Lonely Planet advises. But in Slovakia, we will go around all the planned points of the route.