HISTORY AND PRESENT

The earliest  written record dates  back to 1241  and can be seen on  the yellowed pages of  the Ipatyiev Monastery Chro nicle.  The extensive  territory  of  "terra Bartfa"  can be found in written records dating back to 1247.

At the  turn of the  13th and 14th  centuries colonists from Silesia settled  down near the settlement  lying on the main communication route. In 1320 King Robert granted them exten sive rights, which speeded  up the process of transformation of the chartered village "Bardejov" into a town.

In 1352 the  town obtained the right to  hold the 8-day fair and the guarantee of freedom for all who took part in it.

The safety  of trade and craftsmanship  and the town's independence were protected by the town fortifications with their impregnable gates, massive turrets and water moats.

 
Picture: model of historical Bardejov                      

In 1365  Bardejov obtained the  right of capital  punishment and in 1376 King Louis I.  promoted it to the status of free royal town.

In  the 14th  and 15th  centuries, the  dexterousness of the Bardejov merchants  and the development  of craftsmanship as documented by 64 professions and more than 50 guilds, raised the town to the peak of its fame and wealth. A number of silent witnesses have been preserved from this period certifying the "Golden Age" of Bardejov. Among them are the secular and  ecclesiastical buildings  which even  today impress the mediaval character of the town.

The most  precious of them  is the monumental  St. Egidius Church, which from the point of view of its architecture, is a part of  the national heritage in  Slovakia. Its 11 gothic winged altars with panel paintings have hardly any parallels in Europe. The artistic feeling and taste of the masters is also witnessed by the church interior.

Picture: St. Egidius Church damaged by fire  

A special attention  is attracted by  the rectangular square paved with cobblestones flanked  on three sides with burgher houses carrying traces of  gothic and rennaissance architecture. The 16th  century was marked by  the flourishing of culture, education and arts.

One of  the most precious  buildings is the  Town Hall whose construction was  begun in 1505 by  Master Alexander. On the original gothic  foundations  a  renaissance superstructure with a beautiful oriel was  built by Master Alexius and Master Jan of Presov.

After centuries of flourishment  and fame came the centuries of decline, poverty and  stagnation. Plague and other epidemics, fires and wars almost  destroyed the town,  which was falling  into disrepair  both economically  and socially and Bardejov was gradually becoming forgotten. But Bardejov  has not been completely  forgotten. In 1950 it was declared a protected city core and an intensive restoration of the cultural heritage was begun.  

It  was for  the preservation  of its  heritage that in 1986 Bardejov was  awarded the European  prize - Gold  Medal – by the International Board of Trustees in Hamburg. Bardejov became the holder of this award as the first town in the CSFR.

In 2000 Bardejov was enlisted into UNESCO World Heritage List (click here)