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Košice

Košice
City
BandeauKosice.png
Top:St. Elisabeth Cathedral, Middle:Aerial view of Košice, Bottom left:Košice State theater (Štátne divadlo Košice), Bottom middle:View of Saint Michael's Chapel and Hlavná Street, Bottom right:Statue of Andrassy
Flag
Nickname: City of tolerance
Country Slovakia
Region Košice Self-governing Region
River Hornád
Elevation 206 m (676 ft)
Coordinates 48°43′N 21°15′E / 48.717°N 21.250°E / 48.717; 21.250Coordinates: 48°43′N 21°15′E / 48.717°N 21.250°E / 48.717; 21.250
Area 242.768 km2 (93.733 sq mi)
 - urban 1,776 km2 (686 sq mi)
 - metro 2,709 km2 (1,046 sq mi)
Population 240,688 (2011-12-31)
 - urban 355,047
 - metro 555,800
Density 991/km2 (2,567/sq mi)
First mentioned 1230
Government City council
Mayor Richard Raši (Smer – SD)
Timezone CET (UTC+1)
 - summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 040 00
Area code +421-55
Car plate KE
Location in Slovakia
Location in Slovakia
Location in the Košice Region
Location in the Košice Region
Statistics: MOŠ/MIS
Website: www.kosice.sk

Košice (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈkoʃitse], also known by other alternative names) is the biggest city in eastern Slovakia and in 2013 was the European Capital of Culture (together with Marseille, France). It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary. With a population of approximately 240,000, Košice is the second largest city in Slovakia after the capital Bratislava.

Being the economic and cultural centre of eastern Slovakia, Košice is the seat of the Košice Region and Košice Self-governing Region, the Slovak Constitutional Court, three universities, various dioceses, and many museums, galleries, and theatres. Košice is an important industrial centre of Slovakia, and the U.S. Steel Košice steel mill is the largest employer in the city. The town has extensive railway connections and an international airport.

The city has a well-preserved historical centre, which is the largest among Slovak towns. There are many heritage protected buildings in Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Art Nouveau styles with Slovakia's largest church: the St. Elisabeth Cathedral. The long main street, rimmed with aristocratic palaces, Catholic churches, and townsfolk's houses, is a thriving pedestrian zone with many boutiques, cafés, and restaurants. The city is well known as the first settlement in Europe to be granted its own coat-of-arms.


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