Imperial Cities in Slovakia
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Pezinok is a city in western Slovakia, located approx. 20 km north-west from Bratislava. Originally, it was a mining settlement. Gold and antimony were extracted in that area. Later, this place has become a wine-making town and up to today there are produced quality wines. Pezinok is situated in the central part of the Small Carpathian Wine Route. The slopes of the Carpathians Mountains are covered with lavish wineyards. The tradition of winemaking is still preserved here and also there are organized various events and festivals. The town of Pezinok is also famous for brickmaking, pottery production and petite handicraft industry. Pezinok is one of the imperial towns. There are a well-preserved centre with several interesting buildings. One of them is the Old City Hall from the 17th century and rebuilt in the 19th century in the classical style. Today, in the City Hall is the City Museum. The picturesque castle built in the 13th century was also renovated. Currently, the building of the castle houses a hotel and a restaurant.
Svätý Jur is an another medieval city situated in the Small Carpathian region. First mentions about that city comes from 1209. In 1647 Svaty Jur was titled as a free royal city. It is considered to be one of the best-preserved vineyard cities in Slovakia with unique architecture. Among the most interesting monuments are the manor-house of Zichy family, the gothic church of St. Juraj with the former rocky altar built in the 13th c., the 17th-century wooden bell-tower, the baroque church of Holy Trinity, the 18th – century Piaristic monastery, the renaissance Pálffy´s manor house. Tourists can find there the ruins of the medieval castle Biely Kamien (White Stone) dated back to the 9th century with the well-preserved city walls.
Modra has been a free royal town since 1607. It is located in the vineyard region of the Little Carpathians. Modra's history dates back to the 3rd millennium B.C. There are numerous monuments which are worth seeing, for instance the Gothic Church of St. John, the Baptist Sculpture of Golgota, the Town Walls with the Upper Gate and the Renaissance Circular Bastion.
