Urban Tower
Košice Region
Urban Tower, known locally as Urbanova veža, is a Renaissance prismatic campanile located in Košice, Slovakia, originally built in the second half of the 16th century. It served as the bell tower for the Gothic St. Elisabeth Cathedral and is dedicated to Saint Urban, the patron saint of vine-dressers. The tower is renowned for housing the St. Urban Bell, cast in 1557 by the bell-founder Franciscus Illenfeld of Olomouc, weighing seven tonnes. Its architecture features a pyramidal roof with a Baroque-style onion dome added in 1775, crowned with an iron double cross. An arcade passage was constructed around the tower in 1912, incorporating 36 historic gravestones from the 14th and 15th centuries, including one dating back to the Roman Empire in the 4th century, embedded into its exterior walls. The tower suffered a damaging fire in 1966 that destroyed the original bell, but it was reconstructed and reopened in 1971. Since then, it has hosted various exhibitions, including foundry work and a wax museum portraying Košice's historical figures, though these have since closed. Today, the tower stands as a national cultural monument alongside the cathedral and St. Michael's Chapel, awaiting further restoration to preserve its historical and cultural significance.
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Tip: Visitors are advised to visit Urban Tower during spring to early autumn for pleasant weather and to check ahead for any ongoing restoration work. Although the tower is currently closed for renovation, planning ahead for ticket purchases and guided tours at nearby St. Elisabeth Cathedral can enrich the experience. Discounts may be available for students, seniors, and groups. Booking guided tours in advance is recommended to fully appreciate the tower's history and architectural details.
Interesting facts
- •The original St. Urban Bell weighed seven tonnes and was cast by Franciscus Illenfeld of Olomouc in 1557.
- •The tower's exterior walls contain 36 historic gravestones from the 14th and 15th centuries, including one from the Roman Empire dating back to the 4th century.
- •After the 1966 fire destroyed the original bell, a functional replica was cast in 1996 by the East Slovak Steel Works and rehung in the tower.
- •The inscriptions on the original bell include a biblical passage from Isaiah 40:6-8, emphasizing the transient nature of life and the eternal word of God.
History
Urban Tower was constructed in the latter half of the 16th century as the bell tower for the Gothic St.
Elisabeth Cathedral.
It underwent a mannerist reconstruction in 1628 by Martin Lindtner.
The original St.
Urban Bell was cast in 1557 but was destroyed in a fire in 1966, after which the tower was reconstructed and reopened in 1971.
In the early 20th century, small shops at its base were removed and replaced by an arcade passage in 1912.
The tower was declared a national cultural monument in 1970 alongside the cathedral and St.
Michael's Chapel.
Recent restorations include a 2020 facade renewal funded by European and regional sources.
Place Guide
Arcade Passage and Historic Gravestones1912
Constructed in 1912, the arcade passage surrounds the base of the tower and protects 36 gravestones from medieval times, including one from the Roman era. These stones offer a unique glimpse into the funerary art and history of Košice.
St. Urban Bell Replica1996
The original bell, destroyed in 1966, was recast in 1996 by the East Slovak Steel Works. This functional replica hangs in the tower today, symbolizing the city's rich bell-founding tradition and connection to Saint Urban.
Pyramidal Roof with Baroque Onion Dome1775
Added in 1775, the Baroque-style onion dome with an iron double cross crowns the tower's pyramidal roof, blending Renaissance and Baroque architectural elements.
Contact
Phone: 055/623 25 34
