Hotel Bankov, Košice

History and tradition of the hotel since 1869. Hotel with a charming atmosphere, style and refined in the bosom of nature, only 4 km from the city center of Kosice.

Hotel Bankov is the right place where you can spend a pleasant weekend, or come just for
lunch, dinner and enjoy the compelling atmosphere with old luxury which blends with modern comfort. You can breath fresh air, listen to the silence surrounding countryside, even though you are only 4 kilometers from the city center of Kosice.
Hotel Bankov impresses visitors with its 140-years tradition, which makes it the oldest existing hotel in Slovakia, and as a member of the Association of Historic Hotels of Slovakia and its uniqueness exponentiate even nowadays.

Story

Tradition since 1703
The roots of organized tourism in Bankov and the Hotel Bankov date back to 1703 when the town of Košice constructed its first building of wood and soil rolls by the springs of healing iron-sulphuric water. A year later, it was demolished by Rákoczi´s troops led by general Simon Forgács during the anti- Habsburg uprising. The town did not have enough money to reconstruct the spa so the Town Council allowed Ján Pintér to build a new house there in 1705.
The old legend says that the hotel and the whole area are named after the pilgrim Bankó whom the curing water helped to heal his sore eyes in 1630. The place near the springs was often visited by many pilgrims and the chapel (St. Cross) was built there in 1765.
Another version says that originally the name Bankov is based on the old Slavonic name ´banka´, i.e. a hole in the soil used for bathing. When the chemical analysis of the water (realized by Jozef Kis-Vitzay, a physician in 1795) showed only weak healing affects, the place changed to a popular trip place – a climate spa for wealthy citizens, nobles, church clerks, pilgrims and scouts. It does not matter what the truth is, fresh and clean air, relaxing woods and peace around the old Spišská Road still attracts many tourists, runners and cyclists at weekends.

Communists replaced priests
Bankov teached its peak in the second half of the 19th century. Construction of Hotel Bankov began in 1867. Made it by achitects Michael Répaszký (1833-1909)and  Peter Jakab (1834-1903).
Hotel with 22 rooms, spa rooms and the restaurant was officially handed over to the use on   22nd April 1869.
 There was a dance hall and summer dining room built opposite the hotel in 1891. At that time the spa was famous for its delicious cuisine and gypsy musicians. Wealthy people erected their summer houses and luxurious mansions nearby. Two of them have still remained; another one is the base for present swimming pool and a sauna.
St. Cross Chapel became the central connecting part of a new hotel, the masses were held there for 30 years on the 29th June (St. Peter and Paul´s Day). The masses were performed for the religious people traveling via Bankov to Levoča. The worship was definitely stopped in 1949 when communists established a political school there and the equipment was demolished. As the free spirit of entrepreneurship and social life was leaving Bankov, the hotel was being changed too. From the luxurious hotel for middle and high classes, it turned into an ordinary city restaurant and pub for poorer people and cheap love affairs at the end of the socialism.

A New Dream
The reconstruction of historic buildings 1994- 1996 gave to Hotel Bankov a new modern design. To its authors ,architects  Martin Drahovsky, Peter Pásztori and their contributor Paul Simko it brought success by Jurkovič price and title Building of 1997.
Hotel went through last partial reconstruction in 2007, when it  gained 10 new elegant attic rooms so its capacity was increased to 70 beds.We would like to carry on with this old and original tradition. Our dream is to keep the beauty and uniqueness of Hotel Bankov for the next generations.  

The best room

De Luxe apartman- is very neat and stylish.  The massive furniture is making the apartments looks cozy and elegant and also underlines the simplicity of the colors space solution.  The modern bathrooms emphasize the conquests of the present time.
Over all impression of effectively used space creates the feeling of harmony, enjoyment and relaxation, not only for the business travelers but also for guests coming here spend vacation in the tranquility of the surrounded nature. Room facilities: LCD TV set with the satellite programs, connection to the internet, minibar, safe, radio alarm, and telephone.

Hotel facilities

• Children's corner
• Wellness
• Golf course
• Non-smoking rooms
• Parking garage
• Non-stop Reception

Room equipment

• Mini bar
• Room service
• Internet

Map

History

The old legend says that the name of the hotel and the whole area originates from the pilgrim named Bankó, whom in 1630, helped cure his eyesight the local mineral water.
The roots of the tourism begin on Bankov in 1703, when by the springs reputedly healing irony sulphite water, the town of the Košice built the first building from the clay roll and wood.  One year later the building was ruined by the Rakoczi Kurucke army under the guidance of the general Šimon Forgáčin in the anti- Habsburg collegia uprising.  The town did not have money to renew the spas; so in the 1705, the city council has allowed to Ján Pintér, the spa owner, to build the new building.
Since than, the spot near the springs become popular pilgrim locality, and in 1765 was built the Holly rood chapel, which today is part of the actual hotel.
It was conceived in the middle, the connecting parts. Construction of Hotel Bankov began in 1867. Made it by achitects Michael Répaszký (1833-1909)and  Peter Jakab (1834-1903).
Hotel with 22 rooms, spa rooms and the restaurant was officially handed over to the use on   22nd april 1869.
The reconstruction of historic buildings in 1997 gave to Hotel Bankov a new modern design.To its authors ,architects  Martin Drahovsky, Peter Pásztori and their contributor Paul Simko it brought success by Jurkovič price and title Building of 1997.