Sights
The manor house – a still preserved former seat of the noble family of Sztárays – belongs to the most precious historical architectural objects in the territory of Michalovce. It houses the Zemplín region museum from 1957.
The buildings of the manor house complex are located in the area of original medieval castle. Already in the period of renaissance were rebuilt the utilizable parts of this stone architecture for a more convenient seat of a manor house type. During the baroque rebuilding in the 18th century was added the first floor and towers to the front façade and there were also made new staircases. At the beginning of 19th century, during the latest great reconstruction, i. e. the classicist one, the builder H. Koch added the annex of ground floor lateral wings and thus the manor house gained a layout of irregular U letter shape thus creating the so called courtyard of honour (cour d’ honeur).
The Sztárays owned the Michalovce manor house continuously from txhe mid 18th century until 1944. Various legends are connected with the manor house – e. g. about the mysterious underground corridor or about the white lady. Near the manor house an object was erected in the 19th century of splendid horse stable with flats on the sides for servants.
The late renaissance building of so-called old manor house, situated in the park, was erected approximately in mid 16th century. It originally served for housing purposes as a separate manor house or mansion, later started its utilization for economic purposes like the seat of the administration of Sztárays´ estates.
The foundations of a rotunda in the premises of The Zemplín Museum.
The rotunda and the stone plate with not yet deciphered inscription (it was discovered during investigations in rotunda´s interior) belong to the current great mysteries of Slovak archaeology.
The remnants of rotunda with a circular nave and horseshoe apse that prove the naturalization of Christianity in Zemplín region and they were discovered and examined in the 70`s of 20th century. Experts have still different opinions on the dating of this sacral building. According to the discoverer Jaroslav Vizdal the rotunda was embedded into the Great Moravian horizon because in its vicinity are supported proofs of a settlement from 9th century (this dating was supported also by a historian Peter Ratkoš – the dimensions of Michalovce rotunda are almost identical with the dimensions of rotunda in Ducové and Nitrianska Blatnica). Archaeologists Michal Slivka and Adrián Vallašek ranked at the end of 20th century the rotunda in Michalovce into a later period – into 11th century. The surroundings of Michalovce was in that time settled by Hungarians and it was only gradually incorporated into the arising Hungarian state. Historian Ferdinand Uličný claims that the rotunda was built around mid 11th century based on the decree of the Hungarian king who owned all lands in the country (probably from this period comes also the preserved rotunda in Horiany – in the eastern part of Ukrainian town Uzhgorod). The rotunda served most probably as a common parochial church for the residents of ancient nearby villages. Around the church was situated a graveyard. According to the name of settlement that was established here, the rotunda was most probably consecrated to Archangel Michael (the herein consecration belongs to the oldest ones – it got here in time of the introduction of Christianity). It means that the current dating of rotunda varies between 9th and 12th centuries having in mind the fact that the types of buildings similar to Michalovce rotunda were built until the 13th century. There are connected several stories and various rumours with the rotunda.
The gothic bell is still preserved in the belfry and in the interior of temple you can see the go-thic pastophory, late renaissance epitaph of an unknown nobleman, baroque altar from 1721 with a newer altar painting of the Birth of Virgin Mary (the later was brought here from the Jesuit church in Uzhgorod), a commemorative plaque (as a remembrance to the renovation of church) from 1749, a rococo pulpit or patronal bench from the 19th century. Over the main entry into the temple is placed a commemorative plaque with an inscription from 1784.
Nowadays evoke inquisitive questions about local crypts where are buried the family members of the families of church patrons (the believers could pay to be buried in the crypt until the second half of 18th century), and also arms that were allegedly hidden at the end of 18th century in the inside of temple by the conspirators against the ruler.
Greek-Catholic Conventual Cathedral of the Bringing Down of Holy Spirit from 1934 - 1935,
built in the Neo-byzantine style.
The foundations of the monastery of Redemptionists were dug up in September 1930 and the dedication feast of foundation stone of the monastery was held on 12th October 1930, the building works were completed in 1931 (they were realized by a building company Rozhon).
In years 1934 – 1935 the firm of Michalovce builder Juraj Byrtus has built the proper Temple of the Bringing down of Holy Spirit in neo-byzantine style.
Thanks to the efforts of all involved parties the temple was completed within a time lasting a little longer than one year. The consecration of church was made by bishop Alexander Stojka on 29th September 1935. The ceremony was attended by about 50 priests and about 15 000 believers. Subsequently, there were moved in the new temple all paintings and icons from the monastery chapel.
The registration of new icons was assigned to the Uzhgorod painter Jozef Bokšay, the design of the architecture of iconostasis, baldachin over the main table, pulpit and auxiliary table was made by Vladimír Sičinský. The interior of the temple was furnished step by step.
Following the intervention of state power in the matter of the church in years 1950 – 1990 the temple belonged to the Orthodox Church (it became a cathedral consecrated to Holy Trinity). In years from 1986 to 1988 were added into the interior some wall icons in larger than life size that were expanded by icon makers from the Soviet Union (they were also assisted by two Slovak theologians). The monastery and the temple nowadays belong again to their original owners – the Redemptionists. Some years ago were solemnly put into the lateral altar in the temple the remains of blessed Method Dominik Trčka.
Next to the temple is situated the belfry where are located 3 bells (they were consecrated in the 30`s of 20th century).
The original “varošska chiža“ (city house) was situated near to the Roman Catholic parochial church and from 1880 the self-governing institutions were housed in a private building at the Hlavná ulica (Main Street).
In 1927 – 1928, at the place of the former private house, Barkány company from Prešov has erected for Michalovce self-government new building (its design was elaborated by Ľudovít Oeschläger). The city gained the missing funds for the completion of whole object by means of the sale of “Bazáre“ (“Bazaars”) to tenants (they were situated on the other side of square).
The self-government leased part of the spaces in the newly erected complex – there were located here the following facilities: pharmacy, bank, printing house and the renowned confectionary “Ďuročík”.
On the original watch tower that was easing the work of local fire fighters was added later on a clock. The roof and the ceiling of the building were damaged by a huge fire in the 80`s of 20th century.
In front of the town hall was situated also the only little park on the Main street. It was formed of three fenced areas next to each other. During years from 1928 to 1939 stood on the central fenced grassy area (on a raised pedestal) the bronze bust of Adolf Dobriansky as a symbol of common work of Slovaks, Ruthynians – Ukrainians and Czechs on the building up of Czechoslovak Republic (just for the sake of interest we can also say here that in 1939 the town ordered its dismounting and subsequently it was put in the loft of town hall – after the second world war the bust was revealed again in front of the former cinema and later it was moved to the building of secondary medical school and placed at the corner of Dobriansky street; from there in the mid 90`s of the 20th century it was alienated and sold in the collection office of scrap – however, parts of it were found here but the thieves remain so far unpunished). Immediately after the liberation of the town the little park was integrated and as a token of respect there were buried here the fallen soldiers of the Soviet Red Army (however, this provisional graveyard was abolished already in 1945).
The building was built in a classicist style with minor pseudo-rococo scenes on the façade. In the court can be found a small atrium. On the ground floor of the object were located in the past almost incessantly various banking institutions (for a longest period Tatrabanka or the Czechoslovak State Bank), other facilities oriented towards the street were occupied by small shops and minor operating units with different services and on the floor were located ambulances, offices of lawyers and residential facilities.
The plastic art objects of bees, craftsmen, farmers and boatmen on the façade were to symbolize industry and the beehives saving behaviour.
Nowadays it houses the Zemplín public education centre and also a restaurant, the editorial office of regional newspaper and other organizations.
Recently there is a very likable endeavour for the “revival“ of local bank vault.
Not far from the building, at the end of Gorký street, is situated the historical object of the former Michalovce cinema Capitol dated back to years 1927 – 1929.