Jakab’s Palace, Košice, Slovakia

Jakab’s Palace (Slovak: Jakabov palác) is a small neo-Gothic palace in Košice, on the corner of Mlynská and Štefánikova streets, on the way from the railway station to the old town. The Košice builder Árpád Jakab built it for himself at the end of the 1890s, reusing stone parts removed from St. Elisabeth Cathedral during its restoration, including gargoyles and carved dragons that now support the balcony. With its turrets and pointed windows it looks like a castle in miniature.

History & Use

• Built at the end of the 1890s as the Jakab family home and the office of their building firm.
• In April 1945 it was the seat of Edvard Beneš, President of the restored Czechoslovakia, as a plaque on the wall recalls.
• From 1992 to 2000 it housed the British Council; today it belongs to the city and is used only for occasional official events.
• A national cultural monument since 1981.

Visitor Tips

• The palace is not open to the public; you can see it only from the outside.
• The best views are from the city park and the footbridge across the road, on the way from the railway station.
• It is a few minutes’ walk from both the station and the old town, so it is easy to combine with a walk along Hlavná Street.