AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Rising twelve metres above the hillside known as Šibená hora, the Cyril and Methodius Cross is Bardejov's most striking outdoor monument. Built in 1995 to mark three milestones in Slovak history—the arrival of the Byzantine missionaries in 863, the founding of Matica slovenská in 1863, and the birth of the independent Slovak Republic in 1993—the gleaming stainless-steel cross is visible from across the town and rewards a short walk with panoramic views over the UNESCO-listed medieval centre and the surrounding Šariš landscape.↗↗
The monument carries a deeper symbolism: Šibená hora was once the town's execution ground, and local civic leader Metod Kaľavský chose this very spot to transform a place of death into one of faith, reconciliation, and national pride. Consecrated jointly by Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, Evangelical, and Orthodox clergy, the cross represents ecumenical unity and religious tolerance in a town that has long been home to multiple confessions.↗↗
The Monument
The cross stands as a monumental two-tiered structure: its lower arms stretch six metres while the upper pair measure four, giving the overall silhouette a distinctive patriarchal shape. Weighing 1,500 kilograms and clad in brilliant stainless steel, it catches the light from virtually every vantage point in the valley. A brass plaque at its base records the founding vision—honouring the spiritual and national mission of Cyril and Methodius as the bringers of Slavic literacy and Christian faith.