Name Athens upon Torysa earned medieval Prešov through development of the economy and education. In the 16th and 17th century Prešov experienced a period of high flourishing crafts and trade, particularly trade in wine.
For this period, in the underground of the city preserved many two- and three-storey cellars, which were used for storing wine. One of the interesting buildings, which history dates back to the time of Athens upon Torysa is the building of Prešov city hall. It was rebuilt in 1504 from an old merchant house. It became a seat of the mayor and in its two storey cellars found a place urban wine bar, which for this purpose served nearly two centuries.
Since 1994 in the basement of the building is located Museum of Wine in Prešov. Part of the museum is a wine shop, tasting room and museum exhibition itself, which includes more than 2000 different wines from around the world. Greatest rarities include wines from Japan and China. The oldest wine is from Spain dated 1927. The museum stores the oldest surviving wine from the southern hemisphere - Argentinian Semillon 1942. Parts of the basement of the Wine Museum is currently still inaccessible because they are bricked up.
Pubs in the historic center of the city had the greatest fame during wine trade boom. Traded was mainly with Tokay wine that came from Tokaj vineyards. Commercial ensured maximum revenue to the city treasury. Revenues from wine were several times higher than the income that brings the most famous Prešov trade commodity - salt.
Prešov traders made Tokaj Wine Region famous throughout Europe. Among the Tokaj wine lovers were Tsar Peter I., Maria Theresa or French King Louis XIV., who after tasting Tokaj wine uttered the famous phrase - Vinum Regum, Rex vinorum (wine of kings, king of wines).
Premises of the town hall cellars experienced the darkest times during the Habsburg uprising of Imre Thököly and Carrafa Prešov slaughter of 1687. Then cellars served as a temporary prison for convicted and later executed the rebels. During World Wars cellars served as a refuge from the bombing and during the liberation of Prešov in 1945 was set up in basements temporary dormitory. From those times have been preserved original latrines, which are open to the public today. Of course, as part of the Exhibition of the history of wine.
The Town Hall also includes Caraffa prison built in the 1504th. In fact, it never served as prison. It was a warehouse of city tavern, armory and storage of weights and measures.
Article author: Wine Museum in Prešov