The history of Košice has been closely linked tothe extensive forests around it. The oldest references to the ownership of forest lands around the city date from the 13th century. For many years the economic use of these forests was connected with mining and metallurgy, practiced in the region of Košice. Košice's forest lands became the largest piece of city property in the Hungarian Kingdom. With its area of 19,432 ha, it is currently the second largest piece of forest property in Central Europe.
