Pamätník Juraja Wintera
V blízkosti centra Bardejova pri mestskom parku sa nachádza viac ako tristoročný pamätník niekdajšieho bardejovského richtára a zároveň veliteľa vojska Juraja Wintera, ktorý padol pri obrane mesta v roku 1679. Ide o kamenný pomník a tvorí ho na podstavci umiestnené srdce, na ktorom je umiestnený kríž. Pamätník dala postaviť richtárova manželka.
Juraj Winter sa tešil veľkej dôvere obyvateľov. Richtárom bol v rokoch 1675 - 1677, potom znova v roku 1679. Nebol to najšťastnejší rok, na mesto práve útočili Tökölyho vojská. Snažili sa preniknúť do mesta, ale to útočníkom vďaka hrdinskej obrane a masívnemu opevneniu statočne odolávalo.
Dejiskom Winterovej drámy bola Západná brána. Tu osobne viedol obrancov, ktorí úspešne odrážali útočníkov, ktorí sa však nakoniec predsa len dostali za hradby. Udalosť opriada niekoľko povestí s rozdielnym podaním. Podľa jednej z nich mal richtár Juraj syna Alexandra, s ktorým sa pohádal. Ostal nemilo prekvapený, keď ho deň po škriepke uvidel za hradbami medzi obliehateľmi. Judášsky Alexander z pomsty radil nepriateľským vojakom, aby smelo vykročili k Západnej bráne. Tí sa potom skutočne dostali až do Bardejova. Po tom, čo sa Winter dozvedel o synovej zrade, v zúfalstve ukončil svoj život skokom z hradieb.
Iná (a pravdepodobne známejšia) povesť hovorí o tom, že richtárovu smrť mala na svedomí jeho manželka. Medzi nepriateľskými vojakmi Imricha Tökölyho bol aj švárny kapitán. Medzi ním a richtárovou manželkou preskočila iskra a zamilovali sa do seba. Neverná manželka podľahla kúzlu milenca natoľko, že mu odovzdala kľúče od mestskej brány a umožnila tým vstup nepriateľským vojskám do mesta. Keď pri obrane mesta zahynul Juraj Winter, manželka oľutovala svoju chybu a na znak lásky k manželovi mu nechala postaviť tento pamätník.
Upozornenie: Počas dňa ide o mimoriadne frekventované miesto, preto sa pri odlove snažte byť nenápadní. Pokiaľ nepatríte medzi najvyšších, odporúčam loviť s pomocou niekoho ďalšieho. Do cache sa zmestí nejaké to SWG aj menší TB. Prineste si prosím pero.
George Winter Memorial
Near the center of Bardejov by the town park, you can find more than three hundred years old memorial of the former town reeve and the leader of the defenders George Winter, who had fallen while defending the town in 1679. The memorial is made of stone and consists of the cross, which is jutting from the heart. The memorial was built as a wish of reeve’s wife.
George Winter was a man who was very popular among the citizens. He occupied his office from 1675 to 1677 and was elected again in 1679. This was an unlucky year indeed, as the army of Imrich Tököly was attacking the town. They tried to penetrate the walls, but the defenders were resisting valiantly.
Western gate was the site of Winter’s misfortune. Here he personally led the defenders, who were resisting, but eventually had to capitulate. The incident is connected with several legends, each with a different interpretation. According to one of them the reeve had a son Alexander, with whom he had an argument. How devastating it had to be for him, when he learned that his son had joined the enemy’s army. As a sign of revenge, Alexander advised the enemy to approach the Western gate, which allowed them to enter the town. After finding out about his son’s betrayal, out of despair the reeve ended his life by jumping off the wall of the fortification system.
Another (and probably better known) legend says, that reeve’s wife was involved in his death. Among the soldiers of Imrich Tököly was a handsome captain, who fell in love with Winter’s wife. Unfaithful wife succumbed to his charm so much, that she gave him the keys to the gate, which allowed the enemy’s army to enter the town. When George Winter had fallen while defending the town, his wife had regretted her mistake and as a sign of love to her husband she had built this memorial.
Warning: The place around the cache is very busy during the day, so try to be as inconspicuous as possible. If you don't belong among tall ones, I recommend bringing a caching buddy :) Bring your own pen please.