style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ansi-language:
EN" lang="EN">In 1320, King Charles Robert granted the settlers extensive privileges of
city's character and the town speedily began to grow. The main business of the
people was trade, farming and crafts. Bardejov was an a convenient center of
trade due to its location on the road between the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea.
In 1352, the town was granted the privilege to set up an annual fair (jarmok)
dedicated to St. Aegidius on September 1. The deed mentions a new construction
of the town of Bardejov with an order by Ludovit I to fortify it. The entire
defensive circuit was completed, with three gates on the main routes and
bastions at strategic points. In 1376, the King Ladislaus I granted Bardejov
the status of a free royal town. More than 50 guilds controlled the flourishing
economy. Zigmund of Luxemburg granted the town storage privileges in 1402, for
the goods brought here by the Russian and Polish merchants. Bardejov merchants
were also free to travel across the entire country as far as Dalmatia without
paying duty or royal taxes. There was a second phase of fortification between
1420 and 1474.
By the 15th century, Bardejov was a busy town with large economic growth.
There were approximately 500 houses and a population of 3000. The linen
production and sales to which the town had a monopoly surpassed any activity.
In 1455, the king granted the town the privilege of linen bleaching and sale.
At that time only Bratislava, Košice and Levoča had larger number of craftsmen
and guilds than Bardejov. Beside the linen and weaver's guild that was in
existence from 1423, the dressmaker's guild from 1435, the furrier's guild from
1457, and the potter’s guild from 1485 (the first potter's guild in Slovakia),
there were guilds such as: locksmith's,
