Trenčín (Hungarian: Trencsén, German: Trentschin, Latin: Laugaricio) is a town in western Slovakia (close to the Czech border) at the Váh river. It is the seat of a kraj (Trenčín Region) and okres (Trenčín District).

History

The site has been inhabited since time immemorial. A typical medieval fortified castle is situated on a rock above the town. Trenčín is best known for a Roman inscription on the castle rock from 179, stemming from the era of the Marcomannic Wars, a series of wars between the Roman Empire and the Germanic Quadi. It denotes the site as Laugaricio and is the northernmost evidence of the presence of Roman soldiers in central Europe. Under its Greek name Leukaristos, Trenčín was also depicted on the Ptolemy world map (c. 150 CE).

The Trenčín castle, plausibly founded during the Great Moravian era, became the administrative center of the Trenčín county by the end of the 11th century. As one of the few stone castles in the Kingdom of Hungary, it resisted the disastrous invasion of Mongols in 1241. Between 1302 and 1321, the castle was the seat of the powerful magnate Matthew Csák, who controlled most of present-day Slovakia. Challenging the authority of king Charles Robert, Matthew Csák maintained a large court and pursued his own foreign policy.

The city is dominated by its castle, which is the third-largest on Slovak territory. The castle is divided into upper and lower sections, with extensive fortifications. The upper castle has several palace buildings which surround the central medieval tower, which remains the highest point of the city. Below the castle on the hillside is the old parish church and a small upper square, which is reached by historic covered stairs as well winding side streets. The old town has a large main square, with a large baroque church and a variety of shops, as well as a town tower.

Famous people

• Gábor Baross, statesman
• Milan Bartovic, ice hockey player (Chicago Blackhawks)
• Zdeno Chára, ice hockey player (Ottawa Senators)
• Matthew Csák, medieval magnate
• Marián Gáborík, ice hockey player (Minnesota Wild)
• Ľubomír Sekeráš, ice hockey player
• Vojtech Zamarovský, writer

Gallery

External links

• Official city website
• Trencin information
• Satellite picture of the Trenčín Castle

Cities and towns in Slovakia | Castles in Slovakia

Trenčin | Trenčín | Trenčín | Trenčín | Trencsén | Trenczyn | Trenčín | Тренчин | Trenčín | Тренчин