Trenčín (Slovak pronunciation:[ˈtrentʂiːn]ⓘ, also known by otheralternative names) is acity in westernSlovakia of the centralVáh River valley near theCzech border, around 95 km (59 mi) fromBratislava. It has a population of more than 55,000, which makes it the eighth largest municipality of the country and is the seat of theTrenčín Region and theTrenčín District. It has a medieval castle,Trenčín Castle, on a rock above the city.
Trenčín was first mentioned under the Greek nameLeukaristos (Λευκάριστος), depicted on thePtolemy world map around 150 AD[citation needed]. During the course of theMarcomannic Wars between theRoman Empire and GermanicQuadi, the Romans carved an inscription on the rock under the present-day castle in 179 AD, and the place was mentioned asLaugaricio. For a long time, it was considered the northernmost known presence of the Romans in Central Europe.
The first written mentions in the Middle Ages are from 1111 (asTreinchen) and 1113 (adjectiveTrenciniensis). The name is probably derived from a personal name Trnka/Trenka (Slovak/Slavic -Blackthorn) with a possessive suffix-ín.[5] The German, Hungarian, and Polish forms areTrentschin,Trencsén, andTrenczyn, respectively.
Below Trenčín Castle is this Roman inscription:Victoriae Augustorum exercitus, qui Laugaricione sedit, mil(ites) l(egiones) II DCCCLV. (Maximi)anus leg(atus leg)ionis II Ad(iutricis) cur(avit) f(aciendum) (Done by 855 Legionaries of the Augustus victorious army, who are stationed in Laugaricio. Done under the supervision of Maximus legatus of II legion.)
The site of Trenčín has been inhabited sincetime immemorial. Trenčín Castle, a typical medieval fortifiedcastle is situated high on a rock above the city.Trenčín is best known for aRoman inscription on the rock below theTrenčín Castle dating from 179 AD, the era of theMarcomannic Wars, a series of wars between theRoman Empire and the GermanicQuadi andMarcomanni. It denotes the site asLaugaricio and for long time it was the most northern known evidence of the presence of Roman soldiers in central Europe (until theRoman fort by Mušov andmarching camps byOlomouc andHulín were found).[6]
Trenčín is one of the suggested locations for the capital ofSamo's Empire in the 7th century. Wogastisburg (Vogast castle) was probably located somewhere on theVogas river and was also the site of adecisive battle between theSlavic andFrankish armies in 631.
It is plausible that Trenčín Castle was founded during theGreat Moravian era. At the beginning of the 11th century, the region was controlled by KingBolesław I the Brave of Poland. In 1017,Stephen I of Hungary conquered the region, which remained part ofHungary until 1918. By the end of the 11th century, the castle became the administrative centre ofTrencsén county in the Kingdom. As one of the few stone castles in the country, it resisted the disastrousinvasion of Mongols in 1241. In 1263, Trenčín was in the possession of the royalSwordbearerJakab Cseszneky, but in 1302, KingWenceslas I took it away from theCseszneky brothers because they were supporting his rivalCharles Robert, and donated it toMatúš Čák. 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, Csák maintained a large court and pursued his own foreign policy. TheTreaty of Trentschin between Bohemia, Hungary, and Poland was signed in the city in 1335.
Dolná brána ("Lower Gate") in Sládkovičova ulica
Trenčín gained several privileges during theMiddle Ages: In 1324, the inhabitants were freed from paying tolls, and the city receivedfree royal town privileges in 1412 from KingSigismund. However, during the following decades and centuries, some catastrophes and wars lasted until the end of the 18th century. During the conflict between theHabsburgs and the supporters of the rival king,János Szapolyai, the town was captured in 1528 by imperial troops. In the 17th century, theOttomans were another threat from the south, but they failed to conquer the city. The town then suffered from the Kuruc uprising against the Habsburgs, and on 3 August 1708, theBattle of Trenčín took place close to the city. Two years later, a plague killed 1,600 inhabitants of the city. Finally, in 1790, the town, along with the castle, was burned down, and the castle has been in ruins ever since.
In the 19th century, Trenčín flourished as the railways toŽilina andBratislava were built and many new enterprises were established, particularly in the textile, food, and machine industries.
The town became the hub of the middle Považie region.
In 1867, Trenčín was downgraded from a "free royal town" to a "town with municipal government" and came under the direct control of the chief ofTrenčín county.
Trenčín in 1908
Trenčín flourished again during the era of the firstCzechoslovak republic and became the capital of the Trenčín county again between 1940 and 1945 when theSlovak Republic was in existence.
Trenčín was captured by the Romanian and Soviet troops on 10 April 1945.
Since 1990, the historical centre of the city has been largely restored, and since 1996 it has been the seat ofTrenčín Region andTrenčín District. The castle and its Roman inscription have attracted tourism since.
Trenčín lies in the north temperate zone and has acontinental climate (Dfb) with four distinct seasons. It is characterized by a significant variation between hot summers and cold, snowy winters.
Hotel Tatra (now Elizabeth) below Trenčín CastleTrenčín Synagogue in Štúrovo námestie
The city is dominated by Trenčín Castle, which is the third-largest castle in Slovakia. Trenčín 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 as by winding side streets. The old town has a large main square, with a large baroque church and various shops, as well as a town tower.[citation needed]TheTrenčín Synagogue, built in 1913, is now a cultural center with exhibitions and concerts.
Pohoda, the most visited music festival in Slovakia,[8] has been organized in Trenčín since 1997. As of 2004[update], it takes place at the Trenčín Airport.
In 2005 the city had a population of 56,750, which rose to 60,012 in 2009, with a population density of 692 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,790/sq mi). According to the 2001 census, the religious makeup was: 65.8%Roman Catholics, 22.3% people withno religious affiliation, and 7.1%Lutherans. 95.3% inhabitants wereSlovaks and 2.4%Czechs.[11]
The top-level professional ice hockey championship trophy in North America, theStanley Cup, has been brought to Trenčín six times between the years 2008 and 2015:
2008 –Tomáš Kopecký celebrated his Stanley Cup win after the victory of theDetroit Red Wings over thePittsburgh Penguins. Kopecký was born inIlava, about 15 miles (24 kilometres) from Trenčín. A noteworthy circumstance is that the Cup's appearance with Kopecký came after the first-ever Stanley Cup Finals appearance for a Trenčíner inMarián Hossa, who, with the Penguins, lost that series.
2010 – Marián Hossa, who played in Dukla Trenčín in the 1996–97 season, won the Cup with theChicago Blackhawks. In Trenčín, he celebrated together with teammate Tomáš Kopecký, who had won the Cup for the second time. Although Hossa was not born in Trenčín, he grew up and lived in the town until he was drafted into the NHL.
2011 – Captain of theBoston BruinsZdeno Chára won the trophy when the Bruins defeatedVancouver Canucks. Chára was born in Trenčín and lived there his whole life until he was drafted into the NHL.
2013 – In the shortened 2012–13 season, Marián Hossa won the Cup again with the Chicago Blackhawks together with Slovak teammateMichal Handzuš, who brought the Cup to his hometownBanská Bystrica one day before it traveled to celebrations in Trenčín.
2014Marián Gáborík, who was born and grew up in Trenčín, won a trophy when playing forLos Angeles Kings. In the Final, the Kings defeatedNew York Rangers in a five-game series. With 14 goals, Gaborik was the top scorer of the 2014 playoffs.
2015 – Marián Hossa, for the third time in his career, won the Cup after the Blackhawks defeated theTampa Bay Lightning in six games in the2015 Finals.
Trenčín is home to the publicAlexander Dubček University with 7,140 students, including 110 doctoral students,[14] and the privateCollege of Management in Trenčín with 1,275 students.[15] The city's system of primary education consists of nine public schools and one religious primary school, enrolling 4,623 pupils overall.[16] Secondary education is represented by fivegymnasia with 1,974 students,[17] 5 specialized high schools with 1,892 students,[18] and 6 vocational schools with 3,975 students.[19][20]
Trenčín lies near the mainSlovak motorway and is an important stop on the main railway line from Bratislava to Žilina andKošice. Roads from the city also lead into the Czech Republic toBrno and other parts of Slovakia;Prievidza/Nitra. Railway tracks from the aforementioned cities end in Trenčín. Trenčín also has anairport. But the closest international airport is inBratislava.
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