Trenčín is one of the three oldest cities in Slovakia. The Castle of Trenčín has been one of the largest preserved castle areas. Since the castle resisted numerous attacks of the Tartars and Turks, a proud tycoon by the name of Matthew of Czak came to consider himself invincible lord of the Váh river and the Tatra mountains. Thanks to a unique Roman inscription we know that Roman legions spent the winter of 179 A.D. here. The Vienna illustrated chronicle from the 11th century already mentions the castle. First written accounts on Trenčín come from the 12th century. The oldest deed issued by Michal, the mayor of Trenčín, dates back to 1324. Trenčín has always been a commercial junction and significant market settlement. Most likely, it was Matthew of Czak who gave the city her first trade privileges. However, the city saw its greatest expansion after it was granted royal privileges in 1412. Later, seasons of peace and war would come and go. The busy time of the 16th and 17th centuries witnessed the Turks, anti-reformation, struggle of classes, and the plague. These were followed by a lengthy siege of the city by the armies of Francis of Rakoczi, ransacking, famine, fire that burned down almost the whole city, and finally the plague epidemics of 1710. Notwithstanding these negative circumstances, Trenčín has always prided herself with being the centre of commerce, culture, and education. The local town school was established in the first third of the 15th century. The city was also a home to the Lutheran grammar school; however, the best educational, cultural but most of all, musical baroque traditions of he city date back to the time of the Jesuit settlers – followed by the Piarists. A Jewish elementary school was established toward the end of the 18th century. Later, after the Toleration patent was issued, a Lutheran elementary school was founded in the city . Trenčín townspeople of the second half of the 19th century would speak three languages – they mastered Slovak, Hungarian, and German. 20. Twentieth century came to the city with its gadgets including the aqueduct, gas duct, telephone, and electricity, as well as its new political reality – the Czechoslovak Republic. The territory of Slovakia, including Trenčín, also experienced at least five different political systems come and go. The only things that would stay were the city and her castle – silent reminders of the past.. Let us then go back in time together…
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Today’s Mierové square used to be called Stalin’s, Hlinka’s, and Masaryk’s – at earlier times the names would include Szalavsky Gyulatér, Fópiac, Hauptplatz, Rink, and the earliest Civitas, Tetrum, or Intra moenia.