Trencin Castle

The mighty Trenčín Castle, built on top of a steep rock, is undoubtedly the dominant featur of the town of Trenčín. Together with Spiš Castle and Devín Castle also one of the biggest in Europe!

It was the royal castle from the 11th century. The bulky fortifying system is the result of progressive perfection of an important boundary fort, later seat of the county.

It had an important role above all in time of Turkish attacks. It was property of several aristocratic families while Matúš Čák of Trenčín was the best known owner of the castle. He also owned other Slovak castles, which won him the nickname of the Lord of the Váh and the Tatras. As the owners changed, the functions of the castle either changed or multiplied. The castle area, which is part of the Trenčianske múzeum (Trenčín Museum) consists of a set of palaces. Palaces Ľudovít, Barbora or Zápoľský were gradually added to its basic structure consisting of the robust Matúšova veža (tower), Mlynská and Jeremiášova veža.

The castle fell in decay after fire in 1790, as its owners, the Illésházy family preferred to move to the more comfortable manor house in Dubnica. The following extensive reconstruction opened an access to the most valuable parts of it.

The existing castle area is administered by the Museum of Trenčín. It consists of a set of palaces and its characteristic tower Matúšova veža. Apart from them, visitors also like to see the Delová bašta (bastion) and dungeon. Varied exhibitions, medieval games and attractive night sightseeing are organized at the castle throughout the year.

Perhaps every child in Slovakia knows the 80-m-deep (262 ft) castle well and the tale about Omar and Fatima. The legend says that the lord of the castle, Štefan Zápoľský seized the beautiful Turkish princess Fatima. Omar, the Turkish prince who loved Fatima arrived with a load of gold to buy Fatima off. However, the lord of the castle demanded Omar should dig a well in the courtyard of the castle. It took four years to Omar to extract water from the hard castle rock but the couple was given the landlords blessing afterwards.