Trenčín

Trenčín lies on the Váh beneath a castle set high on a rocky ridge. A Roman inscription on the castle rock records soldiers wintering at Laugaricio in the second century, long before the medieval town and its fortress emerged. The castle later became the seat of the powerful magnate Matthew Csák, whose authority extended over much of Upper Hungary.

The town suffered heavily during the uprising of Francis II Rákóczi. In May 1708 a disastrous fire damaged or destroyed 195 houses, the Piarist church and the town defences. On 3 August imperial forces defeated Rákóczi's army near Trenčín in a decisive battle, dealing the rebellion a serious blow. The castle and town remained prominent landmarks on the route along the Váh through the western Carpathian valleys.