The Máté Tower
Dominating the skyline.
Andrzej Otrębski — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andrzej Otrębski — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andrzej Otrębski — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andrzej Otrębski — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andrzej Otrębski — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Andrzej Otrębski — CC BY-SA 4.0
Trenčín Castle is a large fortress on a rock above the city of Trenčín in west Slovakia, its square tower dominating the skyline. It was among the strongest castles of the Váh valley, and you can walk up to it from the city centre. The site's history goes back to Roman times, with an inscription recording the victory of the Second Legion at Laugaricio, the city's Latin name, in 179 AD. The oldest building is a stone rotunda. In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries it was the seat of Matthew III Csák, lord of the Váh and the Tatras, who gave his name to the Máté Tower. The Treaty of Trentschin of 1335 was concluded here between kings of Poland, Hungary and Bohemia. You climb through a chain of gates and stone walls to grassy courts and towers with pointed roofs, with residential ranges stacked above one another. In the lower castle is the well of love, which legend says a Turkish prince named Omar dug through rock to ransom his beloved Fatima. From the walls you see the city, the Váh and distant mountains. The castle stands right above central Trenčín, 107.9 km in a straight line north-east of Bratislava. The climb is a little steep and cobbled, so wear suitable shoes. There are two routes, a small one and a large one with guided halls, so choose by your time. Do not climb the walls, and watch children near the edges.
Dominating the skyline.
The legend of Omar and Fatima.
A view of the Váh.
Castle hill above central Trenčín, west Slovakia
The small one suits an hour, and the large adds guided halls.
It is a legend, and historians say the garrison dug it.