TrenÃÂÃÂn (, also known by other alternative names) is a city in western Slovakia of the central Váh River valley near the Czech border, around from Bratislava. It has a population of more than 55,000, which makes it the eighth largest municipality of the country and is the seat of the TrenÃÂÃÂn Region and the TrenÃÂÃÂn District. It has a medieval castle, TrenÃÂÃÂn Castle, on a rock above the city.
TrenÃÂÃÂn is chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2026 together with Oulu, Finland.
TrenÃÂÃÂn was first mentioned under the Greek name Leukaristos (ÃÂõàúìÃÂùÃÂÃÂÿÃÂ), depicted on the Ptolemy world map around 150 AD. During the course of the Marcomannic Wars between the Roman Empire and Germanic Quadi, the Romans carved an inscription on the rock under the present-day castle in 179 AD, and the place was mentioned as Laugaricio. 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 (as Treinchen) and 1113 (adjective Trenciniensis). The name is probably derived from a personal name Trnka/Trenka (Slovak/Slavic - Blackthorn) with a possessive suffix -ÃÂn. The German, Hungarian, and Polish forms are Trentschin, Trencsén, and Trenczyn, respectively.
The site of TrenÃÂÃÂn has been inhabited since time immemorial. TrenÃÂÃÂn Castle, a typical medieval fortified castle is situated high on a rock above the city. TrenÃÂÃÂn is best known for a Roman inscription on the rock below the TrenÃÂÃÂn Castle dating from 179 AD, the era of the Marcomannic Wars, a series of wars between the Roman Empire and the Germanic Quadi and Marcomanni. It denotes the site as Laugaricio and for long time it was the most northern known evidence of the presence of Roman soldiers in central Europe (until the Roman fort by Muà ¡ov and marching camps by Olomouc and HulÃÂn were found).
TrenÃÂÃÂn is one of the suggested locations for the capital of Samo's Empire in the 7th century. Wogastisburg (Vogast castle) was probably located somewhere on the Vogas river and was also the site of a decisive battle between the Slavic and Frankish armies in 631.
It is plausible that TrenÃÂÃÂn Castle was founded during the Great Moravian era. At the beginning of the 11th century, the region was controlled by King Bolesà Âaw I the Brave of Poland. In 1017, Stephen I of Hungary conquered the region, which remained part of Hungary until 1918. By the end of the 11th century, the castle became the administrative centre of Trencsén county in the Kingdom. As one of the few stone castles in the country, it resisted the disastrous invasion of Mongols in 1241. In 1263, TrenÃÂÃÂn was in the possession of the royal Swordbearer Jakab Cseszneky, but in 1302, King Wenceslas I took it away from the Cseszneky brothers because they were supporting his rival Charles Robert, and donated it to Matthew Csák. 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. The Treaty of Trentschin between Bohemia, Hungary, and Poland was signed in the city in 1335.
TrenÃÂÃÂn gained several privileges during the Middle Ages: in 1324, the inhabitants were freed from paying tolls, and the city received free royal town privileges in 1412 from King Sigismund. However, during the following decades and centuries, catastrophes and wars began which lasted until the end of the 18th century. In 1528, during the conflict between the Habsburgs and the supporters of the rival king, János Szapolyai, the town was captured by imperial troops. In the 17th century, the Ottomans 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, the Battle of TrenÃÂÃÂn 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, TrenÃÂÃÂn flourished as the railways to à ½ilina and Bratislava were built and many new enterprises were established, particularly in the textile, food, and machine industries.
The town became the hub of the middle Povaà ¾ie region.
In 1867, TrenÃÂÃÂn was downgraded from a "free royal town" to a "town with municipal government" and came under the direct control of the chief of TrenÃÂÃÂn county.
TrenÃÂÃÂn flourished again during the era of the first Czechoslovak republic and became the capital of the TrenÃÂÃÂn county again between 1940 and 1945 when the Slovak Republic was in existence.
Shortly after the Slovak National Uprising began, TrenÃÂÃÂn was occupied by Nazi Germany, and it became the headquarters of the Sicherheitsdienst and the Gestapo.
TrenÃÂÃÂn was captured by 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 of TrenÃÂÃÂn Region and TrenÃÂÃÂn District. The castle and its Roman inscription have attracted tourism since.
It lies in the TrenÃÂÃÂn Basin of north-western Slovakia, which is surrounded by the StrÃ¡à ¾ov Mountains, Povaà ¾ský Inovec and White Carpathians, with the last mentioned being a protected area. The Váh River flows in the northâÂÂsouth axis.
TrenÃÂÃÂn lies in the north temperate zone and has a continental climate (Dfb) with four distinct seasons. It is characterized by a significant variation between hot summers and cold, snowy winters.
The city is dominated by TrenÃÂÃÂn Castle, which is the third-largest castle in Slovakia. TrenÃÂÃÂn 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. The TrenÃÂÃÂn Synagogue, built in 1913, is now a cultural center with exhibitions and concerts.
Pohoda, the most visited music festival in Slovakia, has been organized in TrenÃÂÃÂn since 1997. , it takes place at the TrenÃÂÃÂn Airport.
It has a population ofÃÂ people (31 December ).
Handball of the 1984 Friendship Games was hosted at Hala na Sihoti.
Association football club AS TrenÃÂÃÂn currently plays in the top-tier Slovak Super Liga after winning promotion following the 2011âÂÂ12 season as second-tier Slovak First League champions, while the ice hockey club Dukla TrenÃÂÃÂn currently plays in the Slovak Extraliga, having won the Extraliga championship four times.
TrenÃÂÃÂn is the hometown of several professional ice hockey players, including Ottawa Senators forward Marián GáborÃÂk, New York Islanders defenceman Zdeno Chára, and Chicago Blackhawks forward Marián Hossa, all playing in the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America. Additionally, long-time Liverpool centre back Martin à  krtel hails from TrenÃÂÃÂn.
The festival for non-Olympic sports will be held in town in 2017.
TrenÃÂÃÂn is home to the public Alexander DubÃÂek University with 7,140 students, including 110 doctoral students, and the private College of Management in TrenÃÂÃÂn with 1,275 students. The city's system of primary education consists of nine public schools and one religious primary school, enrolling 4,623 pupils overall. Secondary education is represented by five gymnasia with 1,974 students, 5 specialized high schools with 1,892 students, and 6 vocational schools with 3,975 students.
TrenÃÂÃÂn lies near the main Slovak motorway and is an important stop on the main railway line from Bratislava to à ½ilina and Koà ¡ice. Roads from the city also lead into the Czech Republic to Brno and other parts of Slovakia; Prievidza/Nitra. Railway tracks from the aforementioned cities end in TrenÃÂÃÂn. TrenÃÂÃÂn also has an airport. But the closest international airport is in Bratislava.
TrenÃÂÃÂn is divided into four main boroughs:
TrenÃÂÃÂn is twinned with: