One-Day Trip: Exploring Trnava and Trenčín!

Recently, we went on a day trip to two beautiful Slovak cities: Trenčín and Trnava. At 8 a.m., everyone gathered at the station, ready for the exciting trip to Trenčín, this year’s European Capital of Culture. We arrived in the rain, so we started with a delicious breakfast in a cozy cafe and then strolled through the city centre once the rain stopped.

When the rain stopped, we headed up to Trenčín Castle, one of the largest castles in Slovakia and a National Cultural Monument. Its history reaches back to Roman times, as an inscription carved into the rock below the castle records a Roman legion’s victory at Laugaricio, today’s Trenčín, in 179 AD. The moody weather turned out to be perfect for exploring the atmospheric courtyards and walls. We also stumbled upon a pre-Halloween event, where children were busy carving pumpkins. 

Having explored the city and the castle, we continued to Trnava, a historic town in western Slovakia known as “Little Rome” for its many churches and deep religious heritage. There we visited Bernolák’s Gate, the last surviving gate of the town’s medieval fortifications. The gate is named after Anton Bernolák, who codified the first standard Slovak language in 1787 while working in Trnava, and a memorial to him has stood nearby since 1937. 

Our interns learned about the history of both cities, saw the sights, and had plenty of fun, both while walking around and on the train rides in between.

Two cities in a single day was a great experience, full of sightseeing, good and interesting conversations along the way. 

We are glad to have spent the day with our interns, and it was a wonderful experience for all of us. We thank everyone for their enthusiasm and good company, and we look forward to seeing all our interns again at our next events!