Trnava
Trnava was the first town in Slovakia to get a royal charter as a free borough in 1238, from then Hungarian King Béla, making it the country's oldest municipality. During almost 300 years of Hungarian rule, Trnava served as an important religious center and the town's walled old town celebrated its 750th birthday in 1988.
Trnava was also the center of the so-called Slovak National Revival and some of the oldest books that were printed in the Slovak language originate from the town.
The town's historic center is surrounded by city walls and features numerous chueches.
Points of interest
- The Medieval city walls were reconstructed in Renaissance style during the 16th century.
- The District hospital dates from 1824.
- The Galéria Jána Koniarka (Ján Koniareka art gallery is housed in the synagogue Status Quo Ante.
- The Seminary and Archbishop's Palace was constructed in the 16th century.
- The Theatre was constructed in 1831.
- The Západoslovenské Múzeum (Museum of western Slovakia) is a regional museum that focuses on ethnography and history. Its headquarters is housed in the former Clarist monastery.
Religious buildings
- Katedrála Svätého Jána Krstiteľa (St. John the Baptist Cathedral) was the first Baroque building built in Slovakia. It was built in the 1630s.
- The Paulinian Church was built in the 17th century in Renaissance style.
- St. Helen's Church is a Medieval Gothic church.
- The Gothic St. Nicolas' Church dates from the Middle Ages.
- There are several Clarist, Franciscan and Dominican monasteries in Trnava. Most of them dat from the Middle Ages and many have been reconstructed in Baroque style during the 17th century.
- Trnava is home to 2 synagogues. Both were built in the 19th century. The synagogue Status Quo Ante houses the Ján Koniareka art gallery.
Trnava is a friendly place, on the Trnávka River, some 47 km (29 mi) northeast of Bratislava. There are several hotels and restaurants in town.
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