Trenčín castle

The castle was built over a settlement site that had existed from the Bronze Age through times of Celts and Germanic tribes to the Slavic settlement. In the times of the origins of the Ugrian state a royal castle had developed out of the older Great Moravia hill-fort-roost.

The oldest stone construction of the castle is the pre-Romanesque rotunda, which dates back to Great Moravia period. At the end of 11^th century a stone tower was erected (donjon,bergfrid). One story and a ghotic brick coat were added after 1270. By its conic convergence toward the peak, it represents a singular feature of the castle architecture. It is a midpoint of the castle acropolis and the most dominant part of the city skyline. Within a short distance, individual castle palaces were built.  The palaces were connected to the extension function of the castle - first as a defense function then as an administrative and residential function.  It is thought that Matúš palace is the oldest palace, built at the beginning of the 14th century, from which, however only one wall has been preserved. Today, the wall is a part of the Barbora palace. The castle was the seat of Matúš Čak of Trencin (around 1260-1321), who made it his residential castle and the center of his extensive domain called “Matúš’s land” or Terra Mathei. Matúš Čák of Trencin, at that time, the most powerful Ugrian magnate, ruled over the whole Slovakia and a sizeable part of the Zadunajsko region. More than 50 castles and several districts were in his possession. Not only did he take properties from his weaker noble rivals, he robed the royal dominium as well. He didn’t spare the sacral property either, which brought him, as a result, clerical curse and declaration of interdict over his properties. Supposedly, he also produced his own coins, however none of which have been found. Perhaps it was a rumor created by his numerous enemies. His death on March 18, 1321 meant the collapse of his “kingdom” and the basis of many legends and tales. His grave has never been found and has become a popular quest with various romantics, adventurers, treasure seekers and serious historians. According to a story Matúš Čák of Trenčín was buried in a shell, silver and gold coffin along with vast treasures. There are skeptics however, due to the similarities of this story and those of the death of   “the whip of God”, the king Atila. After his death, Trenčín castle became the property of the Ugrian crown and king Karl.