Trnava: Historic City between Culture and the Little Carpathians

Trnava combines a historic city with the landscapes of the Little Carpathians. The historic center has been protected as an urban heritage site since 1987. At the same time, the selection ranges from significant churches, museums and stages to hiking trails, caves and cycling routes in the area around Smolenice. This makes it possible to combine a cultural trip to Trnava with experiences in nature without conflating the different characters of the destinations.

Historic Center and Ecclesiastical Heritage

In 1238, Trnava became the first Slovak city to receive the privileges of a free royal city. After the Archbishopric of Esztergom was moved here in 1543, Trnava became the cultural and ecclesiastical center of the Kingdom of Hungary for almost 300 years. This development is reflected in the fortifications dating from the 13th to the 16th century and the town tower with its viewing terrace overlooking Trnava and the surrounding area.

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is considered the first early Baroque building in Slovakia. Inside is an original high altar made entirely of wood, dating from 1640. The Basilica of St. Nicholas was built between 1380 and 1421 as a three-nave Gothic basilica. Its miraculous image makes Trnava a renowned pilgrimage destination and adds a religious dimension to the city's history.

Museums, Art and Stages

The Mikuláš Schneidr Trnavský House of Music is dedicated to the composer's life and work. It also houses a hall of fame for the Dobro resonator guitar; this DOBRO Hall of Fame, newly established in 2020, is open to the public. The West Slovak Museum presents exhibitions in the main building, opens its courtyards to visitors and also includes an archaeological exhibition. It is housed in a former Poor Clare convent, which was already mentioned in Trnava in 1239.

Contemporary visual art is represented by the Galéria Jána Koniarka, a cultural, memorial and educational institution that organizes the international Trienále plagátu Trnava poster competition. The west wing of the town hall presents the history of the city administration and provides space for art exhibitions and concerts. The building of Divadlo Jána Palárika was built by the city in 1831 and is considered the oldest surviving building of its kind in Slovakia. The theater currently stages productions for adults. A seasonal addition to the cityscape is the traditional Trnava fair, with handicrafts and fairground specialties in the center.

Smolenice, Záruby and Driny Cave

As you head toward the Little Carpathians, the focus shifts from urban history to forests, rocks and trails. Smolenice Castle was built on the ruins of a medieval castle dating from the mid-15th century. The first work on the present-day castle began in 1887 with the adaptation of the bastions and the construction of a chapel in the southern bastion. Záruby, the highest mountain in the Little Carpathians at 768 meters, is located near Smolenice. Easy hikes lead from Smolenice to the mountain and are also suitable for families with children.

The Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area includes deciduous forests, meadows and forest clearings. The Hlboče Valley has been a national nature reserve with the highest level of protection since 1905. The Smolenický kras educational trail runs through the gorge; it is 7.5 kilometers long and has up to nine information boards or stations. The trail reaches the Molpír archaeological site, where the only waterfall in the Little Carpathians is located; it is 9 meters high. Information boards provide details about the prehistoric hillfort, its well and other parts of the site.

Driny Cave is the only publicly accessible cave in western Slovakia. The visitor route is 450 meters long and features stalagmites, stalactites, sinter waterfalls and small lakes. From the parking lot, the path leads through the forest to the cave in about 25 minutes. Another hiking option is the approximately 10-kilometer Smolenice–Záruby circuit trail on yellow- and blue-marked hiking paths. The route also follows the Cesta hrdinov SNP and the Štefánik Magistrale.

Routes for Cyclists and Further Landscapes

Smolenice can be reached from Trnava by train and bus. The moderately difficult Trnava–Smolenice cycling route begins in front of Trnava railway station, has moderate climbs and uses the marked cycling routes 8218, 2204 and 2203. The Okolo Smoleníc cycling route starts in Smolenice at a church near the castle and leads through the forests of the Little Carpathians below the Záruby and Veterlín mountains. Those wishing to include another cultural site along the way will find the Church of All Saints in Dechtice, a Romanesque rotunda dating from 1172.

The ruins of the Church and Monastery of St. Catherine lie in the Katarína Nature Reserve; a history-focused educational trail runs through the site. One of the largest forest complexes in the Trnava Hills is located in Lindavský les near Budmerice. The terrain is easy and is used by hikers, runners and cyclists. In Smolenice, the Včelco family beekeeping and mead brewery complements the landscape experience with local mead and honey beer.

Further Locality Pages

For further orientation, the following locality pages are available: Horné Dubové, Hrnčiarovce Nad Parnou, Jaslovské Bohunice, Zavar, Košolná, Horné Orešany, Malženice, Šelpice, Šúrovce, Smolenice, Boleráz, Suchá nad Parnou, Trnava and Lošonec.

For the higher-level travel overview: Tyrnau.