Ilavský Castle was probably built to protect trade routes, the important and widely considered only ford across the Váh, and the town of Ilava. From its presumed protective purpose, attention turns to buildings whose features and alterations are described in detail: a bell tower, preserved Baroque furnishings and several clearly dated changes tell different chapters of the town’s history.
Baroque details and building history
The Ilava bell tower originally had one storey and a square footprint measuring 7 × 7 metres. During its Baroque remodelling in 1758, a second storey and a bulbous Baroque roof were added. These dimensions describe the original ground plan; the later addition also changed the height of the building. Original Baroque church pews and a wooden polychrome pulpit have been preserved in the Trinitarian Church of All Saints. Two kinds of historical detail can therefore be seen side by side: the structural alteration of a tower and the surviving furnishings of a church interior.
The Marian column also brings together several points in time: the polychrome stone statue of the Virgin Mary in the Immaculata style was erected in 1752. The original statue was destroyed and replaced by a smaller one in 1992. The former Catholic rectory near the town bell tower was originally a single-storey Renaissance building dating from the late 17th century. The building of the church’s Roman Catholic school was constructed between 1841 and 1844 and has an adjoining chapel.
Another example of a building’s changing use is the Baroque, single-storey inn and customs house. It was built in 1764 and is now known as Hotel Moravec. The building of Ilavský pivovar is a protected landmark. These buildings complement the church history with former secular uses and with a building whose protected status is part of its history.
Memorial sites and Klobušice
The old Jewish cemetery commemorates the local Jewish community, which lived in Ilava for several centuries up to the Second World War. The graves of Rabbi David Lewin (1838–1908) and his family are in the upper section. The cemetery chapel is dedicated to the veneration of the Virgin Mary and was built in 1906. This part of the town’s history thus brings together different religious memorial sites, without suggesting that they belong to the same tradition.
In the Klobušice district, the Gábor Baross crypt was completed in 1895. A visit to the crypt in the parish church can be included on a guided tour at the town museum; the crypt in Klobušice can also be visited as part of a museum tour. If you would like to include either destination in a tour, check in advance which stops are planned. The Klobušice district is also home to an English landscape park beside the former manor house of the Sipekyovci family. It covers about 7 hectares; if you plan to visit, it is worth checking current access arrangements. The life and artistic work of the renowned painter Joža Uprka are also associated with Klobušice.
Trails to Vápeč and activities on the Váh
The marked Ilava–Sokol–Vápeč hiking trail runs from Ilava railway station via Sokol and the settlement of Háj to Vápeč. The Ilava–Vápeč–Homôlka route leads into Vápeč National Nature Reserve, considered a limestone-dolomite rocky landmark. From the summit, there are unobstructed 360-degree views of the Malá Fatra, Martinské hole, Strážov, Mojtín, Manín, Vršatské bradlá and part of the Veľká Fatra; visibility depends on the weather. The routes therefore have different points of reference: one is described by its railway station and intermediate stops, while the other leads into the nature reserve and is suitable for hikers arriving by public transport. Check trail conditions before setting out, and check connections if travelling by public transport.
The PEREJ water sports section of TJ Sokol Ilava also offers activities for people with no experience in water sports. The section has organised public river trips since 1996. Holiday activities have included trips along the Váh from Ilava to Nemšová. If you are planning such a trip, check the current offer directly with the club.
The traditional Bartolomejský jarmok is another of Ilava’s noted traditions: it celebrates the end of summer and the bountiful harvest. Together with the buildings, memorial sites and trails to Vápeč, it offers further ways to explore Ilava according to your interests.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Dubnica Nad Váhom, Borčice, Nová Dubnica, Pruské, Sedmerovec, Bolešov, Dulov, Okres Považská Bystrica.
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