In 1238, Trnava became the first Slovak city to receive the privileges of a free royal town. Its history can be discovered in its churches, fortifications and cultural sites; near Smolenice, forests and hiking trails in the Little Carpathians are also part of the picture. The city’s architectural history and nature experiences thus offer different sides of a trip.
City History and Sacred Architecture
After the Archbishopric of Esztergom was moved to Trnava in 1543, the city became the cultural and ecclesiastical center of the Kingdom of Hungary for almost 300 years. The historic center has been an urban conservation area since 1987. The fortifications also tell the story of different building phases: they date from the 13th to the 16th century.
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is considered the first early Baroque building in Slovakia. Its original main altar dates from 1640 and is made entirely of wood. The Basilica of St. Nicholas offers a different architectural impression: it was built between 1380 and 1421 as a three-aisled Gothic basilica. It houses a miraculous image that makes Trnava a well-known pilgrimage site.
Those interested in other traces of the city’s history can also find them outside the churches. The west wing of the Town Hall offers insight into the history of city administration and provides space for art exhibitions and concerts; individual programs may change. The Divadlo Jána Palárika was built by the city in 1831. It is considered the oldest surviving building of its kind in Slovakia and currently stages performances for adults. Check the current repertoire if you are planning a theater visit.
Museums, Art and City Life
The Museum of Western Slovakia is housed in a former Poor Clare monastery, which was mentioned in Trnava as early as 1239. The main building has exhibition rooms and an archaeological exhibition; the courtyards are also open to visitors. As exhibitions and visitor arrangements may change, it is worth checking the current offerings before your trip.
The House of Music Mikuláš Schneidra Trnavského focuses on the composer and his work; it also has a Hall of Fame for the Dobro resonator guitar. The DOBRO Hall of Fame, newly established in 2020, was open to the public. Check the current access arrangements before visiting. You can discover contemporary visual art at the Galéria Jána Koniarka, which also organizes the international Trienále plagátu Trnava poster competition. One of its main exhibition venues is the former Neolog Synagogue on Halenárska Street, which has served as a contemporary art center since June 1994.
The traditional Trnava fair is an annual event with its own atmosphere: the city center offers crafts and fairground specialties. As the program and dates may vary, check the dates for the year of your trip.
Smolenice Castle and Trails in the Little Carpathians
Near Smolenice, the castle brings together a medieval past and later construction work. It was built on the ruins of a medieval castle dating from the mid-15th century. The first work on the present castle began in 1887, including the adaptation of the bastions and construction of a chapel in the southern bastion.
The Little Carpathians offer a different perspective on the area. Their protected landscape area includes extensive deciduous forests, meadows and forest clearings. Záruby is near Smolenice and, at 768 meters, is the highest mountain in the Little Carpathians. There are easy hikes to the mountain from Smolenice, suitable also for families with children; trail conditions may vary. The Hlboče Valley has been a national nature reserve with the highest level of protection since 1905.
The Smolenický kras educational trail is 7.5 kilometers long and has up to nine information boards or stations. It leads through the Hlboča gorge and to the Molpír archaeological site. The site is home to the only waterfall in the Little Carpathians, which is nine meters high. Another option is the approximately ten-kilometer Smolenice–Záruby circular hiking route, which follows yellow- and blue-marked hiking trails. The trail near Smolenice and Záruby also follows the Cesta hrdinov SNP and the Štefánik Magistrale. Compare route details when considering the length of a hike; check current trail markings and conditions before setting out.
Driny Cave also offers a striking natural contrast to the city’s buildings. It is the only publicly accessible cave in western Slovakia and contains stalagmites, stalactites, flowstone waterfalls and small lakes. The cave’s visitor route is 450 meters long; from the parking area, the walk through the forest to the cave takes about 25 minutes. Check current access and opening arrangements before your visit.
Getting Around Between Trnava and Smolenice
Smolenice is accessible from Trnava by train and bus. Timetables may change, so check them before traveling. For cyclists, the moderately difficult Trnava–Smolenice route, with moderate gradients, is another option: it starts in front of Trnava station and uses the marked cycling routes 8218, 2204 and 2203. Here, too, it is advisable to check the latest route details and conditions. If you would like to combine different ways of exploring, the city’s churches and museums offer a focus on cultural history, while the trails near Smolenice take you through the landscapes of the Little Carpathians.
Discover more destinations: Horné Orešany, Smolenice, Horné Dubové, Hrnčiarovce Nad Parnou, Jaslovské Bohunice, Lošonec, Malženice, Šelpice, Šúrovce, Zavar, Košolná, Boleráz, Suchá nad Parnou, Trnava.
For the main travel overview: Tyrnau.
