Holiday apartment in Trnava: culture between the city walls and town tower

Trnava can be explored through several interconnected themes: heritage conservation, museums, sacred buildings, cycle paths and market life. The preserved buildings and collections showcase various historical periods of the city, while the market and cycle network add further facets of present-day Trnava.

Culture

The historic centre of Trnava has been a municipal heritage reserve since 1987. The West Slovak Museum is housed in a Poor Clare monastery dating from the 13th century. This complex also includes the Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský Music House, where the important Slovak composer lived and worked. The Museum of Book Culture has been located in the Oláh Seminary since 1979. Thus, the city centre brings together museums and historic buildings with different original functions.

The Emmer Villa is the oldest preserved country estate in Trnava and was built around 1770. Among other features, the villa retains remnants of Rococo stucco decoration on the ceiling of the main hall. The Jána Koniarka Gallery is housed in the Neoclassical Koppl Villa. The Status Quo Ante Synagogue was built between 1891 and 1897; since 1994, it has belonged to the Jána Koniarka Gallery in Trnava and serves as a centre for contemporary art. In Trnava, the country estate, villa, synagogue and gallery thus stand side by side as independent cultural venues.

City history

The fortifications of Trnava are among the few surviving examples of the oldest brick fortifications in Slovakia. Visitors can walk along the preserved city walls. The Renaissance Dominanta on Trojičné námestie was built in 1574 as an observation tower. The Baroque Chapel of the Virgin Mary of Trnava houses a miraculous image; as a result, Trnava is known as a pilgrimage site. The city walls, observation tower and chapel thus represent different historical functions and architectural forms within the city.

Cityscape

The viewing gallery of Trnava's town tower is located at a height of 29 m, while the tower itself is 57 m high. Trnava's town tower contains a unique clock mechanism. Trnava's characteristic landmark was built between 1380 and 1421 as a Gothic three-nave basilica.

The Cathedral of St. John has an original main altar made entirely of wood, dating from 1640. The altar is 20.3 m high and 14.8 m wide. The Cathedral of St. John is considered the first early Baroque building in Slovakia.

Cycle paths and market

Today, Trnava has more than 26 kilometres of urban cycle paths, and the network is being expanded. The Trnava Region Tourist Information Centre offers guided tours with experienced tourist guides. For cyclists, the Trnava Region Tourist Information Centre provides basic tools in the event of unexpected technical problems. The city's services therefore include both guided information and practical support for cyclists.

Trnava's city market mainly offers fruit and vegetables as well as cakes, syrups, coffee, jams, wild berries and mushrooms. The market stalls combine fresh produce with processed products.

Other places: Horné Dubové, Jaslovské Bohunice, Smolenice, Hrnčiarovce Nad Parnou, Lošonec, Šelpice, Košolná, Šúrovce

To the higher-level travel overview: Trnava.