Žilina

Žilina sits where three valleys meet and grew as a trading town on the route to Poland and Silesia. Its centre is Mariánske square, arcaded on all four sides, which is unusual in Slovakia and gives it a Moravian or Polish character. Above the square stands the church of the Holy Trinity and the Burian tower. The Church of St Stephen on the edge of the city is Romanesque, the oldest building in the region, with medieval wall paintings inside.

Background

People lived around today's Žilina about 20,000 BC, in the late Stone Age. The first written record, from 1208, names the place terra de Selinan. It began to grow into a town around 1300, records from 1312 already call it one, and in 1321 King Charles I made it a free royal town. In the 17th century it became a centre of manufacturing, trade and education, and the Baroque period added monasteries, churches and Budatín Castle. Railways came with the Kassa Oderberg line in 1872 and the line to Bratislava in 1883. With approximately 80,000 people it is the fourth largest city in Slovakia and the largest on the Váh.

Source: Wikipedia, "Žilina"

The main sights

• Marianske square - an arcaded square on all four sides, rare in Slovakia.
• The Burian tower - the freestanding Renaissance bell tower above the square.
• St Stephen's church - a Romanesque building with medieval wall painting.
• The Fulla gallery - the painter's own house and collection in the city.

When to go

April to October is the most comfortable, with the square's terraces running. Museums close on Mondays. Winter is cold and grey.

Practical notes

The city is a transport hub and industrial around the edges. The Romanesque church is on the outskirts and needs transport. Museums are labelled in Slovak.

Nearby

Terchova is east, and Sulov rocks are southwest.

Key facts