Žilina

Introducing Žilina

A Slavic tribe in the 6th century was the first to recognise Žilina’s advantageous location at the intersection of several important trade routes on the Váh river. Today travellers see it as a base for exploring the Malá Fatra National Park, area fortresses and folk villages. Even Martin can be a day trip. In town, besides the old palacelike castle on the outskirts, there aren’t a lot of sights, but the place has a lively young vibe and good, reasonable restaurants, because of the university population.

Žilina grew around a fortress in the middle ages. An influential compendium of principles on civic rights and obligations, written here in 1370, might be the oldest existing text in the Slovak language.

The town was occupied by the Hussites from 1429 to 1434 and, after being ravaged by the Thirty Years’ War, faded away until the railway brought industrialisation in the late 19th century. Today both the country’s main motorway and the main Bratislava–Kosice train line pass through here.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009