Trenčín is a town in western Slovakia (close to the Czech border) at the Váh River.
The site has been inhabited since time immemorial. A typical medieval fortified castle is situated on a rock above the town. Trenčín is best known for a Roman inscription on the castle rock from 179, stemming from the era of the Marcomannic Wars, a series of wars between the Roman Empire and the Germanic Quadi. It denotes the site as Laugaricio and is the northernmost evidence of the presence of Roman soldiers in central Europe. Under its Greek name Leukaristos, Trenčín was also depicted on the Ptolemy world map (c. 150 CE).
The city is dominated by its castle, which is the third-largest in the Slovak territory. The castle is divided into upper and lower sections, with extensive fortifications. The upper castle has several palace buildings which surround the central medieval tower, which remains the highest point of the city. Below the castle on the hillside is the old parish church and a small upper square, which is reached by historic covered stairs as well winding side streets. The old town has a large main square, with a large baroque church and a variety of shops, as well as a town tower.