2 Euro Proof

Trenčín is located in western Slovakia on the Váh River and developed along an old transport route between the Danube region, Moravia and Silesia. Trenčín Castle rises above the city, the oldest surviving parts of which date back to the Middle Ages. In the early 14th century, it was the seat of the Hungarian magnate Matthäus Csák, who ruled over large areas in what is now the western and central part of Slovakia. To this day, the castle, historic old town and river shape the spatial structure of Trenčín.

A rock inscription below the castle bears witness to the site’s use in Roman times. It commemorates a victory by Roman troops at a place called Laugaricio during the Marcomannic Wars in the 2nd century. The inscription is one of the northernmost direct testimonies to the presence of the Roman military in Central Europe. However, Trenčín lay outside the permanently fortified Roman imperial frontier along the Danube.

The European Capitals of Culture programme dates back to an initiative introduced in 1985 by the then European Community. It was inspired by the Greek Minister of Culture Melina Mercouri. Originally, the focus was on presenting the cultural heritage of individual cities. In the meantime, the titles have been awarded on the basis of multi-year programmes. Criteria include European cooperation, public participation and longer-term effects on urban development and the cultural scene.

For Trenčín, the title is therefore associated not only with events. The programme also focuses on the use of public spaces, connecting different parts of the city, and cooperation between culture, education and the local population. Under the guiding principle “Cultivating Curiosity”, it aims to promote cultural participation and strengthen the city’s links with European partners.

As the subject of a commemorative coin, the occasion provides a connection between Slovak urban history and a joint cultural policy programme of the European Union. At the same time, the coin commemorates a clearly defined European cultural year as a state-issued means of payment.