Guide to Žilina
Žilina is located on the edge of the Žilina Basin and is the largest city in north-central Slovakia. The city covers an area of 80 km2 and has over 85 thousand inhabitants. Žilina lies at the confluence of the Váh and Kysuca rivers. In 1990, a relatively extensive reconstruction of the center and its historical core took place here, which makes Žilina one of the most beautiful Slovak cities. Here you will find several well-preserved monuments, but also a university - Žilina University, which was originally located in Prague. Between 1960 and 1962, it was moved to Žilina under the name of the University of Transport.
Accommodation in Žilina
We would like to offer you accommodation in Žilina mainly in the form of hotels and guesthouses. Among the hotels, we can recommend the Holiday Inn Zilina 4*, located 15 minutes' walk from the city center, which offers comfortable rooms, a rooftop wellness center and an "a la carte" restaurant. In the very center of the city is the newly opened Hotel Dubna Skala 4*, suitable both for spending a pleasant vacation and, for example, for business trips. Cheaper accommodation options include the three-star Hotel Grand, which you can find in the heart of historic Žilina. You can find very nice accommodation in Penzión Central Park, which offers its clients cozy rooms, a wellness center with an indoor pool and also a hotel restaurant where you can enjoy Slovak, Czech and international cuisine. If you want to avoid the busy city center, we can recommend Pension Martinov Dvor, about 3 km away. A pleasant environment, a restaurant with a fireplace and a pleasant seating area, cozy wooden rooms, this pension offers all this. The price for a double room with breakfast per night is around 50 Euros.
History of Žilina
The history of Žilina dates back to the Stone Age, but mentions date back to 1208, when the first small Slavic settlement was built here. Mariánské náměstí dates from the 12th century and is today located right in the center of the city. Only one monument has been preserved from this time, namely the church of St. Stephen. Between 1431 and 1434, the town was burned by the Hussites. During the 17th and 18th centuries, re-Catholicization took place here, but at the same time the city was hit by frequent fires and epidemics. Even so, two baroque churches were built here, St. Paul and St. Barbara. A Jesuit gymnasium and the Church of the Holy Trinity were also built. In the 19th century, Žilina gradually became an industrial city. An important fabric manufacturing factory was established here. From 1848, Žilina belonged to the capitals of the national revival. In 1949, urban transport was introduced in Žilina. After the Second World War, the city underwent a fairly significant development, which was mainly related to the construction of new urban districts. The historical core of Žilina underwent a significant reconstruction in 1990. Many monuments fall under the city's historic preservation.
Transportation to Žilina
Žilina is an important railway link that crosses the line between the cities of Bohumín, Košice and Bratislava. Buses and trolleybuses are used for transportation around the city. The nearest airports are Poprad (142 km), Bratislava (200 km) and Košice (256 km).
Sights in Žilina
The historical core of the city of Žilina offers its visitors many monuments that fall under the city's historic preservation. The center of the center belongs to Mariánské náměstí, dating back to the 12th century. The city hall and the church of St. Paul. The Považ Gallery, located in an Art Nouveau building built in 1911, also has its place on the square. Among the interesting sights of Žilina is the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity with a tower reaching a height of 51 m. The 46 m high Burian Tower, which is a belfry belonging to a nearby Roman Catholic church, is also worth a visit. In the Budatín district, you can visit the interesting castle of the same name. The history of this building, which is open to the public all year round, dates back to the 13th century. Near Žilina, you can relax in the Rajecké Teplice thermal spa.