The City Tower – Balcony

Look in the direction of Sládkovičova Street. In order to strengthen the town’s fortifications against the growing Turkish threat and to protect the entrance to the town through the Lower Gate, a massive, advanced fortification – known as a barbican – was built in the 16th century. Before the present-day City Tower, a gate bastion was constructed in the space between two walls (the so-called zwinger). It was accessed through another advanced gate tower – the suburban gate. In front of the suburban gate, which was equipped with a drawbridge, there was a moat whose edges were reinforced with walls. The drawbridge rested on these walls and could be raised in case of danger. The artificial bend in the road along the line of today’s Sládkovičova Street allowed for better defence of the gate. The barbican was demolished in 1857. The outer wall of the reinforced moat can still be seen below the level of the present terrain in the building of the public restrooms. During the period of Turkish raids, additional lines of town fortifications were also created, mainly on the most threatened southern side. In addition to the advanced town fortifications located on Jaselská Street, so-called šiance – earthen palisade fortifications – were also built. These are still commemorated in Trenčín today in the street names Horný Šianec (Upper Šianec) and Dolný Šianec (Lower Šianec).