The Trenčín Museum in Trenčín plans to live the story, legends and interesting things from the life of Matúš Čák throughout the year 2021.

Exposition to the 700th anniversary of the death of Matúš Čák (1321 - 2021)

Already in April 2021, the museum in Kasárny at Trenčín Castle will open a unique exhibition "The Lord of Libra and the Tatras". It will introduce not only Matúš Čák Trenčiansky himself, but also the time in which Matúš lived. The exhibition will also reveal valuable and unique collection items of the Trenčín Museum. It will be interactive, and at the same time educational. It will attract and entertain visitors of all ages. The children will certainly be thrilled by the armor of the soldier who served in Matthew's army.

Euro-souvenir banknote with a portrait of Matúš Čák

K700. On the anniversary of the death of the most famous lord of Trenčín Castle, a commemorative euro souvenir banknote with zero face value will be issued. The banknote with the portrait of Matúš Čák Trenčiansky, with the castle from the period of Matúš's reign and his family coat of arms is made and his family coat of arms is made of cotton paper as original euro banknotes and contains security features such as watermark, hologram, UV protection elements, security strip and others . It will be available to those interested in the County House on Mierovo náměstí in Trenčín and in all branches of the Trenčín Museum immediately after the release of epidemiological measures (provisionally in mid-April). Those interested will be informed about the exact date of the start of the sale of the banknote via the museum's website www.muzeumtn.sk and via social networks.

Events also on the magnificent southern fortifications

Of the planned events, the most significant will be those that will bear the name of Matúš Čák and will carry visitors imaginarily to the period in which Matúš ruled. The summer tourist season will be opened by the period Matúš Castle festivities at the end of June. The castle will live a craft fair, servants and the art of falconers and swordsmen.

Other upcoming events that will take place under the patronage of Matúš Čák are already known, for example, summer fairytale trips for children, craft days, unique night shows for children and adults with scenes or knightly weekends. After a few years, visitors will be able to fully enjoy the magical atmosphere of the southern fortifications.

Model of portraits of Matúš Čák in Trenčín after 109 years

In August, a part of the exhibition "Lord of Libra and the Tatras" will be a rare exhibit - a gilded copper herm, which is supposed to be the originator of many portraits of Matúš Čák Trenčianský. At present, the hermitage is located in the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest, to which it was donated in 1812 by the free royal city of Trenčín with the explanation that it is a portrait of Matúš Čák Trenčianský. According to the accompanying letter of the chief judge of the city, Antal Horečný, the hermit was at the town hall "from time immemorial" and no one knew when it got there.

Based on the local legend, which claimed that it was a bust with a depiction of Matúš Čák, several portraits of Matúš were created, which are part of the collection of the Trenčín Museum in Trenčín. The largest one will take its place in the mentioned exposition, during which visitors will be able to admire a valuable hermitage for one month.

Lectures of the Trenčín Museum

During this year, the museum plans to hold several lectures for its visitors related to Matúš Čák Trenčiansky, which will cover both the settlement culture from the Matúš period, military history, but also Matúš Čák's relationship with the church. Their goal will be to bring the personality of the palatine closer to the public and, if the pandemic situation allows, to focus on the younger generation - primary and secondary school students.

Autumn professional conference at the castle

The culmination of the Year of Matúš Čák will be the autumn professional conference “700. anniversary of Matúš Čák Trenčiansky (1321 - 2021) “. Its date is scheduled for September 23 - 24, 2021 at Trenčín Castle. The conference will feature lectures on topics related to the political situation and economic conditions during the reign of Matúš Čák. An interesting subject of lectures will certainly be the topic of the personality of Matúš, the Čák family, the development of society in the time of Matúš from the point of view of archeology, etc. The lecturers will be important Slovak historians and personalities who are among the experts on the Middle Ages. Younger experts who have brought new stimuli to the research will also be given space.

The museum cooperates with the Department of History of the Faculty of Arts of the Trnava University in Trnava in the implementation of the conference. The conference will be available to both professionals and the general public.

Competitions, quizzes and creative fun for children

In addition to the mentioned events and many activities of the Trenčín Museum connected with the Year of Matúš Čák, visitors will be able to look forward to various competitions and quizzes in the coming months. It is worth mentioning, for example, an art competition for younger and older children. The best works will be exhibited at Trenčín Castle.

Due to the pandemic situation and changing regulations and measures of the Government of the Slovak Republic and regional public health authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19, updated information on the dates of all planned events will be published on the museum's website www.muzeumtn.sk and on social networks.

Source: Trenčín Museum in Trenčín