The Regional Tourism Organization (KOCR) Trenčín region came up with an unconventional invitation to visit its region. On Trenčianske street 3 places sends a postcard on a bench. The first place where such a unique bench was installed is Nová Dubnica, followed by Púchov and Nové Mesto nad Váhom.

The aim of the project is to increase interest in visiting tourist attractions. "Benches should encourage people from the region and beyond to discover interesting places and explore the region. Trenčín County is not large in size, however, not all locals know all its beauties, " explains Juraj Gerlici , chairman of KOCR Trenčín region, adding that bench postcards will be gradually added to the streets of Trenčianske throughout Slovakia.

The back of the bench is a postcard, dedicated to the inhabitants of the city and showing a specific location to visit. These are the three most visited and most attractive. The inhabitants of Nový Mesto nad Váhom will receive a postcard from Bojnice Castle, the Púchovčany from Trenčín Castle and the Novodubničans will receive a postcard from the MR Štefánik Mound. "The graphic visual was assigned according to the distance of the monuments from a specific place so that the journey by car would not take more than an hour. We show compatriots so engagingly and in a visible place that they have monuments at their fingertips, " added Juraj Gerlici. On the side of the bench there is a QR code, which after taking a picture by mobile phone links to the trencinregion.sk website and specifically to an audio recording of the given monument. It presents information about attractive places in the Trenčín region, landscape attractions and history.

According to the mayor of the city, Petr Marušinec , the bench not only draws people's attention to the beauty of the region, but is also an aesthetic element that beautifies the city space. "I really like this idea of a regional tourism organization. It gives the inhabitants of our city instructions on getting to know our regional tourist sites, which are located nearby. In addition, the visual of the bench complements the urban architecture very well and is a new aesthetic element that the residents will definitely like, ”said the mayor of Nová Dubnica.

Ecology and originality

The postcard on the bench is also made special by a unique and specially created postage stamp. Eight students of the Secondary Art School in Trenčín were involved in its creation. Talented students created their designs and three of them were selected and awarded. "By choosing a place, I went back to my childhood, when my parents and I went on trips with Bojnice," reveals the author of the Bojnice Castle stamp, Matúš Ivanič . "The color is playful and pleasant. I used the line drawing technique, subsequently modified in graphics programs. With the involvement of imagination, an abstract view of the castle was created. "

The interesting and meaning of the benches is also their ecological legacy. No chemistry was used in their production and the graphics were printed directly on the wood with environmentally friendly colors.

The creators of the project believe that it will have a positive effect on the population. "Many inhabitants of the region visited these monuments as children, but currently the sites are modernized, there are many events, so it pays to see them repeatedly and several times in a lifetime," concludes Juraj Gerlici.