Palackého Street is one of the most important streets in the historic core of Trenčín, located within the city’s urban monument reserve. Several key public institutions are based here – most notably the Miloš Alexander Bazovský Gallery and the Michal Rešetka Public Library. Despite its significance, however, the street currently lacks strong qualities for staying and spending time. In the minds of Trenčín’s residents, it is defined primarily as a service street for the main Mierové Square and today functions as one of the largest and most heavily used parking areas in the city centre.
The European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 project has decided to address this situation through the project City reimagined, aiming to reveal the hidden potential of Palackého Street to both residents and visitors.
The efforts of the Trenčín 2026 project also support the city’s long-term strategy, according to which Palackého Street should gradually become a partially pedestrian zone, with a significant expansion of areas for public use that would stimulate life at street level. From a transport perspective, most of the current parking area should be replaced by a street primarily serving public transport, cyclists, and local residents. However, this is a long-term vision linked to the economically and technologically demanding rerouting of road I/61 – the main route between Bratislava and Žilina, which currently runs along the parallel Hasičská Street.
How did it all begin, and what awaits us in 2026?
The revitalisation of Palackého Street began with the Korzo Palackého 2024 event, during which the street was transformed into a pedestrian zone for one Saturday. Approximately 5,000 people chose to spend their time there. In the same year, the first parklet appeared on the street as a test project, replacing two parking spaces for several months and creating a unique shaded seating area next to one of the local businesses.
In 2025, the transformation continued in an even more ambitious spirit. In addition to once again turning the street into a safe and pleasant pedestrian zone for a day, the city decided to remove 15 parking spaces. As alternatives, visitors can use the parking garage located directly on Palackého Street, nearby parking areas in the wider city centre, or public transport from the busy stop on Hasičská Street.
On the site of five former parking spaces, a second parklet was installed, intended to remain in place until the street’s reconstruction, or at least until the end of 2026. The aim of this architectural intervention was not only to return part of the street space to people, but also to add much-needed buffer greenery between the parking area and the sidewalk. During the summer season, part of the parklet is designated for the terrace of a nearby guesthouse. Previously, this terrace was located on a heavily used sidewalk, where it created a significant barrier for larger groups of pedestrians, parents with strollers, and people with reduced mobility.
As part of the gradual evolution of the street – during which the number of parking spaces has been reduced from more than one hundred to approximately eighty – the City of Trenčín and the Trenčín 2026 project intend to continue these efforts. The goal is not to abruptly limit parking for drivers, but to gradually demonstrate to residents and visitors alike the hidden potential of this area, which is currently burdened by static traffic.
More information about the proposal can be found at this link.
Trenčín 2026 project team:
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Hana Laššová
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Michal Mazánik
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Lívia Gažová
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Michal Ševella
Authors:
Ing. arch. Martin Červienka (AXO STUDIO),
Ing. arch. Alexander Topilin,
Ing. arch. Peter Čurlej
Collaboration:
Matúš Vavrík – Wood Vavrik (carpentry),
Dominika Hlaváčová (greenery planting)
