Searching for nationhood in Slovakia
It is difficult to discern a unifying cultural theme in Trenčín, a midsized Slovakian town with an imposing castle, a charming Habsburg square and a surplus of specialty coffee shops. This is a common feeling in many central and Eastern European cities, which have played host to various religions, ethnicities and foreign occupiers over the centuries. It is especially true of Slovakia, a country that has only existed since 1993 and lacks the historical pedigree of its Hungarian, Polish and Czech neighbours. Trenčín (pronounced Tren-cheen) is experiencing a sudden influx of visitors because it was named one of two European Capitals of Culture this year. The other, Oulu, is somewhere in Finland. There is no mystery to the Finns.
