Trenčín

Here it goes.

Perched beneath one of Central Europe's most imposing medieval castles, the Slovak city of Trencin has spent centuries at the crossroads of European history.

Its Roman inscription carved into the castle rock nearly 1,850 years ago marks the furthest known advance of a Roman army into Central Europe.

A place well worth a visit, and luckily for us, Rob Cameron is here to help us divot by proxy.

The sound comes from a loudspeaker, a contemporary art installation created for the European Capital of Culture project.

It brings to life the legend of Omar, a captured Ottoman nobleman who, according to local folklore, dug through solid rock to win his freedom and return to his beloved Fatima.

The legend may not be true, but for many Slovaks, it's the story most closely associated with Trencin Castle.

To separate fact from folklore, I joined local historian Vladimir Pindiak for a tour.

Z's Final Shift Aaron, before we get into some of the specifics about the game itself in Slovakia and Trencin, where you just were, how are you? Give us an update.

What you're doing.

What's the latest in Aaron Ward's world?

Together, they explored what makes Pohoda more than just a few days of music, and whether the temporary community created there can have an impact long after the festival gates close.

At the beginning of July, tens of thousands of people gathered at an airfield in Trencin, Slovakia, for the 30th Pohoda.

People keep coming back, some for music, some for their friends, and some simply for the atmosphere.

After I myself have experienced the festival's uniqueness, which, it's fair to say, cannot be compressed into a radio feature, I've decided to dedicate this programme to its community, its values and seemingly ordinary moments that are absolutely not ordinary.

Prešov and Bardejov sent not only soldiers but also artillery.

Juraj Zápolský, the Count of Trenčín and one of the commanders of the Hungarian army alongside Pál Tomori, brought around 1,200 arquebusiers.

They came mainly from the counties of Trenčín, Orava, Turiec, Liptov, and Spiš.

The battle ended in a catastrophic defeat for the Hungarian army.

Around 14,000 to 18,000 soldiers were killed, and almost the entire Hungarian artillery was destroyed, while Ottoman losses are estimated at between 1,200 and 1,500 men.

Smart DRS launched at the twenty twenty-six IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship in Slovakia at the end of April.

Eight automated return stations were installed across venues in Bratislava and Trenčín, processing more than forty-four thousand three hundred reusable cups during twenty-nine games.

The system was subsequently deployed at two major summer music festivals.

Love Stream Festival recorded the largest festival volume so far, with forty-two thousand six hundred cups returned over three days.

Aaron's still on the high from Bratislava.

No, sorry, it was Trencin in Slovakia.

Aaron, how you doing today, buddy?

I'm good.

Like, they-- A lot of them never thought they'd...

I mean, meeting Aaron Ward's not a thing, but I'm saying meeting, I don't know, Ray Bourque as he's walking in behind me.

I mean, for, for those people I couldn't imagine the likelihood of living in Trencin thinking that somehow you'd br- cross paths with Ray Bourque.

It's a thing.

But, um, this event was sponsored by Range Rover, so we had drivers for the entirety of it.

We landed in Vienna, passed through the, the border of Slovakia through, um, Bratislava, and it was probably about another 50 minutes from Bratislava to Trencin.

And upon arrival, like, it was great.

Z was in the hotel to meet us.

The, here's the deal.

Oh.

They had a choice of putting it in Bratislava or in Trencin.

Mm.