The ancient town of La Hoya is an important archaeological site of the Bronze and Iron Ages. The fortified town was inhabited between the 15th and 3rd centuries BCE and occupies four hectares.
In the early period of Middle-Late Bronze Age, the fortifications, as well the houses, were all made of wood. In the Early-Middle Iron Age construction became more complex using mixed formulas with stone, wood and adobe. Most houses were near the wall in this period.
During the Late Iron Age, with a cultural context that some classify as Celtiberian, shows important changes in urbanization: with paved streets and plazas that form a reticular structure. The wall is also rebuilt on stone. This final period also shows great advancement in the technologies: potter's wheel, elaborated blacksmithing, etc.
The successive layers of rubble, that served as cimentations for further edification, make up a small tell 3 meters high.
The town was destroyed violently c. 300 BCE, leaving the remains of the people and their quotidian tools in the streets.
References:Trenčín Castle is relatively large renovated castle, towering on a steep limestone cliff directly above the city of Trenčín. It is a dominant feature not only of Trenčín, but also of the entire Považie region. The castle is a national monument.
History of the castle cliff dates back to the Roman Empire, what is proved by the inscription on the castle cliff proclaiming the victory of Roman legion against Germans in the year 179.
Today’s castle was probably built on the hill-fort. The first proven building on the hill was the Great Moravian rotunda from the 9th century and later there was a stone residential tower, which served to protect the Kingdom of Hungary and the western border. In the late 13th century the castle became a property of Palatine Matúš Csák, who became Mr. of Váh and Tatras.
Matúš Csák of Trenčín built a tower, still known as Matthew’s, which is a dominant determinant of the whole building.