Žilina's compact old town is the main draw: the arcaded Marian Square is one of the better-preserved Renaissance squares in Slovakia, and the cluster of churches and monuments around it fills a pleasant morning. Budatín Castle, at the confluence of the Váh and Kysuca rivers just north of the centre, houses a regional museum and is Žilina's most photogenic landmark. The real appeal for many visitors, though, is as a base: the Malá Fatra national park begins at the city's eastern edge.