38 Catholic House

The Catholic House with the National Theatre was built between 1925 and 1926 according to the project of the architect Stanislav Koníček in the style of neoclassicism. On the gable of the façade there is a Slovak double cross with two eagles and above the entrance there are sculptures of two women, symbolizing music and theatre. During the years 1939 to 1945, the building housed a Roman Catholic girls' school, later a primary school, a kindergarten and a pedagogical school. On the sixth of October 1938, the representatives of the Slovak parties met here and proclaimed the Žilina Agreement. At the same time, Dr. Jozef Tiso, later the first President of the Slovak Republic, proclaimed the autonomy of Slovakia from the balcony of the Catholic House, which was also confirmed by the National Assembly of the Czechoslovak Republic. In 1990, the Sisters of St. Francis returned to the building and since 1991 it has housed the Gymnasium of St. Francis of Assisi.