Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................1
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CASTLES IN CROATIAN HINTERLAND..........................................2
REVIEW OF MOST SIGNIFICANT CASTLES OF CROATIAN HINTERLAND..........................3
TRAKOAN................................................................................................................................3
VELIKI TABOR..............................................................................................................................4
BEANEC.......................................................................................................................................4
MILJANA........................................................................................................................................5
KLENOVNIK..................................................................................................................................5
GORNJE AND DONJE OROSLAVJE............................................................................................5
HELLENBACH FAMILY CASTLE...............................................................................................5
NOVI DVORI KLANJEKI...........................................................................................................5
ORI..............................................................................................................................................6
GJALSKI.........................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION

At a relativly small area of Croatian hinterland have been built masterpieces of invaluable national
value. According to density of monuments Croatian hinterland is one of the most valuable
monumental richess of Croatia.
Croatian hinterland was settled way back in prehistoric times (Hunjakovo, Vindija). Many
archeological findings prove that these areas were settled in the Early Middle Ages.
In the Late Middle Ages, especially from 12th to 15th century, in Croatian hinterland were
established many fortified towns from which some have been preserved in whole or are now ruins.
17th and 18th century was time of baroque in Croatian hinterland. In that time and in that
expression ensued many buildings and the baroque tradition lasted until 19th century. That was the
time when people were mostly building castles, summer houses and manors.
19th century, besides classicism and romanticism in the architecture, kept the tradition of past
centuries in the construction of castles and manors. That tradition also ended with 19th century and
feudal social movement.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE CASTLES IN CROATIAN

HINTERLAND
The need for building castles in Croatian hinterland appeared at the beginning of a 17th century.
Firstly there were baffled fortified residential buildings such as rbinec or Mirkovec and medieval
burgs: Bela I, Bisag, Ivanec, Mali and Veliki Tabor. Later on, feudatory abandoned many of their
burgs because they built castles in much more approachable plains. That is how Novi Dvori
Klanjeki, Klenovnik, Krkanec and Bela II ensued.
Construction of castles in the second half of 17th and 18th century was developing under indirect
influence of the Central European variety of architecture. In that period were built most of the
castles of Croatian hinterland.
Baroque castles naturalized in Croatian hinterland around 1750 and they continued developing
until 1825. In the first period, around first half of 18th century were expanded and refurbished in the
baroque style few earlier castles (alinec, Ivanec, Lobor, Miljana).
At the crossing from 18th to 19th century and during the first half of 20th century classicism
affirmed in the construction of castles. In that time ensued castles Januovec, Beanec, Martijanec,
Klokovec and other. In the middle and in the second half of 19th century noblemen, astonished with
the ideas of romanticism and historicism, were building and refurbishing castles in medieval style
of architecture. That is why in 1855 Drakovi family baffled Trakoan castle in style of
romanticism, Erddy baffled Bajnski Dvori, Schlippenbach Maruevec and Jelai Novi Dvori
Zapreiki.
The castles of Croatian hinterland are mostly one - store buildings and rarely two - store
(Klenovnik, Ludbreg). In some castles are preserved chapels (Klenovnik, Gornja Stubica, Ludbreg,
Gornja Bistra) or wall paintings (Lobor, Ludbreg, Oroslavje, Miljana).
Nowadays these castles remind us of high cultural life standard and construction skills of past
centuries, so we have to appreciate and protect them as uniqueness of Croatian culture.

REVIEW OF MOST SIGNIFICANT CASTLES OF CROATIAN

HINTERLAND
TRAKOAN
There is no doubt that Trakoan is the most famous, the most visited and probably the most
attractive castle of Croatian hinterland.
The castle was being held by count Drakovi and his family, which was one of the most popular
feudal families, from 1568 for almost three and half centuries with a short break between 1645 and
1651 when it was a property of Nikola Zrinski. Except the Drakovi family, the castle was a
property of Celjski family, Jan Vitovec with his sons (1456 - 1488), Korvin family (1496 - 1503)
and Gyulay family (1503 - 1568).
The castle represents a perfect match of nature and architecture. Not to far from bigger towns, a bit
isolated in a hilly area between Ravna gora, Macelj and Strahinica mountain, it is located on a hill
with a park in the middle of a park - forest and it classifies itself as a monument of culture and
nature of highest category. Right to the castle is a Trakoan lake that originates back in the middle
of 19th century when a dam was built and the River Bednja source was baffled. According to a
legend, Trakoan got its name after fortress of Trak (arx Thacorum) which reportedly existed in
ancient times. However, another legend says that it got its name after knights of Drachenstein who
dominated these areas in the Early Middle Ages. Nobody knows who built the castle and when it
was built, but it was probably built in 14th century as a smaller fortress in the defensive system of
North - West Croatia for monitoring a road from Ptuj to Bednja Valley. It was expanded and
upgraded several times - significantly in 1592 when cannon towers with roof were risen. It was
mentioned for the first time in 1334 on a list of parishes and as a middle age town it was mentioned
in 1399 when king Sigmund donated Trakoan to his father - in - law Herman Celjski, together
with other towns of Croatian hinterland.
The way it looks today originates from the middle of 19th century when the old and abandoned
middle age castle was thoroughly renewed in neoghotic style, in one of the first restorer actions in
Croatia. The castle was nationalised back in 1944 and in 1953 was opened a museum with
permanent exhibition that consists hunting room, collection of cold and fire weapons and equipment
from 15th to 19th century, rooms decorated in various art styles (baroque, rococo etc.), rooms for
everyday living (sleeping room, dinning room, music room etc.), library, knight room, inner yard,
dungeon, kitchen etc., all devided in thematic stores.

VELIKI TABOR
Near Desini, on a hill, arises the castle Veliki Tabor, the most preserved medieval fortress,
not only in Croatian hinterland but in whole Croatia. It is one of the most visited Croatian castles.
Its first owner was count Celjski, it was also a property of Ratkay family, count Tuguth and
Grunvald merchant brothers from Zagreb. One of the most famous owners and occupants was the
famous Croatian painter Oton Ivekovi, whose paintings are still kept in the castle. Except the
museum with etnographic, geologic, paleontologic and antropologic collections, war arsenal and old
automobiles that are dating from 19th century, legend of tragic love of Veronika Desinika ( whose
skull is still kept in the museum ) and Federik Celjski, tourist find interesting the international
swordsman contest that is held each year since 1983, then falconry in October, and since 2003
international Tabor-film festival in July. The special attraction for tourists is Klet or basement
with big double doors, that are hiding large basement area with barrels from 53 to 5450 liters,
rustical bar, winery and very old grape squeezer. The castle is under the protection of UNESCO as
one of the monuments of high cultural importance.

BEANEC
Castle Beanec, with its park, is located approximately 8 kilometres south-east from city of
Pregrada. It dates back to the 18th century, and around 1830 it was renovated in classicistical style.
During the past it was in the property of families Keglevi, Kollenbach, Schlaum-Linden, OttenfelsGeschwind. Because of its unique architectural and urbanistical completness, castle Beanec with
its park is a first class cultural monument. Although it was recorded as that since 1964, it had a very
rough history: first it was plundered, then it was converted into an orphanage. Later it was given in
the hands of the locals, who devastated it even more by taking building materials for building of
their own bussiness facilities, and after all it was converted into a legal ( internal and external )
garbage landfill. For some time there was also a furniture lounge avri Today it is in the private
ownership of entrepreneur Sinia Krianac and under his ownership it was renovated in 1990.

MILJANA
It used to be castle and summerhouse of Ratkay family. It was under construction from the
end of the 17th century till the beggining of 19th century. Interior of the castle is decorated with
many paintings from the rococo period. The park around the castle has been protected since 1971 as
a horticultural monument. Castle has been privatized since 1979. Dr. Franjo Kajfe became a new
owner and was refurbishing it from 1979 to 1982. The castle is a first class cultural monument.
Miljana used to be opened for visitors, but today it is closed for public.

KLENOVNIK
Renaissance castle Klenovnik with its beautiful park was built by Drakovi family in 1616.
It is located around 9 kilometres north-west from Ivanec and it is the biggest castle in Croatia. It
was baffled and upgraded several times, and in 1927 H. Ehrlich adapted it and made spa out of it.
Today is in the castle a hospital for treating tuberculosis.

GORNJE AND DONJE OROSLAVJE

City of Oroslavje could have been proud of two castles. Square baroque castle with two
towers and a park with a garden ( only preserved garden of French type in Croatian hinterland ) was
burned down in 1947. It was the property of two families Sermage and Vranyczany. Another
castle, also a baroque castle with park, still exists, but had the samy destiny as many other castles of
Croatian hinterland it is derelicted and devastated. It was in the property of families Vojkovi,
Ori and Tuci.

HELLENBACH FAMILY CASTLE

Near Marija Bistrica, on the road to Zlatar Bistrica, there is a beautiful castle of Hellenbach
with its beautiful park. It is one of the few castles in Croatian hinterland and Croatia that still keeps
continuity of living and completely preserves its interior the way it was in the past. It classifies as
one of the most beautiful and the most valuable castles in Croatia. The park around the castle was
ensued after the castle was built, around the middle of 19th century. By mariagge bounds, it became
the property of Keglevi family, and later on the property of Jelai family. In 1851 it became the
property of count Hellenbach whose family still lives in the castle.

NOVI DVORI KLANJEKI

It is the rennaisance castle in the ruined state that was founded by Croatian governor Toma
Erddy in 1603. At the corners used to stand towers of circular cross-section. Antun Mihanovi,
author of the Croatian national anthem, died in the castle in 1861. Unfortunatelly, its value still
hasn't been recognized, so it has been rotting since the beginning of the 20th century.

ORI
It was built in 1756 by Croatian count Krsto Ori on the site of a previous fortress from the Middle
Ages and designed in L-shaped ground plan. From the backyard side the both wings are open in
arcades that follow the line of the corridor, while the outside frontage is quite simple, with
rhythmically aligned windows and a few corner rustic details.
After a large earthquake in 19th century a classicist porch with a tympanum and Doric columns was
added to the castle. Inside there is a well-preserved chapel with illusionistic murals and an
illustrated baroque altar.
Until 1924 the castle was the feudal residence of the Ori family, but then the last members left it.
A primary school was situated in a part of the castle for some time after that, and a local peasant's
cooperative society as well. At the end of the sixties and the beginning of the seventies of the last
century the castle was thoroughly renewed and transformed into a Museum of the Peasants' revolt,
which deals with a tragic event that occurred in 1573 in this area.
Around the castle there is a park with a huge monument dedicated to the Peasants' revolt and to its
leader Matija Gubec, made by a prominent Croatian sculptor Antun Augustini.

GJALSKI
Before it came in the possession of the Babi family in the early 19th century, the mansion had been
the home of the Gubaeveki and the Komarony families. The Gredice Estate is mostly associated
with its most famous owner, Croatian author Ljubo Babi, known under the pseudonym of Ksaver
andor alski. With him, the Gredice Estate came to be a byword for the kind of life that was led
on the estates and in the mansions of Hrvatsko Zagorje more than a hundred years ago. Nowadays it
is a restaurant.

CONCLUSION
Croatian hinterland is a region that has the most castles. Those castles are of great cultural,
architectural and historical importance, not only for Croatian hinterland but for the whole Croatia.
However, these castles are not included enough into Croatian touristic offer. These castles are also
proof of construction skills and architecture of people who lived in the times when the castles were
built.
Unfortunately, most of these castles haven't kept their original looks, because of human
inattention and nowadays there is only few people interested in buying and renovating these castles.
The castles that have stood the test of time have mostly been converted into museums,
galleries, hotels, restaurants and such, but they would be of bigger importance if they were now
they once were - castles.