Trakoscan Castle, beautiful castle in Croatia

Trakoscan Castle is one of the mostbeautiful castles in Croatia, is located in the CroatianZagorje region, 23 kilometers northeast of Krapina, 40 kilometers  southwest of Varaždin altitude of 250 m. The nearest towns are Macelj Strahinčica. With about 40,000 visitors a year is one of the most visited Croatian castles.

The castle was built in the 13th century as a small borough in the system of fortification's Zagorje Principality. The castle grounds are characteristic of the simple Romanesque burgs 12th-13th of the numerous feudal lords Celjski, Jan Vitovec, Corvinus, and after the fall of the Zagorje Principality, especially the estate Gyulay enjoyed it, and the 1568th Draskovic.

She has already been expanded and altered. Significant addition was the 1592nd, where Draškovic the artillery tower with roof (plaque with the emblem and name of Ivan II Draskovic Petra from 1592, on the west tower). At that time, a floor was added, the central tower and the courtyard with arcades. Again, it was added during the 18th century, when the towers receive a crown, the main tower receives separate lantern. A fortress built around a series of defensive structures, walls and towers.

The abandoned castle restored 1850th-1860th Juraj Draskovic deputy marshal in a residential castle. The renovation, in the spirit of Romanticism, was performed in the neo Gothic style with the simultaneous restoration of the environment, where the park-forest with rare trees, artificial lake and a garden area. Prominent parts of the renovated castle: the entry tower with a drawbridge and Drašković-Malatinski the 18th century, the knight's hall with complete sets of armor from the 16th century and flags Draškovićeva Guard from the 18th century, a collection of weapons with heavy halberds (Hackenbuchse), rifles and handguns on the wheel and Turkish weapons, a collection of portraits Draskovic and their relatives (Nikola Zrinski) from 16th to 19th century oeuvre of the painter Julian Erdödy-Draskovic from the second half of the 19th century, a cycle of four continents, M. Story, Piano C. Graff, preserved castle kitchen, library. The park is the Chapel of St. John ("Janus") from the 1752nd the late Baroque furniture.

Newer generations of the Draskovic family occasionally staying at the castle until 1944, when they immigrated to Austria. Soon after the castle was nationalized. Since 1953. the castle is a permanent exhibition, which is both faithful reconstruction of the period of reconstruction contains valuable examples of baroque furniture and small items. The castle is owned by the Republic of  Croatian.

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