VELIKI TABOR CASTLE

In the extreme north-west of Hrvatsko Zagorje, next of the place of Desinic, there is a fortified castle called Veliki Tabor placed on the pictoresque hill UNESCO has ranked Veliki Tabor into the highest category of monuments. In his description of Veliki Tabor DJuro Szabo does not spare superlatives, and in the same way Andre Mohrovcic, the bard of the Croatian architectural culture and member of the Academy of Arts and Science, glorifies the unique beauty of the medieval castle. And there is really a breathtaking view on the Castle, both on its exterior as well as interior. Those who visit it shall always want to return. the altitude of 334m above sea level provides full insolation and freshnes of air, whilst the thick walls keep agrecable temperatures during hot summer months.

In winter, the snow cover makes the castle even more attractive and romatic. There is a hypothesis claiming that the castle actually stays on the top of an island of the former Pannonian Sea. Another hypothesis presumes that in the 2 nd century A. D. there existed a small Roman fortress on this place. The fact is that in the 12th century there was built a five storey tower whilst the rest of the semicircular towers, that provide the full splendor of Veliki Tabor, werw built in the 15th and 16th century.

The prezent entrance and the whole wing were built around 1820. The castle covers about 3340sqm. There are altogether twelve different roof levels which provide a special plastic diversity. The interior of the castle is enriched with galleries decorated with round pillars are mingled with their own shadows.

There are quit a few interesting details in the castle: a 31m deep well; a former wine cellar with a great grape press-a cool place during hot summer days, and a relatively warm room where one can enjoy a glass of wine during winter months. The Large Rustical Room, as we call it reprezents the most beautiful place at Veliki Tabor and is decoreted with helebars at prezent. On the first floor there is the castle's chapel where the skull of Veronika of Desinic is stored. Soon there will be put a baroque tabernacle of an exceptional beauty as well as a painting depicting Jesus handing over the keys to St. Peter. Both objects are prezent of His Eminence, the Zagreb cardinal Franjo Kuharic.

There is more:a collection of old vehicles, a rich ethnographic collection, an exhibition of the first drug manufacture, an exbition of swordsmanship, musketeers and the suit of armor of the Sad Knight, an impresive art gellery, a significant collection of pottery and ceramins as well as a varicty of other exhibits. Djuro Prejc's prezentation consisting of numerous beautiful and important exhibits as well as arshival calls for special attention. there alsoexists a collection of items referring to the antifascist war in this region, now regretfully in the storeroom. There is also the latestcollection referring to the Patriotic War (1991-1995), as well as the most important collection under the title THE RATKAY FAMILY OF TABORGRAD IN THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF CROATIA. A part of the exceptional exhibition will make a component part of the planned permanent exhibition of the Ratkay family.

Numerous owners succeded one another during the past centuries. Let us mention the most important ones: the counts of Celje, the Ratkay counts, counts Tuguth, the Zagreb merchants brothers Grunvald, Banovina Savska, Oton Ivekovic - the great Croatian painter, Franciscan Sisters of Mercy, the Independent State of Croatia, The People's Republic of Croatia, Community of Pregrada, the Republic of Croatia.

Prof. Josip Stimac
Dragon of Taborgrad