The Predná Hora mansion ( sk, Kaštieľ Predná Hora) is a neo-baroque manor in

Muráň Muráň (earlier ''Podmuráň'', german: Untermuran, hu, Murányalja) is a village and municipality in Revúca District in the Banská Bystrica Region of Slovakia. Geography The village is located around 9 km north of Revúca, in the Mur� ...

Slovakia Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...

, once belonging to king Ferdinand I of Bulgaria.

History

King Ferdinand of Bulgaria wanted to have a winter residence in the Slovakian mountains. The architects were D. Jakab an M. Komora, and belonged to the

Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population ...

company Kondoras-Feledi, who designed a five-storey building in neo-baroque style with a glazed courtyard, a monumental staircase, botanical gardens and a heated pond. Construction started in 1912 and was completed within two years, short before the First World War. After his abdication as Bulgarian King in 1918, the house became the king's main residence together with his

manor house A manor house was historically the main residence of the lord of the manor. The house formed the administrative centre of a manor in the European feudal system; within its great hall were held the lord's manorial courts, communal meals w ...

Svätý Anton Svätý Anton (; hu, Szentantal) is a village in Banská Štiavnica District in the Banská Bystrica Region of central Slovakia. It is situated near the historic town of Banská Štiavnica. During the period of Communist Czechoslovakia, the vil ...

. In 1944, the king had to leave Slovakia together with the retreating German Army. He fled to Coburg, where he lived in the ‘Bulgaren Schlösschen’ until his death in 1948. The mansion and estate where confiscated by the Communist government. After 1948, they decided to use the mansion as a

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

sanatorium A sanatorium (from Latin '' sānāre'' 'to heal, make healthy'), also sanitarium or sanitorium, are antiquated names for specialised hospitals, for the treatment of specific diseases, related ailments and convalescence. Sanatoriums are often ...

, which started in 1952. Rebuilding was by the architect J. Tvarozek. In 1973, it was changed into an alcohol treatment centre. In 1995, it also became a hospital for treatment of addiction to

drugs A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. Consumption of drugs can be via inhalat ...

and

compulsive gambling Problem gambling or ludomania is repetitive gambling behavior despite harm and negative consequences. Problem gambling may be diagnosed as a mental disorder according to ''DSM-5'' if certain diagnostic criteria are met. Pathological gambling is ...

. The hospital works together with universities and hospitals in

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

, the

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...

, and

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

. The king was a passionate hunter and he also built a small hunting lodge in the forest around the mansion. Today, it contains an exhibition on the king and can be visited. One can also see the bedroom, the study and the kitchen.

References

Literature

External links

* * * {{coord, 48.7717, 20.1112, type:landmark_region:SK, display=title Castles in Slovakia Buildings and structures in Banská Bystrica Region House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry House of Koháry