Čakovec Castle or Zrinski Castle ( or or or ''Zrínyi-kastély'') is a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

fortification A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Lati ...

in the middle of the town of

Čakovec Čakovec (; ; ; ) is a city in Northern Croatia, located around north of Zagreb, the Croatian capital, and close to the borders with Slovenia and Hungary. Čakovec is both the county seat and the largest city of Međimurje County, the northernmo ...

, the administrative seat of

Međimurje County Međimurje County (; ; ) is a triangle-shaped Counties of Croatia, county in the northernmost part of Croatia, roughly corresponding to the historical and geographical region of Međimurje (region), Međimurje. It is the smallest Croatian count ...

, northern

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

. The castle is located in the Zrinski Park, not far from the city's central square, and is the biggest fortification in

. It was constructed of hewn stone and red

brick A brick is a type of construction material used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a unit primarily composed of clay. But is now also used informally to denote building un ...

, and, during its more than 7-century-long history, subjected to several reconstructions. Today it is partly restored. The castle's main palace houses the Međimurje County Museum, the biggest museum in the county, and its atrium is also used as an outdoor

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

during the summer months. The place was the scene of the Zrinski-Frankopan conspiracy, a significant event in the

history of Croatia At the time of the Roman Empire, the area of modern Croatia comprised two Roman provinces, Pannonia and Dalmatia (Roman province), Dalmatia. After the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, the ...

. On 19 November 2007 Čakovec Castle was classified as a protected cultural good in the Register of Cultural Goods of Croatia under No. N-23.

History

The first fortification was built in the 13th century by Count Csák I Hahót, after whom the city of Čakovec is named. It was later owned by many other notable families, including the Counts of Althann, the House of Lacković, the Counts of Celje as well as the House of Ernušt, House of Zrinski, Keglević family, House of Feštetić and others. Nikola IV Zrinski, Ban (viceroy) of

and hero of Siget, was granted the castle together with the whole area of Međimurje on 12 March 1546 from King Ferdinand as a compensation for his battles against the Ottomans. Nikola IV's great-grandson Nikola VII Zrinski, long-term

Ban of Croatia Ban of Croatia () was the title of local rulers or office holders and after 1102, viceroys of Croatia. From the earliest periods of the Croatian state, some provinces were ruled by Ban (title), bans as a ruler's representative (viceroy) and sup ...

and famous warrior against the Turks, was born in Čakovec Castle in 1620 to Juraj V Zrinski and Magdalena Zrinski

née The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...

Széchy. In his castle, he established and owned a unique book collection named " Bibliotheca Zriniana". In 1660 the castle was visited by

Evliya Çelebi Dervish Mehmed Zillî (25 March 1611 – 1682), known as Evliya Çelebi (), was an Ottoman Empire, Ottoman explorer who travelled through his home country during its cultural zenith as well as neighboring lands. He travelled for over 40 years, rec ...

, Turkish traveller and writer, and in 1661 by Jacobus Tollius, Dutch philologist. On 30 April 1738 castle was heavily damaged in an earthquake. It was immediately rebuilt and redesigned in

baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

style, and it was given its present-day look. Water-filled

moat A moat is a deep, broad ditch dug around a castle, fortification, building, or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. Moats can be dry or filled with water. In some places, moats evolved into more extensive water d ...

s, that entirely surrounded the castle, were later drained and filled with earth.

References

External links

Čakovec Castle – one of the "castles with a view" in northern and central Croatia

Castle in Čakovec was owned by Zrinski noble family

Zrinski Castle – a fortification in the centre of Čakovec

History of the Castle

Čakovec Castle - National cultural good of Croatia (N-23)

Castles and mansions

Night view of Čakovec Castle

Herculean Allegory at the Čakovec Old Castle: Commissioner and Context
File:Stari grad Zrinskih, Čakovec, zimi - sjeveroistok2.JPG, Castle in winter File:Čakovec Stari Grad.jpg, Čakovec Castle from inside File:Muzej Međimurja Čakovec.jpg, Inner palace with museum File:Konjički preponski turnir kod Starog grada Zrinskih, Čakovec 2010..JPG, Equestrian event at the Castle File:Stari grad Zrinskih, Čakovec (Croatia) - topovski otvor.JPG, Cannon hole File:Stari grad Zrinskih, Čakovec (Croatia) - palača - jug.JPG, Inner palace - south view {{DEFAULTSORT:Cakovec Castle Castles in Croatia Local museums in Croatia Tourist attractions in Međimurje County Zrinski family Buildings and structures in Čakovec Castle museums History of Čakovec

History

See also

References

External links