CROATIA 2013 - CASTLES

 

THE CASTEL OF GERMAN COUNTS ELTZ - VUKOVAR 

As town on the Danube river, at the border between Slavonia and Srijem, Vukovar is known for the archaeological site Vučedol, as a mediaeval settlement, for its  transformation into a baroque style town  and  for its reconstructions in the 19^th  and 20^th century. Recently, it is known also for the sufferings of its people and devastation during the Homeland War in the 90-ties. At the time of its baroque reconstruction in the 18^th century, the castle of the counts Eltz, who bought their estate in 1736 and lived in Vukovar until 1945, was built. The estate was a majorat, meaning that it could not be sold or divided, but could only be inherited by the oldest son. In the 18^th century Vukovar is a double town, composed of its medieval part and its new baroque part that began to be built in 1722. Within the new Vukovar during the 18^th and 19^th century the buildings of late-baroque and classicist features were built, among which the castle of the counts Eltz is the most distinguished.

The castle was built gradually, with many modifications, developing from a small and modest curia (from 1828) through many upgradings and reconstructions (1781, 1790, 1811and 1824) to a representative castle. Baroque-classicist features of the castle, its outbuildings, courts chapel and park – show a recognizable town planning and architectural idea. Its final look the castle got between 1895 and 1907 according to the project of the architect Viktor Siedek. A more important renovation took place between 1968 and 1970 when it was reconstructed to serve as the Museum of the town of Vukovar and between 2010 and 2012 when it was thoroughly reconstructed after demolition in the Homeland War.
The counts Eltz lived in Vukovar and possessed the castle for entire two centuries. The family belongs to ancient German nobility, and was elevated to the title of Count in 1733. The inheritors of this ancient family live in Germany and in other European countries.



  

THE CASTLE OF COUNTS PEJAČEVIĆ AND COUNTS SCHAUMBURG-LIPPE - VIROVITICA

Developed on an important roman road, Via Magna, which connected Poetovio (Ptuj) in the west and Mursa (Osijek) in the east, Virovitica is mentioned among the first settlements in north Croatia.  In 1234 it got the privileges of the king's marketplace in which the coins for Croatia and Slavonia were forged. Since Virovitica was king's estate, since the 13^th century there stood a castle of Hungarian-Croatian kings. The new king's castle/tower of the almost square layout (90x100 m) with four corner towers is also mentioned in the deed of donation of the Hungarian king Mathias Corvin in 1474. During Turkish rule (1552-1684) Virovitica assumes characteristics of an Islam town and after the liberation from Turks all that is Turkish is demolished. At that time the old king's castle is renewed, but at the end of the 18^th century it is ruined and in its place in 1800 -1804 a new baroque-classicist castle is built.
The castle with its park and partly preserved moat are major urban features of the town. Today's castle was built by the family Pejačević on the north fortifications of the old king's castle. The castle was inhabited until the First World War and in 1931 it was bought by the Town which accommodated town administration inside. The castle was completely renewed in 1971 for the needs of the town museum and library which are now accommodated in the castle.

Two families left special trace in the history of estate and castle - the counts Pejačević and the dukes Schaumburg-Lippe. The Family Pejačević comes into possession of Virovitica in 1750 and the queen Maria Theresa awards them in 1772 a title of the counts of Virovitica. In 1841 the castle and the estate are bought from the family Pejačević by German princes Schaumburg-Lippe.



 

THE CASTLE OF ROMAN COUNTS ODESCALCHI - ILOK

Ilok is the most eastern town of Croatia. Because of the similarity of its position many travel writers of the past centuries used to call it the other Budim.  In antic times there stood Cuccium, roman border station in Pannonia Lowland that divided western from eastern civilisation.
Ilok is mentioned already in the 13^th century. In late middle ages it was among the biggest towns in Slavonia which in 1525 got also its own statute (the only one known in continental Croatia) decorated with miniatures by Julije Klović (Julius Clovius).
After liberation from Turkish rule the king Leopold I of Habsburg donates Ilok to Livio I. Odescalchi and awards him the title of duke (Dukatus Sirmiensis).  Ilok remained in possession of the family Odescalchi two and half centuries (1697-1944). This is an ancient Italian family which gave also one Pope (Innocent XI, 1676-1689), and whose descendants live today in Rome. The castle served to Counts Odescalchi as summer residence – full of artistic objects, books, stylistic furniture, Chinese porcelain and hunt trophies. Shortly before the Second World War the family Odescalchi transported to Rome a part of castle's inventory. The objects that remained were mostly destroyed or taken away during and after the War.
Medieval wall, castle, and Franciscan monastery with the church are today the most important buildings of the historic centre of Ilok. Medieval castle complex, which consisted of the feudal seat (Upper/Old Town) and of the craftsmen and tradesmen's settlement (Outer/Lower Town), was renovated during the 18^th century in baroque style. In the north-western corner of the Upper Town there stood a medieval castle (old castle). On walls/foundations of the castle in the 18^th century today's castle of the dukes Odescalchi was built, which during the 19^th century saw numerous historicist modifications. The castle was renewed and adapted to museum's and gallery’s needs for the first time in 1968 and then in 2010-2012.

  

THE JESUIT CASTLE / CASTLE TURKOVIĆ - KUTJEVO

Kutjevo is remembered for once exemplary manor and the Kutjevo wine which has a tradition reaching far into the Roman period. Kutjevo marks more than seven and a half centuries of its history connected with the estate and the castle. The history of Kutjevo and the estate begins in 1232 with the founding of the Cistercian monastery. Endangered by Turks, the Cistercians left Kutjevo in 1529 and the Turks demolished the Cistercian church and monastery. After departure of Turks in 1686 Jesuits came to Kutjevo and with the income earned from the estate supported the Gymnasium in Požega. After abolition of the Jesuit Order in 1773 Kutjevo is on auction sale; there exchanged various proprietors and in 1882 it becomes ownership of the family Turković who possessed it until 1945. In the time of the family Turković the estate of Kutjevo was among the most prosperous estates in Croatia. For its merits in promoting the estate's economy the family Turković was awarded the title of baron in 1912.
 Today's castle in Kutjevo is a part of once Jesuit complex that consisted of a monastery church, residence castle, outbuildings and parks and was built in 1735 on the remains of the Cistercian Abbey. The particular look to the main façade gives the bell tower in background. In front of the south facade the historicist park was built at the end of the 19^th century. In the time of the family Turković the castle was renewed between 1886 and 1888 in a historicist style. At the beginning of the 20^th century another renewal was done under guidance of the architect Viktor Kovačić. In September 1918, at the time of the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the castle was plundered and burnt. It was renewed again in 1925.  After the Second World War it was used as office. There have been attempts in the 90-ties to adapt it for other purposes but without success.

 Mladen Obad Šćitaroci, Ph.D. Professor
Bojana Bojanić Obad Šćitaroci, Ph.D. Professor