Čakovec Castle or

Zrinski Zrinski () was a Croatian- Hungarian noble family, a cadet branch of the Croatian noble tribe of Šubić, influential during the period in history marked by the Ottoman wars in Europe in the Kingdom of Croatia's union with the Kingdom of Hungar ...

Castle ( hr, Čakovečka utvrda or or hu, Csáktornyai vár or ''Zrínyi-kastély'') is a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

fortification A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...

in the middle of the town of

Čakovec Čakovec (; hu, Csáktornya; la, Aquama; german: Tschakathurn) is a city in northern Croatia, located around north of Zagreb, the Croatian capital. Čakovec is both the county seat and the largest city of Međimurje County, the northernmost, s ...

, the administrative seat of

Međimurje County Međimurje County (; hr, Međimurska županija ; hu, Muraköz megye) is a triangle-shaped county in the northernmost part of Croatia, roughly corresponding to the historical and geographical region of Međimurje. Despite being the smallest Cr ...

, northern

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

. The castle is located in the

Zrinski Park Zrinski Park ( hr, Perivoj Zrinskih) is situated in downtown Čakovec, northern Croatia, close to the central square. The area had been a part of the city fortification since the 13th century. The castle, located in the centre of the Park, was ...

, not far from the city's central square, and is the biggest fortification in

. It was constructed of hewn stone and red brick, 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 or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perfor ...

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. After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, the area was subjugated by the Ostrogoths for 50 years, before ...

. 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 Lackfi, Laczkfi or Laczkfy ( hr, Lacković / ''Laczkovich'') was a noble family from Kingdom of Hungary and Croatia, which governed parts of Transylvania (as Count of the Székelys) and held the title of Voivode of Transylvania in the 14th cent ...

, the

Counts of Celje The Counts of Celje ( sl, Celjski grofje) or the Counts of Cilli (german: Grafen von Cilli; hu, cillei grófok) were the most influential late medieval noble dynasty on the territory of present-day Slovenia. Risen as vassals of the Habsburg duk ...

as well as the

House of Ernušt The House of Ernuszt ( en, Ernusht; hr, Ernušt) was a Hungarian noble family, descending from a rich Jewish Podravina (časopis za multidisciplinarna istraživanja): Borislav Grgin: ''Odnos središnje vlasti i grada Koprivnice za vladavine u ...

, House of Zrinski,

House of Feštetić A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condit ...

and others. Nikola IV Zrinski, Ban (viceroy) of

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

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 ( hr, Hrvatski ban) 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 bans as a ruler's representative (viceroy) a ...

and famous warrior against the Turks, was born in Čakovec Castle in 1620 to

Juraj V Zrinski Juraj V Zrinski ( hu, V. Zrínyi György; 31 January 1599 – 28 December 1626) was a Croatian Ban (viceroy), warrior and member of the Zrinski noble family. Biography Juraj V Zrinski was born in Csáktornya Kingdom of Hungary (today Čakov ...

and Magdalena Zrinski

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

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

Evliya Çelebi Derviş Mehmed Zillî (25 March 1611 – 1682), known as Evliya Çelebi ( ota, اوليا چلبى), was an Ottoman Empire, Ottoman explorer who travelled through the territory of the Ottoman Empire and neighboring lands over a period of forty ye ...

Turkish Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and mi ...

traveller and writer, and in 1661 by

Jacobus Tollius Jacobus or Jakob Tollius (1633, in Rhenen – 1696, in Utrecht) was a Dutch classicist. Tollius was the younger half-brother of Alexander and Cornelis Tollius, who were professors at the University of Harderwijk. In Harderwijk he studied lette ...

, Dutch philologist. On 30 April 1738 castle was heavily damaged in an earthquake. It was immediately rebuilt and redesigned in baroque style, and it was given its present-day look. Water-filled

moat A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive ...

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 Museums in Croatia Tourist attractions in Međimurje County Zrinski Buildings and structures in Čakovec Castle museums History of Čakovec

History

See also

References

External links