Castle Pejačević

Pejačević Castle is located in the center of Virovitica, built on the site of an ancient medieval fortress. It is one of a series of Slavonian castles owned by the famous Pejačević family, known by the noble title "Pejačevići Virovitički", which means the Pejačević of Virovitica. The Pejačević family built it between 1800 and 1804 according to the design of the Viennese architect N. Roth. The castle remained their property until the middle of the 19th century, when, due to mismanagement and indebtedness, it was sold to the German princely family Schaumburg-Lippe. Schaumburg-Lippe owned it until 1911, when it was bought by Count Ivan Drašković, who sold it together with the surrounding park to the city of Virovitica in 1930. Since then it has been in the service of the city.

The castle was built at the turn of architectural styles, mostly in the style of early classicism at the end of the Baroque era. Classicist tendencies are already evident in the elongated floor plan that was common for the 19th century. It is a one-story, one-wing building. The service rooms were located on the ground floor while those on the second floor were representative rooms, as was customary for the architecture of the castles of the time. The castle is also adorned with three battlements, covering an area of approximately 3000 square meters, making it one of the largest castles in Croatia. Since 1969 it has been a cultural monument of category I.
In 2016, the city of Virovitica applied for the European Integrated Development Program for the renovation of the Pejačević Castle and revitalization of the city park, a program intended for the restoration of cultural heritage as a function of tourism

As part of the project, the Pejačević Castle was renovated and the park was restored with new trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. The promenades in the park were fixed, as well as the promenade in front of the high school Petar Preradović where there is also a new and modern fountain. There are designer wooden bridges in the park, each of which has its own history related to Virovitica.

Virovitica was historically known as "Little Venice" with as many as 16 bridges in the center of the city. As a tribute to that time, through the park's renovation project, five designer wooden bridges were secured, each telling its own story. The Bridge of Love, which leads to the Church of St. Rok, thus has a special extension of the bridge where newlyweds like to have their photos taken, next to the Pejačević Castle in the background of their photos. The Bridge of Mirrors is unique because it offers different views of the Castle itself. The Gymnasium Bridge is intended for all generations and their community socialization. The Portal Bridge represents a "passage" from the old Virovitica to the new urban city. And a Music Bridge that plays as visitors walk across it is set up near the site of the old Music School in history.