Oršić Castle is a Baroque castle in Gornja Bistra, north of Zagreb, a protected cultural asset. With its design and spatial organization, it is considered one of the most significant works of Baroque architecture in Croatia.
It was built from 1770 to 1775 according to the design of an unknown architect and was erected by Vice Marshal Count Krsto II. Oršić, a member of one of the richest Croatian noble families. Krsto Oršić was also a prefect of the Zagreb county and participated as a commander in the Austrian army during the reign of Maria Theresa. After his military career, he settled in the countryside with his wife Josip, n. Zichy, where he built this magnificent castle.
Dvorac Oršić History
Oršić Castle was built in 1773 in Baroque style. The first owner and investor was Krsto Oršić II, a major general of the Austrian state, who took part in the Seven Years War between Prussia and Austria and, as a prominent fighter, bought these lands. The Oršić family is originally from Lika, but has been present in this area for a long time. It is known that Krsto Oršić II's ancestors were related to Franjo Tahi of Podsused and that they refrained from war against the Matija Gubac insurgents. Krsto II ended his career as deputy mayor of Zagreb. His home is today's Oršić-Rauch Palace in the Upper Town, which today houses the Museum of Croatian History. It was his winter and summer residence in Bistra. The castle in Gornja Stubica also belonged to the Oršić family (today the Museum of the Peasant Uprising in 1573). The current appearance of the castle was slightly changed in style and originality in 1947, when it was adapted with funds from UNICEF for the purpose of a children's care home or resort. The castle did not have a main door, but was later built according to the designs of the Baroque experts, also lacked windows and the galleries were open. The ground floor of the building served economic purposes, and the upper rooms were living rooms and dormitories. With the addition of sanitary facilities, water and sewage supply and general arrangement, the castle assumed its present appearance.
In the castle complex there is the chapel of St. Joseph, also in Baroque style, with a particularly pronounced choir and an organ by the famous Celje organ builder Franjo Šulc. The statues were ordered from France during the stay and ownership of the Carion family from France. The then owner Carion was a mining supervisor in the silver mine in Sljeme.
In the oval hall are valuable inlaid doors and painted walls and ceiling.
The castle was sold in 1939 by the last member of the Carion family along with the property to the tanner of Sunja Kolar, who sold the outbuilding in 1946, before the nationalization law came into force, and the rest was nationalized. As the building has been socially owned ever since, the purpose has been dictated by various societal needs. Until 1962, children whose parents could not pay their own expenses were hospitalized there, and in the same year a hospital for children and adolescents was established by a decision of the National Committee of the City of Zagreb. The current name of the hospital is from 1969.
These are patients who suffer from chronic diseases or such diseases that have a long course of treatment and, due to the impossibility of adequate treatment in the family, are housed in this hospital.
The hospital is financed on the basis of a contract with the Croatian Institute of Health Insurance. The implementation of inpatient and specialist health care for patients with chronic diseases is planned in the range of 110 beds.