The cultural heritage of Trakošćan Castle is protected as a historical entity consisting of the castle, the building next to the castle, the park and the forest park with a lake. Today the castle is one of the few structures in Croatia that has preserved its historical integrity, closely linked to the architectural framework and the life of its owners.
Trakoscan Castle History
Trakošćan was built at the end of the 13th century as part of the network of defensive fortifications in northwestern Croatia. It was a small fort that served as an observation point overlooking the road from Ptuj to the Bednja Valley.
There are two stories about the origin of Trakošćan: the first name comes from the Thracian citadel (Arx Thracorum), which existed during the Roman Empire, while other sources say that Trakošćan is associated with the German Drachenstein knights, who were here in the early Middle Ages. century.
Trakošćan was mentioned for the first time in 1334. The first known owners of Trakošćan were the Counts of Celje, who also ruled the entire principality of Zagorje. When the family died out, Trakošćan also knew the fate of their other properties and towns, as it passed from one owner to another and disintegrated into smaller farms and homesteads. Trakošćan first became the property of Jan Vitovec, then was taken over by Ivaniš Korvin, who presented it to his disqualified deputy (viceroy) Ivan Gyulay. His family owned Trakošćan for three generations, so the estate was taken over by the royal treasury.
The king granted the property to the cardinal and Croatian Ban Juraj Drašković for personal use and as hereditary property. Thus, in 1584, the Drašković family took possession of Trakošćan.
In the 18th century, the castle was rather neglected and in the first half of the 19th century, the family became interested in the castle again, but now the castle reflected the spirit of the new era, a romantic return to nature and family tradition. During this period, the castle was restored and converted into a residential house along the lines of German romantic castles. The same romantic characteristics can be found in the restored park and artificial lake.
Members of the Drašković family left the castle in 1944, after which the castle was nationalized. A museum with a permanent installation was established in 1953. The museum is owned by the Republic of Croatia.