EUROPA 2017 - VELIKI TABOR

VELIKI TABOR – Rattkay Family Castle-Burg Veliki Tabor is a castle-burg from the era of feudalism. It is one of the best maintained renaissance burgs (castle-burgs) in Croatia from the late middle ages. What makes Veliki Tabor special is the cohesion between the manor and its surroundings. This is an example of a construction-landscaping unit and well maintained grounds created in the coexistence of man and nature. The creation and the construction development of Veliki Tabor was conditioned by historical circumstances during several centuries, and it has not undergone any significant changes until the present time. A peculiar identity of the spatial, landscaping and construction structure has been created. Veliki Tabor, with its adjoining cultural landscaping, bears witness to the feudal way of life. There is no similar preserved example of feudal construction on the area of Hrvatsko zagorje. The complex of the residential, commercial and defence quarters of Veliki Tabor bears witness of the construction, feudal and court culture of the northwest Croatia during the 15th and 16th century. The architectural-construction complex of the manor consists of a pentagonal three-storey “palas” (the central residential building, the yard surrounding the “palas” and a strong constructed ring surrounding the “palas” and the yard, made up of four semi-circular towers, an entrance and walls). The late gothic style features prevail with some minor renaissance-baroque modifications. Veliki Tabor, as a feudal estate (manor house), has been mentioned in historical documents since the 15th century. It was built at the beginning of the 16th century as a castle-burg of the Ratkaj (Rattkay) family. It had been owned by that family for less than three centuries – from 1502 to 1793, until the passing of the last male member of the family. From that time until the second half of the 20th century, there had been various owners and users. A museum was established in the manor in 1981. Since 2001 Veliki Tabor has been an integral part of the institution entitled Museums of Hrvatsko zagorje that also includes five other museums.