CASTLES OF CROATIA 2011 - NAŠICE

Našice – the small and the big castle of Pejačević family The noble family Pejačević built in Našice, in a large park, two castles – the small and the big castle. The family spent in Našice 211 years, until 1945, since when numerous members of the family have lived in many different parts of the world. The castle was formally returned to the heirs in 2009, but this has not solved the question of the lasting purpose of the two constructions. In the big castle there is a county museum, and the small one is being used by several users. The Pejačević family came into possession of the Našice estate by acquisition in 1734. Thanks to great efforts of numerous generations the estate was elevated to the level of the best and richest Slavonic nobleman estates of the 19th century. The building of the big castle was begun in 1811 by Vincencije Pejačević (1780 – 1820). Before that time the Pejačević family used to live in a castle in Virovitica and on their other estates. The castle was considerably changed in 1865 when Ferdinand Karlo Rajner (1800 – 1878) upgraded it, and thus a modest early baroque building was restored into a representative late baroque castle. Because of the slopped terrain on which it was built the castle is a one-storey building at the side of the main entrance and the village and a two-storey building toward the park. The castle was inhabited until 1943 when it accommodated the German army. From 1945 to the 21st century the castle was used for different purposes: from barrack, school and kindergarten, to the seat of state administration and different organisations. In 2011 the county museum and gallery were situated in the castle. The small castle is a ground-floor neo-classicist building, about hundred meters west of the big castle. Its building began in 1904/1905, and finished in 1907. The new castle is important for the history of Croatian building for its original technical solution to the problem of moisture and underground water protection by use of reinforced tub, and at the beginning of the 20th century it was a novelty not only in Croatia but also in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Next to the castles a large park was erected, with today’s surface of about 35 hectars 8/č.p. Natural groves and coppices were starting points of a park that began to be cultivated in 1812 and was finished as a romantic landscape park about 1850. In the second half of the 19th century it was enlarged toward north, where a small lake with an island was arranged and thus the park assumed features of a romanticist park. The park got its final shape and was regularly maintained from the end of the 19th century to 1930-ies, in the time of the Count Theodore Pejačević (1855 – 1928). From all the castles in their possession the noble family Pejačević was most attached to Našice, though in front of their name the adjective denoting "from Virovitica“, was used. The family gave two Croatian vice-roys (banus) – Ladislav, the older one (1824 – 1901, a viceroy from 1880 to 1883) and Dr.Theodor (1855 – 1928, a viceroy from 1903 to 1907). In 1913 Theodor was appointed Minister for Croatia in a Hungarian government of the Count Tisza and was also a secret counsellor to the King Franz Joseph I; he was the bearer of many decorations and performed many other functions. Love for music in the family Pejačević was especially nourished in the castles in Našice by Gabrijela, Ladislav’s wife, and Lila, Theodore’s wife, who were also protectoresses of the Croatian Music Institute in Zagreb. In such strong music atmosphere also Theodora - Dora grew up, the oldest daughter of Dr. Theodor Count Pejačević. Dora Pejačević (1885 – 1923) lived for music and with music. She laid the foundations to newer Croatian chamber and concert music. Her works were at the repertoire of many famous musicians, and her name was on the programmes and on concert posters together with the names of the greatest world composers.