CASTLES OF CROATIA 2015 - Old Town - Đurđevac

Old Town - Đurđevac

Đurđevac, in the Drava river region, has through eight centuries of its existence, from the 14th century until today, managed to create and to preserve its cultural and historical identity based on the medieval fortress preserved until today and known under the name Old Town (Stari grad). During first centuries of its existence the Old Town was a feudal centre, but because its military role from the 16th century it developed into a lowland tower-castle of the type Wasserburg. The Old Town developed next to the settlement but has always remained -as it is also today, separated from the settlement, encircled by meadows that once used to be flooded and so made the access difficult. The Old Town was connected with the settlement by a 326 steps long bridge laid on marshland, which throughout centuries kept the fortress and the settlement safe from enemies. The Old Town is one-storey building of a polygonal ground plan with inner court and a three-storey tower at the entrance. The rooms are situated around the inner court, and are entered from it. In its pretty long life the Old Town of Đurđevac has changed many owners and users and has experienced a couple of different historical and architectural changes. First, until 1546, it was a centre of a feudal property, until 1871 it was a military seat and from the 19th century until today the Old Town has been serving civil needs. In the Old Town there is the Museum of Đurđevac and the Art Gallery housing works from the donation of the painter Ivan Lacković-Croata. The Old Town of Đurđevac is also known by a legend about chickens which originated between 1552 and 1586, during most difficult fights with Turks. On one occasion the Turks were unsuccessfully besieging the fortress for days, waiting for the moment when the defenders would have to face the food shortage. The defenders, however, used a trick and fired from cannon their last chicken (in the dialect of Đurđevac picok). After that the Turkish army withdrew believing that in the fortress there was no food shortage. Since then the inhabitants of Đurđevac are nicknamed Picoki.