CASTLES OF CROATIA - PEJAČEVIĆ

THE CASTLE OF COUNTS PEJAČEVIĆ AND COUNTS SCHAUMBURG-LIPPE - VIROVITICA

Developed on an important roman road, Via Magna, which connected Poetovio (Ptuj) in the west and Mursa (Osijek) in the east, Virovitica is mentioned among the first settlements in north Croatia. In 1234 it got the privileges of the king's marketplace in which the coins for Croatia and Slavonia were forged. Since Virovitica was king's estate, since the 13^th century there stood a castle of Hungarian-Croatian kings. The new king's castle/tower of the almost square layout (90x100 m) with four corner towers is also mentioned in the deed of donation of the Hungarian king Mathias Corvin in 1474. During Turkish rule (1552-1684) Virovitica assumes characteristics of an Islam town and after the liberation from Turks all that is Turkish is demolished. At that time the old king's castle is renewed, but at the end of the 18^th century it is ruined and in its place in 1800 -1804 a new baroque-classicist castle is built.
The castle with its park and partly preserved moat are major urban features of the town. Today's castle was built by the family Pejačević on the north fortifications of the old king's castle. The castle was inhabited until the First World War and in 1931 it was bought by the Town which accommodated town administration inside. The castle was completely renewed in 1971 for the needs of the town museum and library which are now accommodated in the castle.

Two families left special trace in the history of estate and castle - the counts Pejačević and the dukes Schaumburg-Lippe. The Family Pejačević comes into possession of Virovitica in 1750 and the queen Maria Theresa awards them in 1772 a title of the counts of Virovitica. In 1841 the castle and the estate are bought from the family Pejačević by German princes Schaumburg-Lippe.

Mladen Obad Šćitaroci, Ph.D. Professor
Bojana Bojanić Obad Šćitaroci, Ph.D. Professor