Pejačević Castle in Virovitica
Encyclopedia
Pejačević Castle in Virovitica is a late-baroque
- neoclassicistic
castle in the town of Virovitica
, Virovitica–Podravina County, northern Croatia
. It is one of several castles owned by the members of Pejačević noble family
in the region of Slavonia
.
The castle was built in 1800-1804 by Croatian
count
Antun Pejačević /Anthony Peyachevich/ (*1749; †1802) and his son Antun (*about 1775; †1838) on the site of a previous fortress from the Middle Ages
. It was designed by N. Roth, an architect from Vienna
. The castle was the seat of the whole Virovitica estate, whose proprietors changed pretty often in the past.
Built as a single storey edifice in the middle of surrounding park
, the castle is rectangular in plan
. The structure is almost symmetrical, with a slightly projecting central block and the ends of two wings that project forward. The main frontage of the castle is turned toward the major downtown square. The back side is decorated with two lines of arcades
that follow the lines of the corridor, the upper one containing fragmented windows.
After being bought by Virovitica municipality in 1930, the castle was rearranged and since 1953 it houses a town museum
, with several collections (archeology, ethnography
, culture
and history
, and so on).
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
- neoclassicistic
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
castle in the town of Virovitica
Virovitica
Virovitica is a Croatian town near the Croatian-Hungarian border. It is situated near the Drava river and belongs to the historic region of Slavonia. Virovitica has a population of 14,663, with 21,327 people in the municipality...
, Virovitica–Podravina County, northern Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. It is one of several castles owned by the members of Pejačević noble family
House of Pejačević
The Pejačević or Pejácsevich family is an old Croatian noble family, remarkable during the period in history marked by the Ottoman war in the Kingdom of Croatia in the Union with Hungary and Austro-Hungarian Empire respectively. Notable members of the family were politicians, clerics, artists,...
in the region of Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
.
The castle was built in 1800-1804 by Croatian
Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)
The Kingdom of Croatia was an administrative division that existed between 1527 and 1868 within the Habsburg Monarchy . The Kingdom was a part of the Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen, but was subject to direct Imperial Austrian rule for significant periods of time, including its final years...
count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
Antun Pejačević /Anthony Peyachevich/ (*1749; †1802) and his son Antun (*about 1775; †1838) on the site of a previous fortress from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. It was designed by N. Roth, an architect from Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. The castle was the seat of the whole Virovitica estate, whose proprietors changed pretty often in the past.
Built as a single storey edifice in the middle of surrounding park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
, the castle is rectangular in plan
Architectural plan
An architectural plan is a plan for architecture, and the documentation of written and graphic descriptions of the architectural elements of a building project including sketches, drawings and details.- Overview :...
. The structure is almost symmetrical, with a slightly projecting central block and the ends of two wings that project forward. The main frontage of the castle is turned toward the major downtown square. The back side is decorated with two lines of arcades
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
that follow the lines of the corridor, the upper one containing fragmented windows.
After being bought by Virovitica municipality in 1930, the castle was rearranged and since 1953 it houses a town museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
, with several collections (archeology, ethnography
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
, culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, and so on).