Castles Of Croatian Zagorje

ITINERARY:

In the morning an air-conditioned minivan will pick you up at the main meeting point in Zagreb and will head up through Croatian Zagorje. First you will visit Trakoscan Castle. Perhaps the most famous castle in Croatia, it overlooks a man-made lake and bountiful gardens. Trakoscan is located less than an hour drive from the capital Zagreb. Built in the 13th century, the castle is believed to have been built as an observation fortress. Trakoscan has been owned by many people in the last 9 centuries. Now owned by the Croatian Government, the castle is one of the best preserved castles in Croatia. It’s currently a museum, with a permanent collection of painting, furniture and other items on display. As you walk through the museum, you are taken back in time. You’ll gaze into the eyes of 10 generations of owners, spanning 3 centuries, whose faces are now portrait paintings. This living museum has fully set dining tables, study areas and bedrooms complete with antique linens. Daydream as you meander along the circular staircase which winds down and around the castle, from the hunting room at the top, all the way to the basement kitchen. The highlight is reaching the bottom of the spiral staircase, where you can find the jewel in the crown of the museum The Knight’s room. This enormous room is a collection of swords and firearms dating from the 15th century. The exterior of Trakoscan Castle is modelled after the romantic castles in Germany, and the interior of the castle is richly decorated, including many deer antlers, the exterior is somewhat plain and unassuming. Though, after exploring the inside, be sure you take a step outside and marvel at the lake. Every part of Trakoscan is engaging and beautiful, especially mesmerizing is the tower’s reflection in the water below. You can also take off through the forest on one of the well-designed trails and get a splendid view of the castle from across the pond. Its exterior is truly breathtaking. Carefully maintained stone walls rise to the heavens, topped with red-tile-capped roofs and turrets. The castle was built in the 13th century, and according to legend, was named after a fortification that has stood in the same spot during antiquity. Its first known owners were the Counts of Celje in the 14th century. The castle underwent a series of renovations over the centuries, but gained its current neo-Gothic style in the 19th century when it was owned by count Juraj V. Draskovic.

Driving to lunch in Gresna gorica. Centuries: old oak wood, the smell of meadows, the playful fawns and deer grazing freely on the slopes of the Gresna gorica hill will make your stay joyful and relaxed. Here you can watch hares, turkeys, feed the animals, get acquainted with the old stone press and with the old wine barrel, visit the wine – cellar and get to know about the tradition of growing vineyards and wine making, get to know the old sorts of fruit, apples, walnuts, walk in the forest meadows, play badminton, ball.

Then you will visit Veliki Tabor Castle. This castle overlooks the beautiful green Croatian Zagorje valley. The construction began during the 12th century and has been renovated throughout its history. It is an eclectic mix of architectural styles, including late Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. In the 15th and 16th centuries it fell under the ownership of the noble Rattkay family. The castle has four towers in the shape of a horseshoe, it currently sits on the UNESCO Tentative list. Other noteworthy of the castle include a 102-foot-deep-well, a wine cellar with a wine press and a great hall whose walls are decorated with weapons. A chapel also exists on the property that allegedly houses the skull. The heartbreaking legend of Veliki Tabor tells the story of tragic love between Veronika, a peasant girl and the castle’s nobleman Fridrih Celjski, who murdered his first wife in order to marry Veronika. The pair ran-off, but were stopped by Fridrih’s father’s soldiers. Fridrih was imprisoned and Veronika was drowned. It is said that she was entombed within the castle walls. On a brighter note, you can hear the daily chatter of medieval life during the peak season, when there are various workshops and performances in the castle. As well as touring the castle, you can also explore a small museum that opened after the renovations. Exhibitions include collections of swords and armor, paintings and pottery.

After this excursion, you will return to your minivan and relax on your drive to Zagreb.

Price includes:

• Transport with comfortable minivan
• Professional travel guide
• Entrance ticket for Trakoscan
• Entrance ticket for Veliki Tabor
• Tourist guide in Veliki Tabor
• Lunch in restaurant Gresna gorica
• Road tolls and parking
• All taxes and VAT

NOTE:

Veliki Tabor is closed on Mondays.

A minimum of 6 passengers is required for this tour!

Excursion on request!