Varaždin - baroque pearl of northwestern Croatia

Varaždin is a city rich in history, as evidenced by the fact that it was the capital city of the Croatia until the city was destroyed by the great fire.

History and cultural heritage

The biggest sight in Varaždin is fortress called "The Old Town". It is located on the northwestern edge of city center, and today it is the Varazdin Municipal Museum. The fortress was first mentioned in the 12th century and believes that the time was the residence of mayor of Varaždin. With the end of the 14th century it comes to ownership of the Counts of Celje and it was reconstructed in Gothic style. From that time comes the central square building, around which are the original wooden palisade. The largest project fortress has seen in the 16 century, when it was reconstructed into a modern Renaissance fort. John Ungnada just before 1544th begins construction of walls with circular towers, and around them clay walls and the ditch filled with water. Thus the building becomes a distinctive type of works called "wasserburg". Remodeling worked Domenico dell'Allio, builder of the Italian origin who worked in Styria.

In the historical center of Varazdin is a series of palaces from the Baroque era. Palaces are built from the 17th century until the beginning of the 19th century, and were raised or hosted by Croatian noble families of foreign origin. On the main square is located the palace of the Counts Drašković, whose existence in this place were recorded in the 16th century, while today's building dates from the 18th century. Beside her it was the Czindery Palace, on the other side of the square bishop's palace, but both were demolished in the late 19th century.  Central Square building is the town hall which was built in the 15th century, but the reconstruction of the facade 1791st-93rd given its current appearance. At the Franciscan Square is known Patačić palace, which is two storey and has a corner Erker and, despite its small size, very opulent facade with motifs rokaja.  It was the place of a rich social life because the count Patačić Francis and his wife Catherine there had organized dances and theatrical performances. There are just a few rooms that have been preserved in the palace until today. Wall paintings have been preserved in the neighboring palace of the Varazdin County, which was one of the largest baroque palace ever built in Croatia. There, in the central hall was painted illusionist architecture of marble columns which carry the coffered ceiling. The palace was built by local architect Jakov Erber.

 On the north side of the same square is the palace Wasserman-Kreuz (1785.-86.) and Palace and Herzer (1791.-95.), both in the style of late Baroque Classicism. Interestingly, the palace Herzer did not raise the nobility, but the town postman Frank Herzer, who made his fortune by winning the money on the lottery. However, soon he went to bankrupt and the palace was seized from him. Near by is the palace built in sixties of the 18th century by the Zagreb Capitol. it stands out with the front decorated in God's eye motif. On the Stančić square in front of the former entrance to the Old Town is the palace-Prašinski Sermage (17th century), characterized by colorful facade with black and red medallions and a gorgeous stone staircase at the rear. Freedom Square is located in the palace of the family Petković (1767th g) which was by the time removed very great entrance portal with a family coat of arms. Outside the city walls, now on the edge of the city center, was built several palaces with ambitious architectural solutions. From the sixties comes the Kapucin Erdödy Palace Square, with a facade in the spirit of the Rococo, and the palace Keglević (1774.-75.) in the north of the city walls, the work of architect Jakov Erber. Near the northern edge of the city core in 1760th was built Pauline residence, architecturally interesting building, almost a central blueprint, which has preserved rococo interior stucco. On the south side of the city center, located in Zagreb street is the Patačić-Puttar palace, which was formed by merging a number of town houses. It got today's appearance at the turn of the 18th in 19 century. In its interior until today was preserved valuable woodwork - decorative wall coverings and doors made of wood, a rare example of superior woodcutting trades in palaces on Croatian soil. Original Varazdin palace interiors are usually not preserved, except for individual elements of interior decoration.