Novi Dvori Castle
2006 World Monument Watch
Founded in 1611, the sprawling Novi Dvori estate 17 kilometers west of Zagreb was redesigned by its most famous occupant, Ban Josef Jelacˇi´c, governor of Croatia from 1848 until his death in 1859. Jelacˇi´c is best known for his military career in the service of the Hapsburg Empire, including a successful invasion of Hungary with 40,000 troops. He is also revered for having abolished serfdom in Croatia. The estate, bequeathed to the Croatian people in 1934, comprises the castle, a Neo-Gothic family tomb, a chapel, farm buildings, and extensive landscaped grounds. Despite its historical importance, the castle, now abandoned, suffers from natural aging, lack of maintenance, and vandalism. The building windows and doors are in large part missing and its interiors have been heavily damaged.