What you can see in Veliki Tabor Castle…  

    Even far from the castle your view is captured by the Renaissance building because of its simplicity and bizarre looks. On the path towards the castle you can see arch with model of Town. The path towards and around the Town is a special event with the view Desinić, Cesar Grad, Slovenian Kozjanske Mountains, Ivanščicu, Zagrebačku goru and the whole Hrvatsko zagorje. Even on the entrance to the Town through the big heavy gates there awaits old vehicles from the year 1840 and one rare fire truck from Czech republic from the year 1883. It has 12 members in the crew, which have been completely restored and are capable of extinguishing any fire.

     Entering the Garth on the right there is a hidden dismantled Mercedes automobile, in which diesel engine from the year 1920 was first installed. Right in front of you is a view of the whole of the Garth with porches where you can see a number of helebards and a well around 30m deep. Your view is directed at the tower of the castles chapel, which has a clock that rings ever 15 minutes and then, every hour it rings a melody which is a song, "Vu plavem trnaci", written by Đuro Jurica Prejac as a special attraction. Left there is an entrance to the Croatian war arsenal called: "Od Porge do Branimira". Where they are placed: light spears, helebards, war surgery instruments, dental instruments and lab equipment as a memory of the Croatian contribution to the antifascist battle against fascism in Desinić. There is also a collection from a national war, with numerous photographs of the war march "103zagorske brigade", with important trophies such as: flags from communistic periods and war thefts and especially the chetnic hand made silk flag. Which our fighters took from a building "Opštine u Kninu" during the war action "Oluja" in 1995. Here are the rest of the war thefts, medals, bullets, rocket remains and other such small weapons. The following are memories from the Croatian army; these are flags, bullets and uniforms of officers and the Croatian solders uniforms through time.

 

 

 

       Here is a big heavy wooden door, the entrance to so called a big rustic chamber, in which there is always a painting exhibition, as well as painting there is also a model of the well - heraldic symbol of the family Rattkay, prominent for the Veliki Tabor in Croatian Zagorje and Europe. Numerous tables are always waiting for visitors who are given informative talks or parties. The basement is a special attraction, not only for the wine lovers but every type of visitor. A big double door are hiding a huge basement chamber with barrels from 53 to 5450 liters, rustic bar with a wide ranged of wines and a press for grapes. This is the complete set of this wonderful basement. Climbing the steep stairs in the 2nd floor you find a little knight salon with a strong iron gate from the 15th century with an appropriate lock. Here we try to illustrate the way our knights were living from time of their 1st arrival to the 10th century when they were still sleeping on the floor, hay and leather where they use to do their tasks. Here we can find replicas of medieval weapons, helbards, spears and axes, with which heads were cut off. With an axe similar to that which is in the castle the heads of Zrinski and Frankopan ware cut off in Bečkom Novm Mjestu

    We also find the graves of Celjski and Rattkay, musaic crest of Dionis-Bakhusa and many other things if interest. Leaving this room, you pass by the room where the skull of Veronica Desinićka was found. Getting to the third floor, here you can see all the beauty of all the galleries and the beautiful roof, a sun clock and poles.

    The whole third floor is dedicated to the country museum. In the 1st chamber you find numerous etnographics objects, miners documents, tools, paintings from donators and wooden lock which was described by Ljubo Babić in a story about Cintek. Numerous photographs from the past which give evidence of the way of life in these times. Everything you are looking at brings you back more than 100 years.

      In the next room we can find geological, palaentological, animological, antropological collection, something from the 2nd Roman period, equipment from the 1st Croatian medicine manufacturing industry established in 1883. Numerous tools and ethnographical objects, equipment for making textile with looms and the 1st part of a donation of Professor Dr. Antun Bauer who saved the statue Ban Josip Jelačić who once again stands in the main square of Zagreb. Three steps down is the highest gallery, where you have the best view of the town, on which there is a painting of St. Peter with a rooster from the 16th century. There is a rope, which can ring the new bell, as the old one had to be removed in 19144 for the needs of the Astrian-Hungarian army.

     Using the steep stairs you go the 2nd floor entering the chapel of St. Peter, the chapel was restored in 1990 thanks to the hard work of the bishop of Varaždin monsignor Marko Culej, cardinal Dr Franjo Kuharic and "spiritus morensa and agensa" Josipa Kuharica. On the altar there is a tabernacle from 1810 which was well restored, four candle stands from the beginning of 17th century, an oil painting of Jesus, where he is giving the keys of heaven to St. Peter dated from 1713, it was exhibited next to the entrance gate to the cabinet of the artbishop of Zagreb. Here there is also a piece of the old tower from the cathedral in Zagreb at the altitude of 60m. A Christmas candle is there as a gift from Dr Žarko Domljan, the skull of Veronica, a musical painting, chandeliers from a stem boat from 1883 and many other painting all at great value. The tabernacle holds a gold plated cup from the workshop of the great medallist Ivan Kredić, a present from Dr A. Bauer who owned almost all the painting which are now in the church, there are a lot of candles which were donated by monsignor Lovro Cindonj the parish priest of Maria Bistrica. The church is well lit as well as the whole town. Going left in the chapel you enter a big chamber you'll see a valuable painting exhibit donated by Prof. Bauer Here we can find archeological objects found out side of the town not far from the walls, which have not yet been investigated by scientist. Apart from this we can find remains of dead animals such ass dears, wild hogs etc. There is a wonderful collection of "terra cotte" by Stanko Piskač, which amazes us with its bizarre expressions in plastic.

    Stepping back ten steps you go over the bridge called "Most uzdisaja" named this due to the fact that counts used the so called "ius primae noctis" (the right of the first night). From the bridge you are entering the historical room of the family Rattkay which has left important signatures not only in history culture and religion of Croatia but also in Europe and the world. Here is also the gravestone of the Braun Petar II Rattkay and relevant charters of this extraordinary family. Here there are important books which have very old, such as: a) Memoria Regum et Banorum Regnorum Dalmatiae Croatiae et Slavoniae b) Constituto criminalis theresianum and others. There is armor of a young knight from 16th century and an old fireplace where bread is made, and it is reminding us of homemade bred. Here we are presenting hawking. Left you are entering the music salon of Đuro Prejac, which brings us back to the last century. Đuro Prejac is the author of the song called "Vu plavem trnaci"

   Neighboring "Salon of sword-play" - " Sanjin Kovačić" our most important swordsman from the beginning of swordmanship in Croatia. The salon holds information and images of the history of swordmanship in Veliki Tabor castle from the year 1982. Except from numerous florets, swords and photographs, here are also musketeers in their original outfits from the period " Ciranor de Berganec" Here is the oldest Croatian rifle from the 15th century. Present are also the oldest swordsman's masks from 18th century numerous recognition's to swordsman sport is held in the chest. You can get a photo of yourself wearing musketeer clothes.

   On the 2nd and 3rd floors you find depots of paintings as well as the sleeping rooms. Returning to the town center via the bridge "Most uzdisaja" you get to a big salon of Iveković family where you can find a lot of work in plastic made by Izidor Popijać and paintings from parish priest Milana Juranića of St Katarina. Trough the huge windows you can see amazing views of Hrvatsko zagorje. In the next room there is also a part of the donation of Prof. Bauer, as well as over 80 paintings, which Croatian artist gave to Zagreb for it 900 year of existence. Finally you arrive to the first lasting permanent exhibit of the great Croatian artist, Oton Iveković who was the owner of Veliki tabor Castle from 1919 to 1933 in these years he was inspired by romantic period and the events in the older history of Croatia. Here you can see paintings: King Dimitar Zvonimir III", "The death of king Petar Svačić", "Zrinski and Frankopan in prison in Bečkom Novom Mjestu", " Ferwell to Katarina Zrinski", "The old cities of the southeast" and others…

  The chancellery of Veliki Tabor Society is very interesting, in which there are a great number of paintings and souvenirs in which Oton Iveković painting salon once was. Visiting Veliki Tabor Castle, museum and the art gallery remains in permanent memory.