Castle Erdody – a beautiful structure situated in a magical park

One day I headed to Jastrebarsko, on the highway that I must have been on only twice before as it is usually too busy. It was easy to find the Erdody castle. At the first sight I was stunned, and spent some minutes just admiring its beauty…and then the park around it was equally captivating.

In the park you can see a stream, a lake and a number of bridges. It was recently renovated in english style, there are information plaques to lead us through …but sadly it is yet another castle in a state of decay. It has been said that it should be renovated soon, hopefully…

The town of Jastrebarsko was first mentioned in the 13th century, shortly before it was awarded the status of a ‘free royal trading center’ by the Croato-Hungarian king Bela IV in 1257. The castle itself was built by Matija Gereb in the 15th century; in the first half of the 16th century noble Erdody family came into possession of the land, and remained so until 1922.

The castle was originally built as a water castle or Wasserburg, which means that it was once surrounded by moats – the outlines of which are still visible today, though more shallow and covered with grass. Unfortunately it is not possible to enter the castle, you can only take a peek at the inner yard which is in a decrepit state.

Despite the obvious need for renovation the castle does look magical; its two towers and the surrounding park form an attractive backdrop for photographic memories. You can visit the Jastrebarsko town museum and gallery to check a great collection of items related to the castle and the noble Erdody family.

You don’t need to go far from Zagreb, it is only a half-hour drive that leads to enjoying the rich legacy of Erdody! (Merica Mikuličin & Agata Juran / ViaNobility)