ZRINSKI CASTLE - MUSEUM MEDIMURJE CAKOVEC
Croatian Zrinski Dynasty Fortress
Medimurje
is the northern most county region in Croatia which shares a border
with Hungary, sometime
referred to as the Croatian flower garden,
for its beautiful country side of rolling hills, blooming with wild flowers
in the spring and grape vines in the fall. The area has been in turn
ruled by the Romans, the Celts, the Huns and Ostrogoths and in the second
half of the last millennia under Hungarian control off and on for several
hundred years of its history. Croatian Vice-Roy Nikola Zrinski of one
of the great 
mid-European
family dynasties wrested the territory from Hungary in 1546 and built
a Renaissance residential
palace within the
thick stone walls of the medieval fortress standing in the capital city
of Cakovec. The 13th Century fortress castle was constructed by Count
Dmitar Cak whose Cakov Tower (originally of wood) still remains of
the old castle and for whom
the
town is named. The castle fortress of the Zrinki family held Medimurji
against the Turks (see Durdevac
Castle), but could
not
sustain the a revolt of the Zrinskis and Frankopans for independence
from the Austria-Hungarian empire. The
last Zrinski died in 1691 and the castle at Cakovec was overrun by the
force of the Vienna Imperial Army. Through the 1700’s the castle
was in the hands of Czech Counts, until a powerful earthquake devastated
the Medimurje region in 1738 and the old Renaissance residence was reconstructed
in a Baroque style. The city of Cakovec and its castle didn’t return
to Croatian rule until the end of World War I and the final end of the
Austro-Hungarian Habsburgs.
Today
the Castle of Cakovec, sometimes called the Zrinski Castle is home
to the
history
Museum of Medimurje Cakovec. The museum takes up
several floors of the baroque palace, filled with portraits of the Zrinksi
princes and the 19th Century military leader Josip Jelacic. A collection
of art and folk exhibits ranges from early Roman archeological finds
to life, crafts and science through the 1800’s and military exhibits
from the early twentieth century. Interesting examples are furniture,
a complete apothocary and early telescope as well as cultural clothes. 
The
castle is set in a green park near the center of town where the remainder
of
the
medieval
walls
front
a
deep and wide former moat which once surrounded the fortress like a great
lake, now just a deep valley of grass. If visiting the Zrinksi Castle
at Cakovek you may encounter members of the Zrinska Guard, a military
unit in traditional uniform of black and red who will gladly pose for
a photo with the Medimurje Croation colors. They're probably really there
to guard the lost Zrinksi Treasure, which legend has it is buried under
the great stone walls of the fortress, so bring your teaspoon and dig
quietly. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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SEE ALSO:
TRAKOSCAN CASTLE - ZAGORJE CROATIA
KUMROVEC – TITO
MUSEUM & HERITAGE VILLAGE
OSIJEK
- TVARDA FORTRESS
GODFREY'S
CRUSADER CASTLE BOUILLON
