Ozalj Castle is a fortified building located in the town of Ozalj in Karlovac County, Republic of Croatia. In the Croatian language it is called: Stari grad Ozalj.
The current castle sits on an old fortified town from the Middle Ages, today being included in the old town of Ozalj. It is in an excellent strategic position, in a gorge above the Kupa River. It is first mentioned in 1244. It was then owned by princes Babonić, Frankopan (from 1398) and Zrinski (from 1577, after the death of Stjepan IV Frankopan Ozaljski, the last descendant of the Ozalj branch of his family).
Due to many reconstructions, only a small part of the oldest complex has been preserved, in which the quadrangular tower, probably the old defensive tower, the Gothic chapel and the rectangular palace of Nikola Zrinski (called the barn) with Gothic details, stand out. above the gate there is an inscription from 1556. Wall paintings and Glagolitic inscriptions were found in that part of the city. Numerous valuables were destroyed after the execution of Ban Petar Zrinski (1671).
The Zrinskis were deprived of their nobility and all their property, including Ozalj.
After the Zrinskis, the fortress changed hands several times. Already in a dilapidated state, R. Perlas had it thoroughly rebuilt (the work was directed by Captain Verneda between 1743 and 1753). In the years 1766-72, the city was owned by the Batthyánys; the first of them, Teodoro, built the second floor of the north wing and built a new baroque section. Its subsequent owners were the Thurn and Taxis families, until 1928, when the "Braća hrvatskoga zmaja" (Croatian Dragon Brothers) Society saved it from decline.
The old town of Ozalj is accessed via a bridge, part of which was movable until 1821, and under which there is a pillar with shot holes for the defense of the castle moat. The entrance tower was built in 1599 by Count Juraj IV Zrinski.
The castle houses a museum, which was founded in 1971. Today it has valuable pieces from the time of the Zrinski and Frankopan, especially related to their cultural activity, which is known as the "cultural circle of Ozalj", and whose Literary expression was based on the language of the Ozalj region, which represents a peculiar combination of Chakavstina, Kajkavstina and Štokavstina. In the museum, among others, there are also collections of weapons, spears, swords, firearms, artifacts from the prehistoric period, displays of religious items, as well as the works of the famous painter Slava Raškaj, a native of Ozalj.
The current castle sits on an old fortified town from the Middle Ages, today being included in the old town of Ozalj. It is in an excellent strategic position, in a gorge above the Kupa River. It is first mentioned in 1244. It was then owned by princes Babonić, Frankopan (from 1398) and Zrinski (from 1577, after the death of Stjepan IV Frankopan Ozaljski, the last descendant of the Ozalj branch of his family).
Due to many reconstructions, only a small part of the oldest complex has been preserved, in which the quadrangular tower, probably the old defensive tower, the Gothic chapel and the rectangular palace of Nikola Zrinski (called the barn) with Gothic details, stand out. above the gate there is an inscription from 1556. Wall paintings and Glagolitic inscriptions were found in that part of the city. Numerous valuables were destroyed after the execution of Ban Petar Zrinski (1671).
The Zrinskis were deprived of their nobility and all their property, including Ozalj.
After the Zrinskis, the fortress changed hands several times. Already in a dilapidated state, R. Perlas had it thoroughly rebuilt (the work was directed by Captain Verneda between 1743 and 1753). In the years 1766-72, the city was owned by the Batthyánys; the first of them, Teodoro, built the second floor of the north wing and built a new baroque section. Its subsequent owners were the Thurn and Taxis families, until 1928, when the "Braća hrvatskoga zmaja" (Croatian Dragon Brothers) Society saved it from decline.
The old town of Ozalj is accessed via a bridge, part of which was movable until 1821, and under which there is a pillar with shot holes for the defense of the castle moat. The entrance tower was built in 1599 by Count Juraj IV Zrinski.
The castle houses a museum, which was founded in 1971. Today it has valuable pieces from the time of the Zrinski and Frankopan, especially related to their cultural activity, which is known as the "cultural circle of Ozalj", and whose Literary expression was based on the language of the Ozalj region, which represents a peculiar combination of Chakavstina, Kajkavstina and Štokavstina. In the museum, among others, there are also collections of weapons, spears, swords, firearms, artifacts from the prehistoric period, displays of religious items, as well as the works of the famous painter Slava Raškaj, a native of Ozalj.
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