Description of the attraction
The town of Klanjec was first mentioned in historical documents in 1463. Initially, it was a village and its name is associated with the Zelenyak gorge, near which it was located (“klanac” means “gorge” in Croatian).
After a change of several owners, this land for four centuries belonged to the family of Thomas Bakacs Erdodi. At the end of the 16th century, the Turkish threat disappeared, so the construction of comfortable and spacious mansions began in the city.
In the 16th century, Klanjec has the status of a trading city and retains it until the middle of the 19th century. Various noble families lived on the territory of Klanjec at different times, which undoubtedly influenced the economic and cultural development of the city. The population of Klanjec was mainly engaged in gardening, but crafts were also widespread. The documents mention butchers, masons, locksmiths, shoemakers, furriers, potters and jewelers.
On the territory of Klanjec, a castle (New Castle) has been preserved, which, in terms of its architectural and historical significance, is unique on the territory of the entire Croatian Zagorje. The castle was built in 1603, as evidenced by the inscription carved out of stone above the main entrance to the castle.
The peculiarity of the architecture of the castle is that the vertical elements of the facade (a hint of baroque) spread in Vienna only in 1610, which means that the castle was built in the most advanced manner at that time. The castle was built in the Renaissance style, it has a rectangular base, a courtyard and cylindrical towers at the corners. The courtyard buildings are mainly commercial and administrative buildings. Since the middle of the 19th century, much of the Erdodi family has been sold out.
