Original scientific paper
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FORTIFIED TOWN OF KARLOVAC
Andrej Žmegač
; institut za povijest umjetnosti, Zagreb
Abstract
The construction of the fortified town of Karlovac in the north-west of Croatia began in 1579, on virgin land surrounded by rivers. It was a hexagonal bastion fortification with a rectangular network of streets (housing blocks) inside the walls. If this model and its date are placed in the context of other planned Renaissance towns (such as Villefranche-sur-Meuse, Vitry-le-Francois, Rocroi, Palmanova etc), one can conclude that Karlovac was the first completely regular polygonal fortified town with a planned schema of housing blocks. The author points out that the notion of jtjllgQgyrtt must be used with reservations because it is in fact impossible to find a truly ideal planned town, not even in Palmanova (H. De la Croix). After discussing the character of various street schemas, following the usual interpretations (" civil" rectangular network, "military" radial network), the author points out the unusual relation of the urban schema and military belt of Karlovac: its streets are arranged in such a fashion that the central square has no direct connexion with any bastion or gate. This is a great exception among the planned towns which may indicate a certain mannirist tendency in its design. Finally, in the light of what has been said, we must point out the difference between Karlovac and the fortified town Nove Zamky (Hung. Ujvar, Ger. Neuhausel) constructed after 1580 in what is today Slovakia. In Croatian literature the two towns are are always considered identical, although Nove Zamky had a different, more ordinary street grid: its center was directly connected with the town gates and two of its bastions.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
151185
URI
Publication date:
15.12.1995.
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