Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.17018/portal.2021.5
Erdödy castle in Kerestinec: 16th-century Renaissance castle and its phases
Viki Jakaša Borić
; Ministarstvo kulture i medija, Konzervatorski odjel u Zagrebu
Sažetak
The paper presents the history of construction of the Erdödy castle in Kerestinec, on the basis of field and archival research. The different layers and changes to the castle are also analysed, from the original construction, attributed to the manor house of Petar Herešinec, and the lowland castle with four corner towers, built by Petar III Erdödy during the 1670s and 1680s, through the extensive Baroque interventions during the 18th century, to reconstruction and neo-style renovations after the great earthquake of 1880, and the changes during the 20th century that shaped the current layout of the castle. Despite numerous additions and alterations, the castle in Kerestinec presents the concept of a Renaissance castle, i.e. an early lowland castle in the form of a closed square building with corner towers and a rectangular inner courtyard. The two northern towers and the perimeter walls of two wings (northern and western), remains of the older manor house since its building structures were integrated into the new architectural complex, have been preserved from this phase.
In addition to the building structure and Renaissance castle concept, the castle has two other significant historical layers. During the first half of the 18th century, major Baroque interventions were most likely added to modernize the castle and adapt it to the new way of life when there was no more threat of Ottoman attacks. The south wing with the court chapel was built at the same time, along with arcaded corridors that framed the quadrangular courtyard, rebuilding the west and north wings, and adding a new three-storey staircase to the latter. The second residential floor of the north and west wings was luxuriously furnished (confirmed by a description of the castle from 1847). These interventions, however, did not achieve Baroque systematicity, because the entrance tower with the main portal remained in an eccentric position. The main hall on the second floor of the north wing is asymmetrically located, as is the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Annunciation within the south wing. The construction of the chapel preserved the closed character of the wing. Absence of the axis, as well as connecting the castle with the surrounding area (important themes of the mature Baroque secular architecture that appeared in Croatian residential architecture for the first time in the 1840s), supports the earlier assumption that these Baroque interventions were carried out during the first third of the 18th century.
The defensive character of the castle was suppressed by adapting the towers to residential needs and introducing Baroque sculptural decoration on the façade. The towers, as symbols of past heroic times, remain preserved as an 'emblematic motif', while their interiors have been repurposed with lavish decoration and the opening up of windows that overlook the park. Many castles in continental Croatia went through this process, such as the Orehovečki castle in Gornja Rijeka and the Kulmer castle in Cernik, and a penchant for pictorial staging with connotations of strength and authority can be seen in Baroque castles with corner towers from the 18th century: castles in Lužnica, Brezovica and Popovača. The last Baroque intervention on Erdödy castle was the restoration of the main northern façade and two northern towers by introducing Baroque architectural sculptures, integrating and highlighting this part of the castle as representative. Considering the concept with rustic spaces on the ground floor and rhythmic upper floors with pilasters, and architectural sculptures in the form of open shells and varied canopies, it can be concluded that the last Baroque project can be dated to the mid-18th century. Elements from the Baroque period include the arcaded corridors of the north wing (Fig. 17), layout of both floors of the north wing including arched ceilings, and the three-storey staircase with niches. Baroque sculptures on the facades of the towers, as well as on the courtyard façade of the north wing, have been preserved, but the portal is the only Baroque element that has been preserved on the main north façade.
Restoration at the end of the 19th century after extensive damage caused by the 1880 earthquake brought significant changes: the southern towers and the second floor of the castle were completely removed. Providing evidence of the restoration on the present-day castle are the design of the north façade (Fig. 8) and the layout of the first floor of the west wing, including the ceiling cassette structures (main hall and circular hall in the north-west tower). The courtyard façade of the west wing, with a polygonal tower (oriel window) with a wooden spiral staircase leading from the first floor to the attic, also probably date from this period. The east wing, with the volume and articulation of the façade adapted to the existing condition, was built during World War II, and a brick ground floor was recently erected where the south wing used to be. In accordance with the values and significance of the above-mentioned parts of the castle, conservation guidelines have been developed. Their goal is sustainable conversion: affirmation and preservation of historical layers with the introduction of an appropriate function.
Ključne riječi
Kerestinec; 16th, 18th and 19th centuries; castle, Renaissance castle; Baroque; neo-style renovation; Herešinec family; Erdödy family; Pallavicini family; Türk family
Hrčak ID:
270789
URI
Datum izdavanja:
27.12.2021.
Posjeta: 1.136 *