Historic Croatian castle reopens after major €13 million restoration

Erdödy Castle (Photo: Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia)

One of Croatia’s historic castles has been given a new lease of life following a major restoration, with the Renaissance-Baroque Erdödy Castle in Kerestinec officially reopened after a multi-year project worth more than €13 million.

The restoration and revitalisation of the castle and its surrounding park was financed through a combination of European Union Solidarity Fund resources, Croatia’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the state budget, the Ministry of Culture said.

The project represents a major investment in cultural heritage in the town of Sveta Nedelja and is intended to give the historic complex a new role at the heart of the local community.

The restored castle will house a local heritage collection, library departments, a music school, exhibition spaces, an expanded library and an interpretation centre. It is also expected to provide space for concerts, performances, educational programmes and other cultural events.

The restoration was preceded by extensive conservation, restoration and archaeological research, which identified historical layers of the building and revealed a number of wall paintings.

Particularly valuable are the 19th-century scagliola decorations, a technique imitating marble using coloured plaster, considered the castle’s most significant decorative layer because of the quality of their craftsmanship, intricate details and complex ornamental designs.

(Photo: Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia)

Alongside structural and conservation work, the project included new installations, energy-efficiency improvements and infrastructure upgrades to allow the building to meet modern standards while retaining its heritage character.

The surrounding grounds have also been restored, with landscaping works, new paths, lighting and park furniture. A facsimile reconstruction of the historic entrance bridge in front of the castle’s northern façade was also completed.

At the reopening, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said more than €5.12 billion had been invested in post-earthquake reconstruction across Croatia, including more than €3 billion following the Zagreb earthquake and around €2 billion following the Petrinja earthquake.

Culture Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek described the restoration of cultural infrastructure as a generational undertaking. She said 515 buildings had been included in the reconstruction programme, with €1.7 billion mobilised through the Ministry of Culture and Media.

(Photo: Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia)

In Zagreb County alone, more than 80 buildings have been restored or are undergoing restoration, representing an investment of more than €110 million.

The reopening marks a new chapter for Erdödy Castle, transforming a historically significant but long-neglected property into a venue for culture, education and community life.