Kacenštajn Castle
Encyclopedia
Kacenštajn or Katzenštajn Castle comprises, together with the Church of St. Ursula, the old center of the town of Begunje na Gorenjskem, part of the municipalty of Radovljica
in northwestern Slovenia
.
The original two-story core of the castle survives inside newer additions, as do remains of its Gothic architecture. The majority of the present structure dates from its Renaissance
and Baroque
rebuildings, while the southeast tract was added in the 19th century.
The layout of the castle's Baroque garden remains, thought the grounds are now occupied by a vegetable garden. The 140-m avenue leading to the manor is bordered with mature chestnuts.
Before Second World War
, the manor served as a female penitentiary, operated by the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul. In 1940, a pavilion was built in the park according to a concept by Slovenia's most eminent architect Jože Plečnik
. During World War II the manor became a Gestapo
prison, through which more than 11,500 prisoners passed; the grounds contain a mass grave holding the majority of the 849 detainees murdered there. Part of the manor building is given over to a Museum of Hostages, chronicling these events; the rest of it is occupied by a psychiatric hospital.
Radovljica
Radovljica is a town and a municipality in in the Upper Carniola region of northern Slovenia. The municipality has around 18,000 inhabitants and an area of 118 km²...
in northwestern Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
.
History
The castle is first mentioned in historical documents in 1428. The noble house of Katzen (locally known as "Kacijanarji") rebuilt it in the 16th century, but it took its final shape a century later, when the Counts Lamberg moved to it from Kamen Castle.The original two-story core of the castle survives inside newer additions, as do remains of its Gothic architecture. The majority of the present structure dates from its Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
and Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
rebuildings, while the southeast tract was added in the 19th century.
The layout of the castle's Baroque garden remains, thought the grounds are now occupied by a vegetable garden. The 140-m avenue leading to the manor is bordered with mature chestnuts.
Before Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the manor served as a female penitentiary, operated by the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul. In 1940, a pavilion was built in the park according to a concept by Slovenia's most eminent architect Jože Plečnik
Jože Plecnik
Jože Plečnik , was a Slovene architect who practised in Vienna, Belgrade, Prague and Ljubljana.-Biography:...
. During World War II the manor became a Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
prison, through which more than 11,500 prisoners passed; the grounds contain a mass grave holding the majority of the 849 detainees murdered there. Part of the manor building is given over to a Museum of Hostages, chronicling these events; the rest of it is occupied by a psychiatric hospital.