Kapetanovo Castle
Encyclopedia
Kapetanovo Castle is a neogothic castle located in the village of Stari Lec
, in the Plandište municipality
in northeastern Serbia
. In 1991, it was included on the national list of monuments of culture of great importance, and since then it has been protected.
of Torontál County (Kingdom of Hungary
, Austria-Hungary
) Béla Botka. He wanted to create a residence that would resemble a medieval castle, and that was one of the reasons for the construction of the neogothic palace. Kapetanovo is located near the road Vršac
–Zrenjanin
, about 2 km southwest from the small village of Stari Lec
.
After losing almost all of his wealth on gambling, owner Béla decided to sell the castle, as the last possible solution to solve his financial situation. After he told his wife Ema about this, she was so devastated that on the night of 2 August 1938, she climbed to the highest tower of Kapetanovo, poured gasoline on herself and burned to death.
Nevertheless, in an auction in 1938, Kapetanovo was sold to a wealthy merchant Franc Maj. He purchased it as the main part of his daughter's dowry. After the wedding, she and her husband Milan Kapetanov moved in, and the castle took his name. During this time, Kapetanovo flourished. They created large fountains and gardens all around the castle compound, and the only part that was constantly locked was the tallest tower, where Emma Botka burned herself. Milan was Kapetanovo's owner up until the end of World War II
; after the Law on Nationalization
, the castle was seized by the communist Yugoslavia
's government.
stretching along three sides of castle. With simple white façade
and an elevated entrance, the building's harmonious proportions are pointed out with high square towers with crenellation. All the windows have sharp gothic arches, and with false arrow loops on top of the tower, the architect's idea of creating a pseudo-medieval castle is clearly visible.
as a monuments of culture of great importance, the reconstruction was a faithful restoration of the original design.
Stari Lec
Stari Lec is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Plandište municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 1,094 people...
, in the Plandište municipality
Plandište
Plandište is a village and municipality in South Banat District of Vojvodina, Serbia. The village has a population of 4,248, while Plandište municipality has 13,355 inhabitants...
in northeastern Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. In 1991, it was included on the national list of monuments of culture of great importance, and since then it has been protected.
History
The castle was built in 1904 by ispánIspan
Ispan is a town in north-western Tajikistan. It is located in Sughd province.-External links:*...
of Torontál County (Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
, Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
) Béla Botka. He wanted to create a residence that would resemble a medieval castle, and that was one of the reasons for the construction of the neogothic palace. Kapetanovo is located near the road Vršac
Vršac
Vršac is a town and municipality located in Serbia. In 2002 the town's total population was 36,623, while Vršac municipality had 54,369 inhabitants. Vršac is located in the Banat region, in the Vojvodina province of Serbia. It is part of the South Banat District.-Name:The name Vršac is of Serbian...
–Zrenjanin
Zrenjanin
Zrenjanin is a city and municipality located in the eastern part of Serbian province of Vojvodina. It is the administrative centre of the Central Banat District of Serbia...
, about 2 km southwest from the small village of Stari Lec
Stari Lec
Stari Lec is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Plandište municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 1,094 people...
.
After losing almost all of his wealth on gambling, owner Béla decided to sell the castle, as the last possible solution to solve his financial situation. After he told his wife Ema about this, she was so devastated that on the night of 2 August 1938, she climbed to the highest tower of Kapetanovo, poured gasoline on herself and burned to death.
Nevertheless, in an auction in 1938, Kapetanovo was sold to a wealthy merchant Franc Maj. He purchased it as the main part of his daughter's dowry. After the wedding, she and her husband Milan Kapetanov moved in, and the castle took his name. During this time, Kapetanovo flourished. They created large fountains and gardens all around the castle compound, and the only part that was constantly locked was the tallest tower, where Emma Botka burned herself. Milan was Kapetanovo's owner up until the end of World War II
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...
; after the Law on Nationalization
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
, the castle was seized by the communist Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
's government.
Architecture
Kapetanovo Castle is an example of neogothic architecture. It has two entrances, and around it there was a spacious park (now defunct) with a fountain. One of the most specific architectural specifications is a crow-stepped gableCrow-stepped gable
A Stepped gable, Crow-stepped gable, or Corbie step is a stair-step type of design at the top of the triangular gable-end of a building...
stretching along three sides of castle. With simple white façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
and an elevated entrance, the building's harmonious proportions are pointed out with high square towers with crenellation. All the windows have sharp gothic arches, and with false arrow loops on top of the tower, the architect's idea of creating a pseudo-medieval castle is clearly visible.
Restoration
After the nationalization, the castle was mostly abandoned and empty for nearly 40 years. In 1987, reconstruction started, but it was soon abandoned after basic conservation work. Then, in August 2006, vast work on the restoration of the castle commenced, and it was renovated into a restaurant with a hotel. As the castle is under protection of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and ArtsSerbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the most prominent academic institution in Serbia today...
as a monuments of culture of great importance, the reconstruction was a faithful restoration of the original design.
See also
- Monuments of Culture of Great Importance
- Tourism in SerbiaTourism in SerbiaSerbia stretches across two geographic and cultural regions of Europe: Central Europe and Southeast Europe. This boundary splits Serbia roughly in a ratio of 1:2 alongside the Danube and Sava rivers. The northern parts of the country are Central-European lowlands while the southern and central...
- Castles in Serbia