Dvorac Jankovic

Dvorac Janković is the Baroque castle of Daruvar, a small spa town in the Bjelovar-Bilogora region of Slavonia, and it is the most important historic building in the town centre. It was built in the late eighteenth century by the Janković family, Hungarian-Croatian counts who acquired the Daruvar estate after it was liberated from Ottoman rule and who were responsible for developing the town and its spa. The castle was both a family residence and the administrative centre of the estate, and its size and formal design reflect the status of a noble house that wanted a seat in the fashionable Central European style.

The building is a two-storey Baroque manor with a long, symmetrical facade, regular windows and a central entrance, set in a park rather than directly on the street. The plan follows the model of country houses across the Habsburg lands, with reception rooms on the main floor and service areas below. Under the house, a cellar was used for storing wine, since the Janković estate produced wine from the surrounding hills, and the Daruvar vineyards are still part of the local economy. Over the years, the interior was changed by later owners and by changing uses, and the castle has at times been used as a museum and for public functions, so the extent to which it is open to visitors varies. It is best to check locally before you go, and to be ready to enjoy the exterior and the grounds if the doors are closed.

The park around the castle is a pleasant place to walk, with old trees, shaded paths and benches. Among the trees is a very large ginkgo, which locals regard as one of the finest in the country, and the park is a quiet counterpart to the larger landscaped park next to the spa. Julius Park, the Roman remains at the thermal baths and the spa buildings, including Anton's Bath, are within walking distance, so the castle works well as a starting point for a stroll through the historic part of Daruvar. The Aquae Balissae thermal water park and other facilities of the spa are listed in this guide.

Daruvar is also a town of cultural variety. It has a sizeable Czech community, which gave the town its brewery and many of its customs, as well as Hungarian, Serbian and Croatian residents, and the town hosts festivals that celebrate this mixture. The surrounding hills carry vineyards and walking trails, and a local wine route leads to family cellars.

Plan about half an hour for the castle and park, and longer if you combine it with the spa quarter. The castle suits visitors who like Baroque architecture, gardens and the history of noble estates, and travellers exploring the less visited towns of continental Croatia.