Pejačević Castle

Našice is a small town in Osijek-Baranja County, in eastern Slavonia, at the foot of the Krndija hills between Osijek and Požega, and for more than two centuries its character has been shaped by one family, the Pejačević counts. They were among the great landowners of Croatia, with estates across Slavonia, and in the early 19th century they built a castle in Našice that became the centre of the town's life. Pejačević Castle, a handsome Baroque-revival building in the middle of Našice, is today the town's main monument and houses its local museum.

The castle was built in the early 1800s, around 1811 and 1812, for Count Vincencije Ljudevit Pejačević, and it was repaired after an earthquake a few years later and enlarged in the middle of the 19th century by members of the family, who added decorative elements such as a gable, a balustrade and a clock. The building is long and symmetrical, with a central projection, a regular row of tall windows and a restrained, elegant façade. It stands in a large park, laid out in the English landscape style with old trees, lawns and ponds, and the park links the main castle with the smaller buildings of the former estate, among them a second, smaller castle. The setting is peaceful, and a walk through the park is a pleasure in any season.

The castle's history in the 20th century was turbulent. During the Second World War it was used as a hospital by German troops, and its façade and roof were damaged. After the war, as the estates of nobles were taken into state ownership, it was used for a series of purposes, among them barracks, a school and offices. More recently it was restored, and it has been reopened to the public, with the Local Museum of Našice installed inside.

The museum tells the story of the town and the Pejačević family, and its collection includes furniture, paintings, documents and objects that show how the nobles lived. A special place is held by Dora Pejačević, the composer, who was born in 1885 into the family and spent much of her life at Našice. She is regarded as the first major Croatian woman composer, and her songs, piano works and orchestral music, including a symphony, are performed today. Exhibits remember her, and the town honours her with concerts and events, and she is buried in her home town.

Opening hours and admission arrangements vary, so check with the museum. The castle suits history lovers, music lovers, families and walkers. A visit takes an hour or two, plus time in the park. Nearby, Jezero Lapovac and the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua add to the day.