Stubički Golubovec Castle

Stubički Golubovec Castle stands in a large landscaped park near Gornja Stubica, in Hrvatsko Zagorje, in northwestern Croatia, on the northern side of Medvednica. It is a late Baroque country house of the kind that gives Zagorje its character, and it is protected as a monument of national importance both for its architecture and for its parkland.

The castle was built around 1800 by Regina Domjanić, a member of the local nobility, and it later passed to Maksimilijan Vrhovac, Bishop of Zagreb, an influential church figure and patron of learning who is also remembered for the creation of Maksimir Park in the capital. The building has an unusual U-shaped plan, with two wings projecting from a central block to enclose a courtyard, and its façades are simple and elegant in the restrained late Baroque manner. Instead of the towers and battlements of a medieval fortress, it has the proportions, windows and roofline of a comfortable manor, designed for residence and enjoyment of the countryside.

The park is as important as the building. It covers about eighty-four hectares and has two parts. Close to the castle there is a formal landscaped area with lawns, paths and old trees, laid out in the fashion of the time to create a series of views and a pleasant setting for walks. Beyond it lies a protected park-forest, a stretch of woodland with meadows and small bodies of water, which is managed as a nature area. Although it is described as a sanctuary, it does not hold wild animals in enclosures, and what visitors find is simply a quiet, wooded landscape for walking and cycling. Because the location is somewhat secluded, with limited signage on the approach, it feels peaceful and takes a little effort to find.

Gornja Stubica has a number of other places to visit. The Oršić Castle houses the Museum of the Peasants’ Revolt, which tells the story of the uprising of 1573 led by Matija Gubec, and the Gubec Linden, or Gupčeva lipa, is a famous old tree associated with that story. Dišeća Starina Ethno Village, the Burnjak dam and retention basin, and the Rudolf Perešin Memorial Park round out the area’s attractions. Together with the castle they make a varied day, mixing history, rural life and nature.

Respect the rules that apply in a protected area, stay on paths and take litter home. The estate is one of Croatia’s lesser-known heritage sites, and it suits walkers, cyclists, history and architecture lovers, and anyone who enjoys finding quiet places in the Zagorje hills. As opening arrangements for the castle itself may change, check locally before going.