Betnava Mansion

Maribor, Slovenia

Betnava estate was first mentioned in 1319, under the name Wintenaw. By the 16th century, it had grown into a fortified and moated renaissance manor.

It passed through the hands of numerous owners, including the noble families of Herberstein, Khiessl, Auersperg, Ursini-Rosenberg, Szekely, Brandis in von der Dur. During their tenure, the counts Herberstein transformed it into a Protestant way-station, complete with chapel and cemetery. In 1863, Betnava became the summer residence of the bishops of Maribor and Lavant, having already been leased by the see for several decades.

In 1784, the mansion was rebuilt in late-baroque Florentine style, after the fashion of Vienna at the time. The west wing contains a chapel dedicated to the Holy Cross, while other notable features include a carved staircase leading to the main hall, itself decorated with late-baroque trompe l'oeil ceiling frescoes painted by an unknown artist c. 1780.

The main facade faces a 19th-century English country park.

The mansion's current owner is the archbishpric of Maribor, which was in 2011 cited by the Agency for the Protection of Cultural Heritage for failure to properly maintain the site and safeguard structures uncovered in an archeological dig.

References:

Comments

Your name



Marker
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors

Details

Founded: 1784
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Slovenia

Rating

3.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Ieva (3 years ago)
It was nice place, but now it is abandoned:((
Katja Leitgeb (3 years ago)
Betnava castle is a place with enormous potential. On a beautiful summer evening the property will look hauntingly beautiful, however, it is really hard not to notice the neglect of the place. The property deserves better. This property deserves a chance. Hopefully, we will see some positive change in the future. Until then, it is worth a visit but don't expect to get inside or that the park next to the mansion will be well-maintained.
Matej (4 years ago)
Nice bee grocery shop nerby with very friendly owner. Recommended
Boštjan Prelc (5 years ago)
Wonderful castle, sadly it's abandoned and turning into ruins
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

St. Martin Rotunda

The Chapel of St. Martin is the only completely preserved Romanesque building in Vyšehrad and one of the oldest in Prague. In was built around 1100 in the eastern part of the fortified outer ward. Between 1100 and 1300, the Rotrunda was surrounded by a cemetery. The building survived the Hussite Wars and was used as the municipal prison of the Town of the Vyšehrad Hill.

During the Thirty Years’ War, it was used as gunpowder storage, from 1700 to 1750, it was renovated and reconsecrated. In 1784, the chapel was closed passed to the military management which kept using it as a warehouseand a cannon-amunition manufacturing facility. In 1841, it was meant to be demolished to give way to the construction of a new road through Vyšehrad. Eventually, only the original western entrance was walled up and replaced with a new one in the sountren side. The dilapidating Rotunda subsequently served as a shelter for the poor.