Gornja Radgona Castle, Gornja Radgona, Slovenia

Gornja Radgona Castle was built sometime between 1147 and 1182, and served as an important fortress on the border of Styria with Hungary. The town of Gornja Radgona grew up at the base of the hill upon which the castle is built. The castle is mentioned in 1265 as having 40 subservient villages with 355 farms.

In the late 15th century it was the property of one Hans von Stutenberg, who joined Andreas Baumkircher in a rebellion against Emperor Frederick III. When the rebellion failed, the emperor seized the castle. In 1479 it was occupied by troops loyal to Matthias Corvinus who kept control of the castle until Corvinus' death in 1490. Subsequently it was owned by the emperor but leased to different castellans for a long time. In the late 16th century, it underwent a thorough reconstruction.

In 1623 Emperor Ferdinand II sold the castle to Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg. It remained within the Eggenberg family until 1717, when it befell Leopold, count of Herberstein through marriage. In 1789, he sold it to the count of Wurmbrand and it then stayed in the same family until 1914. In 1931, Slovenian authorities took over the castle itself; it has since served a number of purposes. It was damaged in 1945 during World War II but later repaired. It is today rented out and used as a private residence.

References:

Wikipedia

Church of St Donatus

The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.

Jeffrey Dickey (2 years ago)
Fantastic! Must see.

Martin J.A.M. Meeuwis (3 years ago)
Interesting place to visit. A small tour from the owner himself.

Silvia Dilworth (4 years ago)
Climbing all those stairs is definitely worth it. Its a selfguided tour!! The castle and the views are great!!

Mitja Derenda (5 years ago)
Good

Thoors World (6 years ago)
Nice quiet and calm location., well renovated...

Gornja Radgona Castle

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Church of St Donatus