Castle & fortressFilmed hereCentral Croatia

Trakošćan Castle: the Neo-Gothic manor above its lake

Trakošćan Castle (Dvorac Trakošćan) stands in Varaždin County in northern Croatia, about 12 km north-east of Krapina and close to the Slovenian border. Built in the 13th century as a small watch-fortress, it became a Romantic residence set in an English-style park. With its museum, it is one of the most visited castles in the country and a rewarding detour from Zagreb or Varaždin.

Trakošćan looks like a picture-book castle, and that is partly by design: a Romantic Neo-Gothic makeover in the 19th century turned a neglected medieval watch-fortress into a manor above an artificial lake.

WhereVaraždin County, about 12 km north-east of Krapina and 30 km south-west of Varaždin, northern Croatia

TypeMedieval castle rebuilt as a Neo-Gothic manor, now a museum, with a landscaped park and lake

Best forCastle and history lovers, families, lakeside walks, photography

Getting thereBy road from Krapina (about 12 km) or Varaždin (about 30 km); the castle stands at about 250 m above sea level

The history of Trakošćan Castle

Trakošćan was built in the 13th century as a rather small observation fortress within Croatia's north-western defensive system, watching the road from Ptuj towards the Bednja valley. The name is first recorded in 1334. One legend links it to an ancient fortification called arx Thacorum, while another source points to the knights of Drachenstein; neither is certain. Who owned the castle in its first years is unknown. From the end of the 14th century it belonged to the Counts of Celje, and after their line died out it passed through several hands, among them the army leader Jan Vitovac, Ivaniš Korvin and the Gyulay family, which itself died out in 1566.

The estate then went to the Drašković family, who kept it until 1944. Faced with the spread of firearms and growing Ottoman threats, they strengthened the fortress. The Romanesque core was a living unit, a small fortified yard and a massive high tower; the second generation of the family, Ivan II and Petar, added the western tower, which bears their coat of arms and an inscription. The Great Genealogical Tree of 1668, the oldest picture of the castle, already shows three floors. In the 18th century outbuildings were raised at the foot of the hill and a stone bridge was built over the river Bednja.

In the second half of the 18th century, when manor-building flourished in Hrvatsko Zagorje, Trakošćan was abandoned and quickly fell into disrepair. Around the middle of the 19th century the family rediscovered it in the Romantic spirit of a return to nature and family tradition. In one of the first restoration projects in the country, the castle was rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style, ending five centuries as a fortification. The surroundings became a park laid out after English models, to a plan by Franz Risig, and a dam turned the valley into a large lake.

Later generations of the Drašković family stayed at the castle from time to time until 1944, when they were forced to emigrate to Austria. Soon afterwards the castle was nationalised. A museum with permanent collections opened in 1953, and the castle is now owned by the Republic of Croatia. Because it was left neglected at the end of the Second World War, protective work on the building and its interiors began immediately and has continued since.

Curiosities about Trakošćan Castle

In 2017 the magazine Condé Nast Traveler named Trakošćan among the 12 most beautiful castles in Europe.
The castle's name is the subject of legend: it may come from an ancient fortress called arx Thacorum, or from the knights of Drachenstein.
To pay for the Romantic restoration, Count Drašković sold another family property, Klenovnik Castle.
A large shingle cap once crowned the entrance tower; it was removed in 1961.
The park around the castle follows the model of English landscape gardens, and it is as much a part of the heritage as the building.
With about 40,000 visitors a year, Trakošćan ranks among the most visited castles in Croatia.

Filmed here

Trakošćan Castle on screen

German Wikipedia records that the castle was used as a film set.

Dracula (1973) – The castle served for the exterior shots of this television horror film.

Tours near Trakošćan Castle

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Zagreb - Trakošćan - Varaždin

★ 3 (2 reviews) · 7 h

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Private experience of Rastoke and Plitvice Lakes from Zagreb

★ 5 (143 reviews) · 10 h

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2 hour Private Walking Tour of Zagreb

★ 5 (64 reviews) · 2 h

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Baroque Varaždin and Trakošćan Castle Private Tour from Zagreb

★ 5 (58 reviews) · 9 h

See details ›

Visiting Trakošćan Castle

Inside, the museum recreates rooms from the restoration period and shows a knights' hall with 16th-century armour, a weapons collection, portraits of the Draškovićs and their relatives, a preserved castle kitchen and a library.
At the entrance you cross a drawbridge beneath the entrance tower, which carries the Drašković-Malatinski coat of arms.
In the park, look for the chapel of St John, known locally as Januš, built in 1752 and furnished in late Baroque style.
A path around the lake can be walked in roughly two to three hours. German Wikipedia noted that the lake was drained in 2022 for deepening work, so check its current state before you go.
Check the current opening hours of the museum before you set out.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Trakošćan Castle is

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Photos of Trakošćan Castle

Questions

Where is Trakošćan Castle and how do you get there?

It is in Varaždin County in northern Croatia, about 12 km north-east of Krapina and 30 km south-west of Varaždin, at roughly 250 m above sea level. Most visitors arrive by road.

How old is Trakošćan Castle?

It dates back to the 13th century, and its name is first mentioned in writing in 1334. Its present Neo-Gothic look comes from the restoration of the mid-19th century.

Who owned Trakošćan Castle?

Owners included the Counts of Celje and the Gyulay family. The Drašković family held it from the 16th century until 1944, and today it belongs to the Republic of Croatia.

What can you see inside Trakošćan Castle?

The museum has a knights' hall with 16th-century armour, a weapons collection, family portraits, a preserved kitchen and a library.

Was Dracula filmed at Trakošćan Castle?

According to German Wikipedia, the castle provided the exterior shots for the 1973 television horror film Dracula.

Is there a walk around Trakošćan Castle?

Yes, a path circles the lake below the castle and takes about two to three hours on foot, according to German Wikipedia. Check the current state of the lake first.