Klenovnik Castle

Klenovnik, Croatia

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Klenovnik Castle in Croatia is the largest castle in the country, first mentioned in the 13th century when King Béla IV of Hungary gave it to the prefect of Varaždin.

The castle evolved from a medieval fortress into a Renaissance-Baroque residence around 1616 under Ban Ivan II Drašković, featuring a grand four-winged structure with approximately 90 rooms and a symbolic 365 windows representing noble status. The Drašković family owned and ruled it for centuries, during which the castle also hosted Croatian Parliament sessions and housed a chapel that served as the family crypt. In the 19th century, financial pressures led Ban Juraj VI Drašković to sell Klenovnik to fund renovations of another family castle, Trakošćan. Later, in the 20th century, the castle was converted into a sanatorium for lung diseases.

Architecturally, Klenovnik is notable for its blend of Renaissance and Baroque styles, intricate stucco work in the chapel, and its association with esoteric symbols linked to the Drašković family. Today, the castle