INFORMATION ABOUT "NOVI DVORI":
The Novi dvori in Zaprešic, a small town situated some 17 kilometres west of Zagreb in Hrvatsko Zagorje region, are a historic complex that last year saw the launch of the first phase of its renovation. The palace was once the residence of Croatia’s well known ban (viceroy), Josip Jelacic. Josip Jelacic bought them in 1851. from the Erdödy's, and kept them until 1934., when they were donated to the Croats. In 1855., Jelacic built a neogothical chapel of St. Josip. When his 9-month old daughter, Ana, suddenly passed away, a mausoleum was added to the chapel. It later served as the final resting place for Josip (1859.) and his brother, Antun (1875.). Sometime after 1945., the chapel and the mausoleum were desecrated.
In 1991., the chapel was renovated, so the remains were temporary moved to Mirogoj cemetery, and in 1992., they were returned. The family tomb was built by scupltor I. Franz in 1884., by H. Bollé's blueprints.
Novi Dvori are composed of: castle, St. Josip chapel, Jelacic family tomb, park, orchard, housing and agricultural buildings, vegetable garden and a park/forest. The round building, called "vršilnica" is the only and the oldest object of that particular type in Croatia, and it dates from 17th century. Today's "Matija Skurjeni" museum used to be a 3-floored crop storeroom, and was turned into a museum in 1987. It contains an permanent exhibition of Matija Skurjeni's "naive" art aswell as a collection of photographs.
