Lužnica Manor, a baroque edifice from the beginning of the 18th century is located approximately twenty kilometers from Zagreb. This Manor, just like many others, has been occupied by different owners from decade to decade. Its former owner was baron Geize Rauch, and the current owners are the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, who bought the Manor in 1925. The Sisters bought the Manor to house the retired Sisters who had nowhere else to go. Other than that, they have established some other activities in the Manor, such as kindergarten and domestic science classes. Around ten years ago, they founded the Spiritual-Educational Center Mary's Court, which is still operating. Mary's Court Mary's Court may be small, but it surely is a little tourist wonder. The hardworking Sisters have had a geothermal elevator built in the Manor, opened accommodation capacities, and furnished the assembly halls. Their hard work has paid off because the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies honored them with the “Simply the Best” award for a considerable contribution to local tourism. The Manor consists of around eighty strikingly furnished halls and rooms, and is surrounded by beautiful nature. One of the most prominent features of this location is its picturesque scenery that includes an English garden with a lake, groves and long pathways. You can find many benches, tables and arbors where you can relax and meditate in tranquility. However, the most remarkable elements of the scenery may be the gardens that the Sisters tend to daily. You can enjoy the yield of the gardens in the Manor, because all food served there is homegrown.

Many counts and noblemen have been the owners of Novi Dvori throughout history, but you are probably interested in those from the Jelačić family. One of the members of the family, the Croatian ban Josip Jelačić, bought the estate from Count Erdödy in 1851 for a price of 175,000 silver forints. During his stay at Novi Dvori, he poured his heart and soul into the estate, and later gifted Dvori generously to the people of Croatia. In 1855, Jelačić had the neo-Gothic Chapel of St. Joseph built on a meadow next to the Manor. Unfortunately, the Manor soon became a tomb when his nine-month-old daughter Ana suddenly passed. Ban Jelačić himself, along with his brother Antun, was later buried in the same tomb. After the war, in 1945, the Chapel was defiled. Shortly after, the tomb was defiled as well. The Chapel was renovated in February 1991. The preserved and partially renovated components of the estate also contribute to the value of Novi Dvori. The circular threshing facility, built in the 17th century, is the oldest and the only object of that kind in Croatia, and is a World Heritage Site. A former fruit and grain storage, built as a three-story granary, was transformed into a gallery in 1987, and today we know it as the Matija Skurjeni Museum. The Museum hosts the permanent exhibition of works of naïve artist Skurjeni and a historical photography exhibition “Novi Dvori of the Jelačić family.”

Situated in the town park, Erdödy castle is the oldest building in the town. The old citadel was raised by Vice-Roy Matija Gereb by the end of the 15th ct., and since the beginning of the 16th ct. all the way to 1922, the castle was in the possession of the Erdödy family. In the long history, additions to it were built a number of times; this quadrangular court was reinforced by two impressive rounded towers. The inner yard, with an extraordinary acoustics, is adorned by a porch with arcades and Baroque posts. The slab to the left of the entrance was built in 1592 by Croatian Vice-Roy Toma Erdödy, a son of the first owner of Jastrebarsko from 1519 to 1567, Vice-Roy Petar Erdödy. The castle is surrounded by a beautiful English type public garden, today the favorite Jastrebarsko promenade.

Lukavec Castle was built as a line of defense against the Ottomans. It was primarily constructed using wood, but it has been changed and upgraded throughout its history. The Castle's history and beauty are immense, which can be seen from the fact that August Šenoa and Marija Jurić Zagorka wrote about it. Today's version of Lukavec, constructed with concrete, first came into being in the 18th century. Shortly after its reconstruction then, it was used as a prison for murderers and criminals of all sorts. The Castle was also a place of imprisonment of witches called “coprnice”, who were sentenced to death and burned at the stake. At the end of April, shortly before St. George's Day, Lukavec traditionally sparks back into life to observe the festivities by making a large bonfire to symbolically chase winter away and to celebrate the coming of spring. Turopoljsko Jurjevo, celebrated at the end of April, and Perunfest, celebrated at the end of May are the most prominent festivities.

Measuring it against other castles is useless because Samobor Castle is beyond compare. Since 1268 and up until recently, this Castle was in the hands of many different families. It used to bustle with life, but now it is just a wonderful monument that witnesses the ravages of time. Numerous noblemen and kings have ruled Samobor Town throughout history, starting from the Bohemian king Ottokar who had the Castle built in 1268, to the Árpáds, Frankopans, Erdődys, Matthias Corvinus and many other blue-blooded persons. Change of the owners meant change of the Castle itself. In 1902, Old Town became a property of Samobor, bought for 5293 crowns. Since then, there here have been several attempts of its renewal, but none were successful. Maybe that is for the better, because now the magic of the Castle remains intact. The spirit of the time wanders around the Castle, hides between its walls and breezes through the trees. It truly is a place with special energy. Did you know that Jackie Chan nearly died here filming “Armour of God”?