GJURO PREJAC - DESINIĆ’S MULTITALENTED ARTIST

This exhibition presents to the public Gjuro Prejac (1870-1936), a prominent artist born in Desinić. During four decades of music and theatre, Gjuro Prejac created numerous works that enriched the artistic and cultural heritage of Zagreb, Hrvatsko Zagorje and the whole of Croatia. He spent almost his entire working life at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, where he worked as an actor, director, composer, writer, singer, conductor, translator, set designer and choreographer. In his rich career, he managed to rise to the highest positions and for two years, from 1919 to 1921, he was the tenant and intendant of the Croatian National Theatre in Osijek. He was a talented and versatile artist who left behind an exceptionally numerous and diverse legacy. Although today he is primarily remembered as the author of the popular songs Vu plavem trnaci [In the Blue Orchard], Peharček moj [My Little Drinking Cup] and Pozdrav Zagorju [Greetings to Zagorje], his contribution to Croatian art is much greater. Shortly after his death, he began to fall into oblivion, which is unfortunately often the case with many deserving personalities. In the last few decades, significant efforts have been made to correct this injustice, and the exhibition "Gjuro Prejac - Desinić’s Multitalented Artist" is also an attempt to promote his life and work to the wider public. This year marks the 155th anniversary of the artist's birth, and next year (2026) will mark the 90th anniversary of his death, with this exhibition, Veliki Tabor Castle has appropriately joined in marking these two anniversaries.

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Legend of Veronika of Desinić - Intangible cultural heritage

The exhibition Legend of Veronika Desinićka - an intangible cultural asset marks the 10th anniversary of the entry of the oral tradition about Veronika Desinićka into the Register of Cultural Properties of the Republic of Croatia on the list of protected cultural properties.

The exhibition provides the historical context on which the oral tradition about Veronika and Fridrik Celje is partly based, but also the presentation of numerous works and works of art that were created under the influence of this love story in the period from the 15th to the 21st century.

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Guardians of Ethnographic Heritage in Veliki Tabor

The exhibition "Guardians of Ethnographic Heritage in Veliki Tabor" presents the Ethnographic Collection of the Veliki Tabor Castle, which comprises items of traditional vilage households and farmsteads from Hrvatsko Zagorje, particulary from Desinić and Pregrada areas. At present, the Ethnographic Collection of the Veliki Tabor Castle comprises 512 inventoried objects and the exhibition presents a selection of 133 exhibits dating from the late 19th and the 20th century. Pottery, household items, and traditional farmstead objects constitute the majority of the collection. The ceramic items were produced on a foot-operated pottery wheel characteristic of the Pannonian area.

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The Kavanagh-Ballyane Family from Mali Tabor

This exhibition features the family of Baron Kavanagh-Ballyane, once the masters of castle Mali Tabor in Hum na Sutli. The Kavanagh-Ballyane family originates from Ireland. Their ancestry shows relations with Queen Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. They acquired ownership of Mali Tabor estate through matrilineal succession. Simon Henry Kavanagh (1784 – 1830) married Leopoldina Moscon, the granddaughter of Ana Rattkay, thus acquiring the right to half of the estate.

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Veliki Tabor in the light of discovery

The exhibition was opened when Dvor Veliki Tabor was opened for the public in 2007, following conservation work and the reconstruction of the Late Gothic castle. The exhibition presents the research and

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