March 7, 2013

0543 CROATIA (Krapina-Zagorje) - Burg - Castle of Veliki Tabor (UNESCO WHS - Tentative List)


Located in the northwestern part of Hrvatsko zagorje province, known for many aristocratic castles, the Veliki Tabor castle dates from the 12th century, but it gained the present appearance in the 15th or 16th century. Most of it was built by the noble family Rattkay, originating from northern Hungary, in whose ownership it remained till 1793, when Josip Ivan Krstitelj died without an heir. Its name originates from the term tabor which was used to represent war camp, i.e. fortifications that were used as protection against Turkish invasion.

The castle consists of a narrow core which constitutes of a central pentagonal turret, the oldest part of the building, a masonry ring with four semicircular towers that surround it, and an outer defensive wall with pertaining building structure. The building originally consisted of ground floor (wine cellar) and two upper floors. Through the center of the tower there is a funnel, leaning on which are fireplaces and a tile stove along both upper floors. Later was added a third floor, serving as a granary at first, and as a housing later on. A medieval toilet was also preserved inside the northern wall of the second floor, which is a rare finding of this type in situ.

The castle chapel on the first floor contains the skull of Veronika of Desinić, killed by the mighty count Hermann II of Celje, who disagreed with the love between her and his younger son Frederick. The legend said that her dead body was sealed inside a wall that connects the pentagonal tower with the castle’s entrance, and even today, especially during long winter nights, when wind blows, can be heard the silent cries of poor Veronika.

In 2005 the site was submitted, under the name Burg - Castle of Veliki Tabor, on the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

About the stamps
The first stamp belongs to a set which is part of the large definitive series named Croatian Ethnographic Heritage. This set, designed by Orsat Franković and Ivana Vučić (after a photography by Ivo Pervan), and issued on September 30, 2008, depicts motifs of folk costumes, and contains the following five stamps:
Sunja (0,1 HRK) - it's on this postcard
Bistra (0,2 HRK)
Bizovac (0,5 HRK)
Ravni (1 HRK)
Pag (10 HRK)

The second stamp, Olympic Games - London 2012 (3,1 HRK), designed by Dean Roksandić, was issued on July 27, 2012.

References
Veliki Tabor - Medieval Wall
Croatian Ethnographic Heritage - Hrvatska pošta official website
Olympic Games - London 2012 - Hrvatska pošta official website


sender: Vladimir Klešćic (direct swap)
sent from Samobor (Zagreb County / Croatia), on 17.12.2012
photo: Tješimir Marić

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