Question 1

What is the history of Samobor Castle?

Accepted Answer

Samobor Castle began as a 13th-century stone fortress built between 1260 and 1264 by supporters of Ottokar II of Bohemia during his war with Stephen V of Hungary. Croatian-Hungarian forces under the duke of Okić soon retook it. It later passed through royal, noble and aristocratic hands, was expanded in the 16th–18th centuries, and became a ruin after its last residents left at the end of the 18th century.

Question 2

What is inside Samobor Castle?

Accepted Answer

Inside Samobor Castle are the remains of a semicircular tower containing the Gothic chapel of St. Ana, and fragments of a southern three-storey house. The house had Tuscan columned porches and a richly equipped interior. Most upper floors and roofs are missing, while exposed floor levels, stair openings and parts of the courtyard remain.

Question 3

Why was Samobor Castle built, and what was it used for?

Accepted Answer

Samobor Castle was built as a stone fortress above important medieval routes and the market town of Samobor. Its original purpose was fortification, but extensions through the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries formed a larger courtyard and residential buildings. The changes eventually transformed it from a fortress into a Baroque countryside castle.

Question 4

Where is Samobor Castle?

Accepted Answer

Samobor Castle is on Tepec hill above Samobor, above Vugrinščak creek. It stands only a ten-minute walk from the town centre and lies in the north-western corner of the Sava valley. The castle is associated with the town of Samobor in the administrative territorial entity of Samobor.

Question 5

When was Samobor Castle built?

Accepted Answer

Samobor Castle was built in the 13th century, with the first fortress raised between 1260 and 1264. The site record gives 1300 as the first-raised year, which also places it in the 13th-century building phase described for the fortress. It was later enlarged and rebuilt through the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

Question 6

Was Samobor Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Accepted Answer

Samobor Castle was attacked during the conflict between Ottokar II of Bohemia and Stephen V of Hungary. Croatian-Hungarian forces under the duke of Okić soon retook the castle after it had been erected by Ottokar’s supporters. The supplied history does not give a date for this assault beyond the 1260–1264 building period.

Question 7

Which family or clan held Samobor Castle?

Accepted Answer

The Babonić family were Samobor Castle’s first known owners. The Counts of Celje held it during the 15th century, and the Frankopan family possessed it from the beginning of the 16th century. The Counts of Erdödy-Kulmer were the last owners actually to live in the castle.

Question 8

What did Samobor Castle look like in its prime?

Accepted Answer

At its height, Samobor Castle was an irregular, indented stone complex of three linked parts around an elongated trapezoidal courtyard. Pale grey stone walls, broad curtain walls, ruined towers, a high southeastern guard tower and a northern pentagonal tower shaped its silhouette. A semicircular chapel tower, wall-walk and battlements were also part of the complex.

Question 9

Is Samobor Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Accepted Answer

Samobor Castle is a ruin, although substantial curtain walls, towers and the chapel of St. Ana survive. Most upper floors and roofs are missing, and several towers remain only partly standing. A restoration project exists, but only the chapel walls had been renovated so far; the work used fallen castle stone, cement and slaked lime.

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