With Ptuj castle we are dealing with one of rare medi-eval castles where Antiquity firtification continuity is
attested. Even more, at the location old-Slav burial place was found. First explicit mentioning is from between
years 1131 - 1147 when some chronicler mentions fortifications built by archbishop Konrad. Among others Konrad
newly built early-medieval or even Anique castle - fortification in Ptuj (Bethowe antiguum extitit castrum,
sed dirutum multis temporibus, atque ab illo, sicut hodie cernitur, reedificatum est.). Next time the castle
is mentioned is in 1235 when knight of Ptuj, Herman is mentioned (dominus Hermannus miles de Betov in castro
domini Hermanni). Few other mentionings in some way related to Ptuj are from the same century. In 1247
»small« castle is mentioned (castrum minus) which means that also »big« castle had to exist (»castrum maius«).
Again in 1260 castle is mentioned and castellan's fee (pro custodia castri) and its amount was 200 marks.
In anonymous chronicles from around 1376 two castles of Ptuj are mentioned (beide burg und stet). In 1433
castle lords Hartnid and Friderik mentions Salzburg feudal estates in Ptuj, castle, castle tower and everything on
castle hill and 12 guard posts around it. Last medi-eval mentioning of Ptuj castle from 1487 is found in journal
of Paolo Santonino, companion of visitor from Aquilea. Castle is here designated as strong and unvanquishable.
Ptuj castle was in middle ages very important as a center of feudal estate of Salzburg church in Podravje and
also as of worthy of lords of Ptuj and castle's strategic position. This is confirmed even by a small information
that Ptuj castle was along with Stubenberg and Wildon the only castle in contemporary Styria Which was obligated
to ensure country defence of 200 armed men.
Lords of Ptuj are feudal owners of Salzburg's castle of Ptuj. First among them, Friderik I - Friderich de Bethowe,
is as witness of archbishop of Salzburg Konrad I. in Breže mentioned already in 1137 (until 1161). In 1161 (mentioned until
1178) is for the first time mentioned Friderik II. - Friderich de Pettove and third Friderik is mentioned for the
first time in 1180 (until 1220) - Friderich puer de Petowe. Lords of Ptuj who died out in 1438 are succeeded by count
Johan noble Schaunberg. In 1479 the dominion was seized by Hungarians, allies of Salzburg against the emperor and in 1490
it was seized by emperor Maksimiljan who pawned the dominion in 1511 to archbishop. In 1555 the castle was back in provincial
prince's property and next year massive renewal works started on the castle. At the tine of renewal wellknown entrance portal
was constructed, work of italian architect Baldassare Peruzzi. Also other reports of Renaissance reconstructions on the castle
are preserved which also among other witness of construction of supporting wall where the hill collapses. In 1622 provincial
prince sold the castle to lords of Eggenberg and through familial ties became a property of lords of Tannhausen in 1634 and the
last of the family, jesuit Ignac, sold the castle to his order in 1642. When the Jesuit order found itself in financial difficulties
the castle was sold in 1656 to general Walther Lesli baron the noble Balquhane, Scotsman by birth, for sum of 62000 fl. He thoroughly
reconstructed the castle. His descendants owned the castle until 1802 when it became a property of their relatives Dietrichsteins who
remained as owners until 1864. After various inheritance complications widowed countess Terezija noble Herberstein, first born of
last prince of Dietrichstein, bought the castle in 1873 for the amount of 147000 fl. The castle was in possession of Herberstein family
until the end of World War II. Nowadays cultural-historical collection of Regional Museum Ptuj found its place in the castle. In 1999
the castle was pronounced as cultural monument of national importance.
At this point I will state latest findings about castle complex and some explanations forwarded to me by Mr.Mitja V.
On the east part of the hill, on the castle, where stables are, foundations of Romanesque tower were discovered, so western
tower had its counterweight on the east before 17th century when present Leslie tower was built.
In casemates (some of them are still unaccessible) a Romanesque portal was discovered or assumption was confirmed where until 1657
main entrance to inner courtyard was located. Northern tower was also used as prison tower but only after old bergfried was
torn down. Prison cells are still preserved in it.
Regarding findings on west plateau existence of temple of "Jupiter" is assumed (because of discovery of relief with depiction
of Jupiter at the plateau). Definitely a late-Antiquity fortification was located here of which foundations are visible. Regarding
assumption of a church, some apsis(?) was found here, but archaeologists do not wish to confirm nor deny its existence. Also discovered
is early-medieval building for which it is assumed to be old-Slav temple. So called "tournament" for which no historical records
exists that tournaments actually took place here probably got its name because of its appearance.
In the middle-ages inner-ward was located here and a Baroque park in Baroque era. As much as 426 old-Slav graves was found here,
some also from Roman era (probably soldiers). Most interesting among them is grave no.355 as it contained artifacts of gold. In view
of the finds and historical events from known sources this skeleton was determined to be the wife of Slovene prince Kocelj. Very special
finding in this grave was a large golden male ring - Ring of St.Methodius. In 2006 a guide to Ptuj castle: "Museum collections on Ptuj castle"
was issued (2006).
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Literature: |
Stopar, Ivan, Dr.: "Grajske stavbe v vzhodni Sloveniji - I. knjiga (Območje Maribora in Ptuja)", Partizanska knjiga in drugi, Ljubljana, 1990, ISBN /
Kos, Dušan, Dr.: "Vitez in Grad", Založba ZRC, ZRC SAZU, 2005, ISBN 961-6500-82-1
Stopar, Ivan, Dr.: "Gradovi na Slovenskem", Cankarjeva založba, 1987, ISBN 86-361-0280-4
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Contact details: |
Pokrajinski grad Ptuj
Muzejski trg 1
2250 Ptuj
Slovenia
Tel. : ++386 2 787 92 30
Tel. 2 : ++386 2 748 03 50
Fax : ++386 2 787 77 00
E-mail : muzej-ptuj.uprava@siol.net
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Shows and entertainment: |
Gallery from Gothic era to 19th century, cultural-historical collection, collection od old musical instruments,
Knight's hall. Guided tours by prior arrangement in Slovene, English and German language.
For opening hours see: http://www.ptuj-tourism.si/ogledi/grad_ptuj.php?lang=en
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Picturesque narrow street leading towards the castle from south
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Walled Gothic portal?
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Footpath from the south leads to the entrance with Karl's door
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Coat-of-arms is embedded above the entrance
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Near south entrance a group of buildings is located inside defence walls
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Picturesque southern facade of south-east wing in which in 1987 7 walled,
semircularly concluded Romanesque windows with chisled frames were open
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South-eastern wing of palatium is based on Romanesque building
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Famous Peruzzi portal -
masterpiece of Italian architect from 1570; on younger armorial panel in the forefront a coat-of-arms of later owners of
castle Leslies
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View of portal from inside
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Northern entrance to southern inner ward is located near Peruzzi's portal
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Baroque (in older literature is referred to as Renaissance) defence wall which encloses
inner courtyard from east
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View of north entrance portal and northern wall of east auxiliary wing
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Central casle building is imposing, two-storeyed, horseshoe-shaped palatium which
is on its courtyard side equiped with Renaissance arcade corridors
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View of north wing from courtyard
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Castle well is 54 meters deep and is in its origins still Romanesque
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Spiral staircase located in north-west corner of palatium are leading to
the attic (one other spiral staircase is also located in palatium)
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Ground floor of south-eastern wing is arranged into museum of weaponry and battle equipment
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Halberds from 16th and 17th century
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Replication of etched Milan armor (some parts of armors are original
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Last in the lineage of lords of Ptuj, Friderik IX. died in 1438; his tombstone
from red Salzburg marble is embedded in ground floor of south-eastern wing to where it was transferred from devastated
Dominican church
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Museum places
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While visiting museum in first floor we'll pass through Gothic portal without skimmed edges
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Places in ground floor of museum present musical instruments from renaissance and Baroque
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Picturesque Baroque (in older literature referred to as Renaissance) piers on east
side of defence wall tour; guard house is attached on the left
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Northern facade of palatium
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Late-Gothic bastion, isolated from castle core
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Imposing building of multi-storeyed Baroque granary
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Western inner-ward is in its present form manmade plain, so called
»tournament place« ; right next to the tower we can find remains of old basilica in the ground
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Western tower of castle plateau dates to 11th century but we have to allow the possibility
that it is older (older literature dates it to pre-Romanesque era); right to the present day entrance a walled Romanesque portal
can be seen, consisting of a imposing stone blocks
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View of palatium from west
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Defence wall with rectangular turret and circular bastion is located on south
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View towards east of a narrow walled in courtyard with low, very prolongated outbuilding
which is at the end concluded with guard tower
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Iside of auxiliary wing
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View from castle towards south-eastern part of Ptuj
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G. M. Vischer, Ptuj castle, copper engraving from around 1681
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Runk-Ziegler, Ptuj town; detail from colored copper engraving, which was around 1802
published by Stöckl, publisher from Wiena; from collection of vedutas of Styria's provincial archive in Graz
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J. Kuwasseg, view of Ptuj with castle on the hill behind medi-eval settlement,
colored lithography from around 1845, detail (private collection, Graz)
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