Varaždin is a city of the north of the Croatia, chief town of the Comitat de Varaždin (županija). To inspiration baroque, the architecture of its buildings testifies to the Austro-Hungarian heritage of the 18th century.

Geography

General data

The city is without the western northern extremity of the Croatia, close to the borders with the Slovenia and the Hungary. Its coordinates are: 46°18' 30 of latitude and 16°20' 16 of longitude.

History

The city of Garestine is mentioned for the first time in 1181: the king ((Bleated III of Hungary|Bleated III]] quotes the sources close to Varaždinske Toplice in an official document. The king Andrija II him agreement, in 1209, the statute of royal city free, with privilege of strengthened place; it becomes the main city of the north of the kingdom. Tatars destroyed the city at the time of their raids (1242) but it was rebuilt. An imposing fortress, of which there remains elements, was also built with, which made it possible the town of never again not be taken. In front of the Turkish threat, the citadel was rebuilt and reinforced (Domenico dell' Allio and the famous hereditary master masons - mastri comanici) in the years 1550, while being tinted of Renaissance style.

The city becomes, from, a cultural and economic hearth. In 1756, the Ban Franjo Nadasdy chooses Varaždin like official residence, and in 1767, Varaždin accommodates the Sabor and acted Croatian as capital during a few years. But the April 25th 1776, two thirds of the cities disappear in a fire and the council turns over to Zagreb definitively. Nevertheless the city is not given up and is very quickly rebuilt. In the middle of, the ramparts were cut down and one built the Croatian National theater under the plan of the famous architect Viennese Hermann Helmer.

Varaždin was saved miraculeusement during the Second world war and the Guerre of Croatia (1991-1995).

Current (2007) the mayor of the city east Ivan Čehok (Left Croatian social-liberal - HSLS).

Economy

The economic main activity of the city is textile industry (Varteks factories).

Culture and tourism

The city plays its part of cultural and artistic capital nowadays, in spite of a mitigated economy.

The musical tradition (music school since 1828, patronage for musical teaching related to pedagogy) is as anchored in the city as the passion of the Baroque art, which is used as framework with the principal demonstrations. Famous the " Barokne večeri" (Evenings Baroques of Fall) offer a permanent festival in the cathedral and other churches, the palates and the castles around.

Varaždin was saved miraculeusement by the various conflicts during; it remains a prototype of the Italian baroque (about single in Europe). Among the principal monuments, it a:

• the Roman Thermal baths of Aquæ Isae were restored there at the beginning of; traditional style and modern thermal baths (vestiges of temple, walls, hydraulic system).
• Castle (museum), initially fortified town, then residential palate. It is located at the center of a park and it is connected to the city which was constituted in the south by a Pont-levis. The current building () produced by Domenico dell' Allio, white with the red roofs and with its Renaissance style, does not manage to resemble a fortress.
• the town hall baroque was built with (end) is one of oldest of Europe but it was the subject of many rebuildings.
• the Croatian National theater was carried out at the end of in a traditional style Viennese.
• the city also counts several Palates baroques and rococo constituting a single unit characteristic of the city. Most representative are (alphabetical order): Jupanie (balconies, columns), Pataćić (1764), Pataćić-Bužan (1756), Pataćić-Puttar, Zakmardy (fine), Drašnović (fine), Herzler.
• refined middle-class Houses; the House Ritz (1540); Coffee Korzo Art déco.
• Cathedral of the Assumption (medium), old church Jesuit, become cathedral with the formation of the diocese (1957).
• Saint Nicolas's Day Church, employers' church of Romance origin; begun again in the medium and the end of in style baroque, whose frontage and the Gothic bell-tower are of origin. The interior decoration is also baroque; a central fresco testimony of the city, painted with X.

Gallery

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