Oršić Castle in Gornja Stubica

Oršić Castle is a baroque manor in Gornja Stubica, in Krapina-Zagorje County, at the heart of Croatia's Zagorje region. The building was raised in 1756 for the Oršić noble family on the site of an earlier medieval stronghold, remnants of which are still visible in the inner courtyard. Today the castle houses the Museum of Peasant Revolts (Muzej seljačkih buna) and ranks among the region's most significant historical landmarks.

What is the history behind the castle?

The Oršić family held the estate until 1924, when its last members left the property. The building retains the baroque layout typical of Zagorje manors, and its interior includes a chapel with original illusionistic frescoes attributed to master painter Anton Lerhinger. The chapel now hosts a permanent exhibition, "Sacred Art of Hrvatsko Zagorje," presenting the region's religious heritage.

The castle earned a lasting place in Croatian history because of events that unfolded more than four centuries ago. It was near Gornja Stubica that the great peasant revolt of 1573 broke out, led by Matija Gubec (c. 1548 – 15 February 1573), one of the most recognized folk heroes of Croatia and Slovenia. To mark the revolt's 400th anniversary, the castle was turned into a museum dedicated to those events.

What will you see on a visit?

The permanent exhibition, opened in 2002, guides visitors through life in feudal Zagorje — covering the history, culture and everyday routines of the era in which the uprising took place. It portrays both the living conditions of serfs and the structure of noble power, offering a rounded picture of 16th-century rural Croatia.

On the hillside right next to the castle, overlooking the Stubica valley, stands the monumental Monument to the Peasant Revolt by sculptor Antun Augustinčić. Its centerpiece is a 6.5-meter figure of Matija Gubec, flanked by two symmetrical wings — each 20 meters long and 7.5 meters high — covered in bronze reliefs depicting more than three hundred figures from the uprising. The museum and monument were ceremonially opened on 14 October 1973, on the 400th anniversary of the revolt.

How to get there and when to visit?

Gornja Stubica lies in Krapina-Zagorje County, a region known for gentle vineyard hills and numerous noble manors, making it an easy day-trip destination from Zagreb. Combining a visit to the castle with the nearby monument typically takes one to two hours. Daytime visits are recommended, when views over the Stubica valley from the monument's terrace are clearest and the museum interiors — including the baroque chapel — show best in natural light.

Frequently asked questions

How does this Oršić Castle differ from the other castle of the same name in Croatia? The manor in Gornja Stubica is a different building from Oršić Castle in Gornja Bistra. The one in Gornja Stubica is closely tied to the 1573 peasant revolt and houses the Museum of Peasant Revolts.

What is the building's history? It was built in 1756 as a residence for the Oršić family, on the site of an earlier medieval stronghold. The family used it until 1924.

What can visitors see inside? A permanent exhibition on life in feudal Zagorje (opened in 2002) and a baroque chapel with frescoes attributed to Anton Lerhinger, displaying the region's sacred art.

Why is there a large monument next to the castle? It is the Monument to the Peasant Revolt by sculptor Antun Augustinčić, unveiled in 1973 for the 400th anniversary of Matija Gubec's uprising — featuring his 6.5-meter figure and bronze reliefs with more than three hundred figures.