Ban Jelačić’s birth house from 1745 being restored
- by croatiaweek
- in News
The birth house of Ban Josip Jelačić (Photo credit: Sadko, Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)
ZAGREB, 14 Sept (Hina) – Zaprešić mayor and MP Željko Turk has visited the Croat community in Vojvodina, announcing further financial support for renovation work on the birth house of Count Josip Jelačić, the Ban (governor) of Croatia (1801-1859) in Petrovaradin, and for the Croat community in Serbia.
Jelačić was born in Petrovaradin which was a part of the Slavonian Military Frontier of the Habsburg monarchy at the time, and which is today part of Vojvodina.
Serving as Ban of Croatia from March 23, 1848, to April 19, 1859, he belonged to the House of Jelačić and was a distinguished military leader.
He is best remembered for his key role in the military campaigns during the Revolutions of 1848 and for his significant contribution to the abolition of serfdom in Croatia.
Ban Jelačić (Ivan Zasche/Public Domain)
“In the past eight months the town donated around €20,000 for the renovation work, and we will continue providing support after a budget revision this year or after a new budget is adopted, with a slightly higher amount,” said Turk, who with his associates visited the Croat community in Serbia, according to the Croatian-language “Hrvatska riječ” paper.
The mayor of Zaprešić and his associates visited the birth house of Count Josip Jelačić in Petrovaradin in Novi Sad, the Church of St. George, and the Tekije shrine, and met with the leadership of the Croatian National Council (HNV) in Subotica.
Famous statue on Zagreb’s main square of Ban Jelačić (M. Gašparović/Zagreb Tourist Board)
HNV Executive Board president Karolina Bašić thanked Turk for the financial support, noting that once the renovation work on Count Jelačić’s house was completed, one would discuss ways to “make this great man a brand and what kind of content we can offer to tourists.”
The birth house of Count Josip Jelačić was built in 1745 and the historical building was transferred to the Croat community for management in October 2020.
The birth house of Ban Josip Jelačić (Photo credit: Sadko, Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Serbian government provided €600,000 for the purchase of the house from a private owner.
It additionally provided €100,000 for the restoration of its exterior and interior, and the restoration work has also been supported by Zaprešić and Osijek-Baranja, Vukovar-Srijem and Virovitica-Podravina counties.
