Complex of castles on Saint Andrew's Hill
| Complex of castles on Saint Andrew's Hill | |
|---|---|
| Name as inscribed on the ARCHO Heritage List | |
 Jan's palace | |
| Location | Warta, Nikolia |
| Type | Cultural |
| ARCHO subregion | Mederano |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2000 |
Complex of castles on Saint Andrew's Hill is a complex of three castles and several additional objects located on the Saint Andrew's Hill, about 20 kilometers northwest from the Nikolian city of Warta. The complex has been built in the period between 1882 and 1903 for the Nikolian royal family. The complex has been inscribed in the List of ARCHO sites in 2000.
Nowadays, the complex is open to public when members of the royal family are not present and the entry fee is 25 NKD. Jan's castle is mostly used by the Crown Prince, while the remaining two are used for receptions of foreign officials and their accommodation.
Jan's castle
Jan's castle (Serbian: Јанова палата; Mazurian: Zamek Jana) is the largest and the main castle of the complex. It is situated on the northern side of the hill, 3km from the main road from Warta. Its architectural style is a romantically inspired blend Neo-Renaissance and Gothic Revival. Courtyard facades have allegorical hand-painted murals and ornate fachwerk similar to that seen in northern Triglav architecture. Interior decoration is mostly Baroque influenced, with heavy carved woods and exquisite fabrics. Jan's castle has a 3,200-square-metre (34,000 sq ft) floor plan with over 170 rooms, many with dedicated themes from world cultures, similar to many Nikolian palaces. Themes vary by function (offices, libraries, armories, art galleries). All the rooms are lavishly furnished and decorated to the slightest detail. The castle has extensive art collection including statues, paintings, furniture, arms and armor, gold, silver, stained glass, ivory, fine china, tapestries, and rugs collected from all over the world. Its armor and arms collection count as many as 4,000 individual pieces, collected in a period over 4 centuries and originating from all continents of Astyria, from swords to hunting rifles. The castle's garden hosts numerous statues, most notably of the creator of this complex, Emperor Milan I of Nikolia. The gardens also host fountains, urns, stairways, guarding lions, marble paths, and other decorative pieces.
Domek Myśliwski
Domek Myśliwski - Hunter's Lodge in English is the smallest castle in the complex. It is located 500m west from the Jan's castle, overviewing the northwest side of the Saint Andrew's Hill. The total floor area of the estate is around 3,000 square meters. The castle has been built in an unique mix of Baroque and Byzantine architecture and its most prominent feature is the main hall. The hall is about 50 sqare meters in area, its walls and ceiling is painted in Byzantine style and it contains portraits of several Nikolian nobles and monarchs. The castle is mainly used as a meeting place for state visits, but when there are no such happenings, castle usually holds temporary art exhibitions and it's a common tourist place as the castle has horses with carriages.
Margarita's Court
Margarita's Court (Polish: Pałac Margarita) is a palace located about 1km east from Jan's castle. The building was finished in 1891 and was intended for Emperor Milan I's wife, Margarita. After the death of both Margarita and Milan I, the palace was used for accommodation of foreign officials during their stay in Nikolia. The building is well equipped for such operations and has as many as five guest rooms. The palace is also frequently used by the members of the royal family for rest and hunting, and during their absence, the palace is open to public as a museum. The building, together with Jan's castle is known for its unique Art Nouveau style, with Byzantine and Celtic influences. The palace has several meeting halls, working chambers, and a "golden room" where many golden decorations are displayed.
