Jasminka Najcer Sabljak: REVIEW OF THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE OF SLAVONIAN NOBILITY – THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL TOURISM
Review Article
Jasminka Najcer Sabljak, Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, Croatia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59014/FXXJ2671
Keywords:
Cultural Tourism, Heritage, Nobility, Sustainability
Abstract
The paper examines the heritage of noble families in the three counties of Eastern
Croatia, including castles, manor houses, curies, mausoleums and chapels, which
constitute immovable material cultural heritage and represent an important economic
resource. The aim of the paper is to provide a brief overview of restored,
unrestored, and lost noble complexes, their functions, and their valorization. Communicating
architectural heritage through cultural-historical collections and heritage
interpretation enables a contemporary sustainability concept through cultural tourism.
The largest number of restored cultural heritage sites is in Virovitica-Podravina
County, followed by Vukovar- Srijem County. However, the highest concentration
of noble heritage is found in Osijek-Baranja County, where most sites remain unrestored
and/or outside a museum function. The research indicates that restored noble
properties used as museums and/or sacred spaces represent a significant potential for
cultural tourism, an essential segment of sustainability and heritage utilization aimed
at societal transformation and fostering economic growth. By revitalizing noble properties
and repurposing them, they become centers for promoting cultural heritage
and tourism. Properties repurposed for local community administration (e.g., Donji
Miholjac, Tenja, Špišić Bukovica) demonstrate the inability to publicly communicate
cultural heritage. Examples of revitalized properties housing museum institutions
(e.g., Ilok, Našice, Virovitica, Vukovar) and heritage hotels (e.g., Feričanci, Kapela
Dvor/Lukač, Suhopolje) showcase heritage presentation, contributing to sustainable
economic growth and local community development. In contrast, properties not
used for museum purposes or heritage promotion result in stagnation and/or deterioration
(e.g., Bilje, Čepin, Darda, Erdut, Kneževo, Nuštar, Orahovica, Retfala).
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