History of the Nature Park
Kopački rit was first managed after the Belje manor had been founded and granted by Leopold I, the Hungarian-Croatian king in 1699. From then on, prince Eugene of Savoy managed the manor until 1784. Afterwards, it was under the lease of the Habsburg family up to 1918. From 1920 this area was declared as the king's, Aleksandar Karađorđević's, reserve while from 1941-1944, under the Hungarian kingdom, it was managed by the Hungarian National Museum that founded a biological station called “Albertina.” The “Jelen” hunting and forest economy managed Kopački rit after World War II up to 1959 and from 1967 the area became a Managed Natural Reserve. From 1997, Kopački rit Nature Park Management Office manages the Nature Park.
Tikveš Castle Complex
Tikveš Castle Complex is located in the central picturesque and flat landscape of Baranja, as part of Kopački rit Nature Park with its romantic country-like architecture. The area consists of forests and parks in which the following residential facilities are situated: new castle with annex, old castle, a small sacral building (chapel), and complementary buildings with a restaurant. The history of Tikveš is connected with the management of natural resources in this area, proved by historical documents from 1697 when the emperor Leopold I granted the manor to prince Eugene of Savoy for his achieved merits. The Tikveš Castle Complex itself dates from the 19th century, and the Teschen parentage of the Habsburg family built it. During history, the castles used to be a residential hunting centre known throughout Europe and worldwide, but were exclusively reserved for the guests of the court and for the rulers.
The Complex became the property of the Serbo-Croat and Slovene Kingdom after the trans-national demarcation in Versailles, and later the property of the Yugoslavian Kingdom. In 1920, the Ministry of Finances declared the Complex a state hunting ground of Belje state property. From 1941-1944, prince Albrecht Habsburg managed the Complex. After World War II, the Complex was nationalized and used exclusively as a residential hunting centre. The former Yugoslavian president, Josip Broz Tito, used to hunt here often with his guests from abroad. However, the Complex was completely robbed and the infrastructure destroyed during the occupation of Baranja. From 1991, it is the property of the Republic of Croatia. Since 1999, the Government of the Republic of Croatia decided to assign the usage and management of the Complex to Kopački rit Nature Park Management Office. Tikveš Castle Complex is a protected monument according to the Settlement of the Conservation Department from the year 2000.
New Castle
The New Castle is the central residential building of Tikveš Castle Complex, which was built in a romantic historicism style in the second half of the 19th century. Regarding the whole complex, the castle is situated in the centre as an independent building. The foundations were made of brickwork as well as the cap walls and transverse walls. All of the frontal facades were arranged with façade bricks that were additionally colored in red. The corners, door, and window transoms of the building are emphasized with plaster, replicating roughly carved stone. The castle consists of a basement, ground floor, first floor and an attic. A professional guide can take you through the whole complex and explain the history and purpose of each building in detail if you make reservations in advance. Visits can be arranged every day.
