The castle of the Hungarian family Esterhazy will become a five star hotel and will be designed for elite tourism. Local authorities are planning to offer investors a concession of 30 years with the possibility of extention.

The castle is in poor condition and requires a thorough and expensive reconstruction. It was in the ownership of the food company Belje, which donated it to the Borough of Darda last year. It is one of the most valuable and oldest, protected cultural monuments in this part of Croatia. It was built in 1749 in a harmonious combination of baroque and classicism, and additionally features the unique surrounding gardens and the immediate vicinity of three beautiful lakes. The central lake is called Đola and features a swimming and recreation center.

Along with the castle there is a baroque parish church of St. John the Baptist, which during the golden times served as the palace chapel.

The Borough of Darda is located in the southwestern part of Baranja, along with the Boroughs Bilje and Čeminac. It is located about ten kilometers from Osijek. Darda village was first mentioned at the time of the Roman Empire under the name of Tarda. Situated a few kilometers away from Mursa, today’s Osijek, it was on the route of many merchants who came from the area of present-day Russia and Central and Northern Europe. The first written documents mentioning Darda date from 1410, while it was in the possession of Ladislav Sigetti.

The Touris Board of the Osijek-Baranja County
www.tzosbarzup.hr

The Tourist Board of Baranja
www.tzbaranje.hr