Kastélysorsok Bánátban és Bácskában
Castle fates in Banat and Bácska

Author(s): Karolina Kovács Nádi, Csilla Vázsonyi
Subject(s): Architecture, Visual Arts, History of Art
Published by: Pécsi Tudományegyetem Művészeti Kar Művészettörténet Tanszék
Summary/Abstract: The study presents the monument protection activities of the Institute for Hungarian Culture in Vojvodina, focusing especially on the preservation of castles and architectural heritage in the regions of Banat and Bačka. The authors explain that the Institute cooperates with Serbian regional heritage authorities while also documenting and promoting monuments important to the Hungarian community in Vojvodina. Particular attention is devoted to the medieval church ruin of Arača, which has become a symbolic monument of Hungarian cultural identity in the region. The paper also introduces the “Art and Monument Protection” program, which combines artistic activities, research, public performances, and heritage awareness campaigns to draw attention to endangered historic buildings. Another major initiative discussed is the BANATUR cross-border tourism project, which documented castles and manor houses throughout Banat and resulted in publications and digital databases about the region’s architectural heritage. The study outlines the historical development of castles in Banat and Bačka from the eighteenth century onward, emphasizing the role of Armenian, Hungarian, Serbian, and German noble families. Several detailed case studies are presented, including the Marczibányi–Lederer Castle in Čoka, the Rohonczy Castle on Biserno Ostrvo, the Karátsonyi Castle in Beodra, and the Kárász Castle in Horgoš. The authors demonstrate how land reforms after the First World War, socialist nationalization after the Second World War, and decades of neglect led to the deterioration or destruction of many aristocratic residences. While some castles have successfully been adapted into museums, schools, hotels, or cultural institutions, many others remain abandoned, structurally damaged, or threatened by uncertain ownership conditions. The study concludes that preserving the multicultural architectural heritage of Vojvodina requires coordinated cooperation between experts, cultural institutions, local communities, and international heritage initiatives.

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