CASTELLUM ZELEMERY
1578
MANOR HOUSE
NITRIANSKA BLATNICA
NATIONAL CULTURAL MONUMENT
HISTORY
At the beginning of the 15th century, the fortified CASTELLUM or FORTALITIUM was owned by the nobles of Ludaníce /Ludanyi/ within the territory of Nitrianska Blatnica, that time known under the name SARFIA.
The present-day Renaissance manor house was built after 1569 and before 1578 by LADISLAV st. ZELEMÉRY (László IV. Zeleméry). To commemorate the builder, we call the manor house "Castellum Zelemery".
PROJECTS
An application for a subsidy for preparatory work for the restoration of the manor house has been granted by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic in 2021, in the amount of 9000,- Euro. The application for subsidy in 2022 was rejected by the same organization.
An application for the subsidy by Norvegian Funds in coooperation with the Youth Orchestra Harmonia in 2020 was rejected.
THE FUTURE
The manor house, after its restoration, is intended to be open partially to the public, in several ways, reflecting mostly culture. The projects will be opened for non/profit purposes only. The building should serve culture, art, science, education, minorities. In an accessible form, it should focus on educating the younger generations. Help us.
ABOUT THE MANOR HOUSE
Many people, visiting the manor house, are shocked, and deservedly, offended by the current state of this unique historical building and national cultural monument. When I first visited the building in 2008, I remember the encounter as if it happened today: I was standing inside of the manor house, on the ground floor in one room, looking up to the open skies - there were no ceilings on the first and second floor, with missing roof which had collapsed a few years before my visit over the entire northern tract of the manor. The same year, my father, myself, with the support of the mayor of the village initiated the construction of a new roof. And we succeeded to restore the roof and the statics of the building. The worse was avoided - because we covered the manor house again, all building was stabilized and fortunately, no immediate further destruction threatened. I am very proud of this - maybe we saved one beautiful, almost 500 years old building full of history, from its full destruction.
So, the manor house was stabilized in 2008, due to the new roof. But a massive destruction was made before my arrival - I am so sad, that I could not come earlier. Many parts of the building are irreversibly gone - plasters, windows, many beautiful renaissance ceilings are lost for ever.
On a positive note - dozens of renaissance ceilings in the rooms have been preserved in their original condition and are basically in good condition to this day. Also renaissance doors, windows, and one gem - the original fireplace with a cartouche, in which is the inscription of 1578. And at the entrance, at the very top of the risalit, one can notice the inscription "FESTINA LENTE", which means "hurry up slowly". Perhaps this is the fate of the restoration of this manor house. You better hurry up slowly, but with a pure heart.