How Castle Jurjevec in Lekenik Became a Luxury Tourist Destination

At first glance, the municipality of Lekenik is a quiet little place that does not attract much attention from tourists. Located in the Sisak-Moslavina County, between Sisak and Velika Gorica, it stands out for its natural diversity and historical heritage, and is also known as the home of the SOS Children’s Village, but not as a tourist destination.

Despite this, guests from all over the world are arriving in Lekenik, from England and Germany to America and distant Asia. Large companies and organizations, both domestic and foreign, are also coming to enjoy the aristocratic ambiance and offerings of the former estate of the noble family Thurn und Taxis, now the luxurious boutique hotel Castle Jurjevec, which is slowly but surely establishing itself as a leading destination for luxury tourism on the continent.

Aristocratic in a Modern Way

The decade-long revitalization of the neglected Castle Jurjevec, led by owner Željko Dorotić, an experienced hotelier, is considered by many to be the most successful revitalization of cultural heritage funded by private means in the Republic of Croatia. However, just as the Castle Jurjevec hotel was given new life, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, preventing the castle-hotel from breathing new life for several years.

The impetus for the entire story was brought in by 28-year-old Tomislav Goleš Babić, to whom Dorotić entrusted the management of the hotel’s business development, and numerous ideas were born during their joint walks in the castle’s park.

– I started with creating a brand. What kind of luxury do we offer our guests? The kind that nobles and aristocrats once enjoyed while spending their holidays on their estates far, yet close to the city hustle. Here, I devised our message and the concept of ‘Aristocratic Way of Relaxation’. Guests of Castle Jurjevec truly have the opportunity to experience a holiday in the manner of former aristocrats, in a castle surrounded by greenery, with top-notch gastronomy, luxurious accommodation, and hedonistic amenities such as an indoor heated pool, jacuzzi, and Finnish sauna – emphasizes Tomislav.

Unique Conference Room

– No one believed us, but in just one year we achieved tremendous success and continue to grow. Due to extremely high interest, this year we opened a conference room in an indigenous Turopolje house from 1826 located in the castle’s park. It was not easy for us; unfortunately, this area does not exist on the tourist map, even though we are only about thirty minutes from Zagreb – explains Goleš Babić.

However, luxury and historical heritage today must keep pace with technological excellence, especially when it comes to business events. The most modern infrastructure, optimized high-speed network, and stable internet in all hotel areas are provided by Telemach, the digital partner of Castle Jurjevec.

Culture and Business Tourism

In an era when destinations offering added value are sought, Castle Jurjevec becomes an example of how cultural heritage can be a driver of business tourism development. The decade-long renovation of the castle is the largest revitalization of cultural heritage put to commercial use, funded by private means.

– Our model is the only successful variant to give new life to abandoned and forgotten properties and to ensure that these same properties become and remain self-sustainable. This also raises the visibility and image of the entire offering of the location in which they are found. Everyone benefits, from local authorities and castle staff to local households whose products are offered to guests and visitors – concludes Goleš.

Text created in collaboration with Telemach.