Banski dvori

Banski dvori

Banski dvori (pronounced [bâːnskiː dvɔ̌ːri], Ban's Court) is the name of the historical building on the west side of St. Mark's Square in Zagreb, Croatia. It is the historical official residence of the Croatian Bans (viceroys). Currently, this building is occupied by the Croatian Government.

History

The Banski dvori is a long, two-story baroque building that was built by ban Ignaz Gyulai in first half of 19th century.

The building was the residence of Croatian bans from 1809 until 1918, hence the name banski dvori which means "palace of the ban". In this period, the building also housed the Tabula Banalis and later the Royal Court Table.

Ban Josip Jelačić lived in Banski dvori. After Ban Josip Jelačić the most famous square in Zagreb, Ban Jelačić Square, is named.

In time of World War II in Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945) it served as office of Poglavnik Ante Pavelić and it was called Poglavnikovi dvori (Poglavnik's Residence).

During SFR Yugoslavia (1945–1991) it was the official residence of the Presidency of Socialist Republic of Croatia.

In May 1990 it became the official residence of Croatian government.

On October 7, 1991 Banski dvori were damaged in an air strike attributed to Yugoslav People's Army air to ground missiles shot at the building in an attempt to hit Franjo Tuđman, the newly elected president of Croatia, Stipe Mesić, the president of Presidency of Yugoslavia, and Ante Marković, the Yugoslav prime-minister, yet all of them were lucky to survive. The day after that, the Croatian Parliament declared independence, and this date is currently commemorated as a public holiday in Croatia.

In 1992, the President of Croatia moved its residence to the Presidential Palace, Zagreb (at Pantovčak).

Gallery

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  Honor guard in front of Banski dvori, welcoming Angela Merkel and Ivo Sanader.

• Press room.jpg

  Press room.

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  Cabinet room.

Sources

• 195 godina banskih dvora (Croatian)