Bela II Castle

Bela II Castle is a Baroque castle built in the mid-17th century. It is not known who built it. It is located next to the older Bela I Castle. Both castles are mentioned as early as 1648, so Bela II must have been built before that time. The most famous owner of Bela II was the Illyrian and Croatian revivalist, Baron Metel Ožegović. During his time, the most significant figures of Croatian political and cultural life gathered in Bela.

Metel Ožegović advocated for the Croatian language, held important political positions, and always acted to protect Croatian interests and defend political independence. He founded a public reading room in Varaždin in 1838 and a school in the neighboring Radovan. He acquired the baronial title in 1858 and bought the Bela estate with two castles and a forest. He was buried in the small church of Mother of God near the castles.

After World War II, Ivan Ožegović sold Bela II Castle to the municipality of Novi Marof in 1958, and the municipality handed over the castle to the army for the camping of pre-military youth.

The castle has been partially restored and is privately owned. Bela I and Bela II Castles, along with the chapel and farm building, represent a unique example of a preserved cultural landscape.