Kerestinec – Castle, Parish Church and Lake

Kerestinec offers several clearly distinct points of interest to consider when planning your trip: Erdödy Castle, the parish church with its artworks, and the lake of the same name. You can decide whether architecture and local history, sacred art, or time by the water should be the focus of your trip.

Lake Kerestinec: Fishing and leisure by the shore

Lake Kerestinec is suitable for recreational and sport fishing. Fish species found there include carp, grass carp, pike, zander and catfish. Day and annual fishing permits are available at the fishing lodge, and fishing competitions take place throughout the year. The shores of the lakes in Sveta Nedelja, including those of Lake Kerestinec, are suitable for relaxation, cycling, walking and family outings. Local sport fishing clubs in Sveta Nedelja take care of keeping the lakes clean and well maintained, as well as stocking them with fish; Lake Kerestinec is among these waters. You can therefore choose between fishing at the lake and other leisure activities along its shores as different focuses for your trip.

Erdödy Castle and its former grounds

Erdödy Castle is located in the immediate vicinity of Lake Kerestinec. The Renaissance-Baroque castle was built by the Erdödy family of counts. It stands in the lowlands at the edge of the settlement, by the Srebrnjak and Korenjak streams. Historical sources also refer to Srebrnjak as Bernica. The former grounds included a moat that was once filled with water from nearby streams. A chain bridge led to the northern entrance. This distinguishes the castle’s setting from individual features of its former design: the course of the stream describes the landscape, while the moat and bridge formed part of the historic approach.

Art and the parish grounds

The parish church of Kerestinec combines a dated altar artwork with a series of designed windows. The church houses the altar fresco “Kerestinečko uskrsnuće,” created by artist Marijan Jakubin in 2003. The church also has ten stained-glass windows. They were designed by Željka Bašlin and made by academic sculptor Jure Žaja. The parish grounds feature Stations of the Cross: the town of Sveta Nedelja laid out the paths, while individual worshippers donated the stations. A Lourdes chapel was also built next to a hall for 40 to 50 people. The fresco, windows and Stations of the Cross offer different ways to explore Kerestinec’s sacred art and religious heritage.

Pontius monument: Discovery, original and replica

Another cultural and historical connection leads back to Roman times. The stone tombstone of the Roman official “Pontius,” dating from the 3rd century AD, was found near Kerestinec in the late 19th century. The original has been kept at the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb since 1896; a replica is on display in the centre of Kerestinec. The monument is believed to have been carved by a local master. It was erected on the Roman road near Kerestinec that connected Emona (Ljubljana) with Siscia (Sisak). The monument’s discovery, the present location of the original and the display of the replica are separate aspects to keep in mind when planning your trip.

Water-based leisure and cultural history offer different ways to focus your trip: at the lake, the emphasis is on fishing and leisure along the shores; the castle, parish church and Pontius monument offer historical and sacred themes. Find hotels in Kerestinec to suit the focus of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Martinski, Frančići, Rakitje, Novaki, Veli Golji, Sveta Nedelja, Kraj Drage, Veli Turini

For the broader travel overview: Općina Sveta Nedelja.