Galloping Zobnatica - Reconstruction of Kastel hotel to improve Backa's tourist offer

(Kastel)

The agricultural and tourist complex Zobnatica is widely famous for its horse farm, whose horses once ruled the hippodromes of former Yugoslavia. Every year, horse and buggy parades, a show jumping competition and trotting races gather tens of thousands of visitors at the Zobnatica equestrian event. As of April 2012, the tourist complex in the vicinity of Backa Topola is definitely going to host even larger number of guests. However, horses are not the main reason for this. In addition to 100 thoroughbred and half-bred horses, there is much more Zobnatica can be proud of, and the cultural and tourist development of this part of Vojvodina has recently been pushed forward with the renovation of a famous castle in this town.

Reconstruction of Kastel castle, which is now a hotel, took 70 business days. The castle was ceremoniously opened in late April this year. In this way, Zobnatica got new facilities and improved capacities. Aside from a quality accommodation, guests on this estate in Vojvodina will now have a chance to experience a series of recreational and cultural activities offered by the complex in Zobnatica.

Full reconstruction

The building of Kastel castle was built by Landlord Djula Terelei back in 1882. Today, it is one of 28 castles in Vojvodina that have been put under the protection of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Institute.

This castle, which spans an area of 1,170 square meters, has been completely reconstructed over the last six months - from the foundations to the rooftop.

- The hotel reconstruction commenced on 12 October 2011 and ended in early February this year. New foundations were laid underneath the existing ones in order to make the building more stable. There is now an additional floor with a tower serving as an observation deck. The rear balcony facing the lake got a new meaning, while facade and roof are renovated in the style that was popular at the time this facility was built - says Andrija Raicevic, the director of Zobnatica company, which was acquired in 2008 by New Company, the owner of Belgrade-based IN hotel.

This company invested over EUR 800,000 in the hotel reconstruction, which was carried out by Port-Express from Backa Topola.

As Raicevic points out, the hotel still has three stars, which it also had before the reconstruction, but it is expected to become a four-star hotel now.

A dose of hedonism

The hotel comprises 20 rooms, that is, 16 double rooms, three single rooms and one suite. Aside from offering a quality hotel accommodation, Kastel also takes pride in its cuisine, which includes traditional Hungarian dishes and local specialties. Since everything here revolves around the nature and healthy life, the food prepared at the hotel restaurant also comes from farms and fields in Zobnatica.

The hotel guests now have a couple of new facilities at their disposal - sauna and bowling alley, and they can also spend a quality time at the lake, horse farm, museum of horse breeding or art gallery.

Horses and relaxation

Zobnatica is a place for those who love nature, peace and quite, and particularly horses. The horse farm in this town exists for more than 200 years and today has over 100 horses. There is a statue of Jadran, the farm's most famous horse, at the very entrance to the farm. Traditionally, the Zobnatica equestrian event is held on the second weekend of every September. This two-day event starts with horse and buggy parades and attracts as many as few tens of thousands of visitors every year.

- Guests can also try their hand at recreational fishing at our lake spanning 240 hectares. It is abundant with carp, catfish, perch, Prussian carp, pike, and its water is of the second category. In addition to fishing and bathing, guests can also spend time walking or running on trails alongside the lake. There is also a football pitch on the estate.

The best way for hunters to seize the day is to go hunting for game because aside from thoroughbred horses, this estate is also home to bucks, pheasants and wild boars.

New tourist center

According to Raicevic, Zobnatica was visited by over 11,000 guests in 2011, mainly students on excursions. Thanks to the reconstruction of the castle, the accommodation capacity is boosted, which will directly cause the number of guests on the Vojvodina estate to grow.

Stay at a double room at the hotel costs RSD 5,360 for two persons, a night in a single room is charged RSD 2,680, whereas the price of an one-night stay at the suite is RSD 3,180 per person.

Zobnatica is situated in the municipality of Backa Topola, in the North Backa region, some 25 kilometers south of Subotica. It is 75 km away from Novi Sad and 145 km away from Belgrade.

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