CULTURAL HERITAGE FOR SALE: Sokolac Castle is going to auction, the state is not interested in buying it!

The starting price at which the Sokolac Castle of the Dunđerski family, along with surrounding buildings and the estate, will be auctioned is 325,000 euros. The state is not interested in buying it.

On Wednesday (December 24) at noon, the auction of Sokolac Castle in Novi Bečej will begin at a starting price of 38,131,622.00 dinars (325,000 euros).

Sokolac was a castle of the Dunđerski family and is registered as a property of cultural significance.

What is for sale

In addition to the castle itself, the administrative building, a family residential building, the caretaker’s apartment, a former gas station, a large machine workshop building, as well as the park, forest and agricultural land, and equipment and furniture are being sold.

The Dunđerski Castle and all of the above are offered for sale as the bankruptcy estate of BD AGRO AD Dobanovci in bankruptcy.

The state has no interest

At the session of the Municipal Assembly of Novi Bečej, it was heard that the state has so far not shown interest in taking over this facility, and that the municipality, bearing in mind the condition of the castle and the high costs that such ownership would entail, has no realistic interest in becoming its owner.

The Municipality of Bečej has initiated the procedure to purchase three works of art that are also for sale: “Portrait of Lenka Dunđerski” from 1892, as well as two paintings “Flowers in a Vase” by author Dragutin Inkiostri from 1912. The Municipality of Novi Bečej will purchase these paintings using the right of first refusal, so that they remain in public ownership and available to citizens.

Emilija’s dowry

“Sokolac Castle near Novi Bečej was received as a dowry by Emilija Ivanović, née Dunđerski, the daughter of Lazar Dunđerski,” wrote Robert Čoban, the initiator of the “Castles of Serbia, protection of cultural heritage” project, on his Instagram account regarding the news of the sale.

Robert Čoban further reminds that “after the war, the estate with a beautiful park was nationalized, and after several unsuccessful privatizations, the castle is currently under the jurisdiction of a bankruptcy trustee.”

Bowling alley

According to him, “the castle is in solid condition, tiled stoves are preserved, as well as some period furniture and two attractions: the room of Emilija, sister of Lenka Dunđerski, with Lenka’s portrait painted by Uroš Predić.” He also notes that in the basement is a 100-year-old bowling alley, a true rarity in these regions.

At the mentioned session of the Municipal Assembly of Novi Bečej, satisfaction was expressed that there are parties interested in this castle.

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