City Park with Castle

The park around the castle in Murska Sobota is the largest green space in the main town of Prekmurje, in the far northeast of Slovenia. The grounds cover several hectares and were laid out in the manner of an English landscape garden, with open lawns, groups of mature trees, winding paths and a lake. It is one of the best-preserved castle parks in this part of the country and the favourite place for locals to stroll, jog and spend a Sunday afternoon.

At its centre stands Murska Sobota Castle, a Renaissance building that dates from the sixteenth century, with later changes. The long arcaded courtyard, stone window frames and painted decoration give it a distinctive look, and the rooms hold collections of the Pomurje Museum, which covers the region's archaeology, history, ethnology and art. The castle is associated with several noble families who owned it in turn, among them the Hungarian Széchy and Szapáry families, reflecting the long years in which Prekmurje belonged to the Kingdom of Hungary. The Hungarian influence is still visible in names, food and the local dialect.

The park itself mixes old and new. Besides the trees and the water, it has a playground for children and stone markers placed in the late twentieth century as part of a landscape-art project. Paths lead out to other parts of the town, including the long green walking and cycling routes around Murska Sobota. In summer the park is a venue for concerts, festivals and community events, and on warm evenings it fills with families and walkers.

Nearby are the other sights of Murska Sobota: the Evangelical Church, the Fazanerija, a wooded park originally used as a pheasantry, the Rakičan Mansion on the edge of town, and the modern Paviljon EXPANO, a space for art and events. The town is known for the Prekmurje food tradition, with dishes such as bograč, a paprika stew, and Prekmurska gibanica, a layered pastry, and the area around the castle has cafes where you can try them.

The park and castle suit families, walkers, history lovers and anyone passing through northeastern Slovenia. It is a good place to stretch your legs on a road trip between the Pannonian spa towns and the Austrian and Hungarian borders. Allow an hour for the park and another to visit the museum. Check museum hours locally, since they vary between seasons.