Kastav

Sister cities

• Gradisca d'Isonzo

History

The history of Kastav dates back to prehistoric times, which is borne out by numerous archaeological finds. A valuable archaeological site is the Illyrian necropolis found in the Mišinci karst valley at the foot of the town. It is where the Iapodes, one of the Illyrian tribes, buried their deceased. Pieces of jewellery, buttons and needle pins were also found. It is not known for sure how Kastav gained its name. Some claim the name to be derived from the Celtic word kast (rock, and others claim it to be derived from the Latin word castellum (fort, castle). Valuable monuments that have been preserved witness the medieval liveliness of the Kastav area. Among them are the town's Kaštel, the Municipal Loggia, the Volta (arched doorway), The Parish Church of Saint Jelena Križarica, Lokvina square, the remains of the Crekvina and the Church of the Holy Trinity and a number of ornaments embedded in the nucleus of the town. Writings in various books witness the town's rich history. Kastav is mentioned in all of the important sources that deal with the history of Croatia, as well as in those that deal with the history of region part of Europe. A 22 December 1939 decision as part of agrarian reforms by Ban Šubašić to confiscate the forest property in Kastav and surroundings of the Thurn and Taxis family, Kálmán Ghyczy and Nikola Petrović resulted in a legal dispute known as the Thurn and Taxis Affair, in part by the relative status of the family and the area's proximity to the Italian border.