Bellai
| Belaj | |
|---|---|
 Belaj
Location of Belaj in Croatia
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| Coordinates: 45°16′16″N 14°06′37″E / 45.27111°N 14.11028°ECoordinates: 45°16′16″N 14°06′37″E / 45.27111°N 14.11028°E | |
| Country | Croatia |
| County | Istria |
| Municipality | Cerovlje |
| Elevation | 210 m (690 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 16 |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 52434 |
| Website | www.dvoracbelaj.com |
Belaj (Kozljak, Italian: Bellai) is a small village and Baroque Castle in Istria County, Croatia, in the municipality of Cerovlje. Castle Belaj is a registered Historical Heritage. Castle Belaj historically has numerous hectares of vineyard. In 2017 Belaj Castle opens to the public. In 2011, the population of the village is 16. In the vicinity of the village is another castle Posert.
It is located in the north-eastern part of Istria, on a road connecting Paz and Šušnjevica, 3 kilometres (2 mi) to the south east of Paz, and 4.7 kilometres (2.9 mi) north west of Šušnjevica, in the middle of a vineyard. It is 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) east from the municipality center Cerovlje. In 2017 Belaj Castle has functioning degustation room, authentic restaurant, delicatessen shop, wine production, wine cellar and first floor of the central building of the estate open for the guests.
The castle is on a small hill, 210 metres (690 ft) above sea level along the local road. The castle was mentioned in 1367 as Bray in a document by Aquileia patriarch in which was given away for one year to the nobleman and vassal Dujam of St. Vito from Rijeka. After the Uskok War (1615–17) in which was devastated castel St. Martin (Posert), previous center of Belaj estate, Daniel Barbo in the vicinity built this castle as a new residence. It was in the possession of his descendants until 1668 when along Paz, Čepić, and Kožljak was sold to Johann Weikhard from Auersperg noble family. All this castles and estates Johann united in a single manor Wachsenstein (Kožljak), and the center from the medieval castle Kožljak by which was named, was transferred to Belaj. Johann heirs reconstructed the castle in the Baroque style to rustic castle in the end of 17th and 18th century. It was in their property until 1945 when the Yugoslav government nationalized it and given to the use of local agricultural cooperative.
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Wikipedia