In the Bitenč Hall at Bled Castle, the exhibition The Legend of Veronika of Desenice will be on display from April 1 to June 12, offering insight into one of the most dramatic yet romantic stories of medieval history.
This is a guest exhibition through which the Institute for Culture Bled and the Museums of Hrvatsko Zagorje continue their successful collaboration.
The Legend of Veronika of Desenice is one of the most well-known oral traditions of Hrvatsko Zagorje. The story of the tragic love between Count Frederick II of Celje and the noblewoman Veronika of nearby Desinić is deeply embedded in the historical memory of the local community. The legend is closely linked to the medieval Veliki Tabor Castle, together forming a unique cultural whole and a dialogue with the past. It is often listed among the hundred most beautiful and significant Croatian legends.
It tells the story of the ill-fated love between Frederick II of Celje, son of the powerful Count Herman II of Celje, and Veronika of Desenice, a noblewoman of lower rank. Their relationship faced strong opposition from Frederick’s father, who disapproved for social and political reasons. According to historical sources, Veronika was accused of witchcraft but was acquitted at trial. Despite this, she died under mysterious circumstances, reportedly in 1428 at Ojstrica Castle, where she had been imprisoned. Historians often associate her death with an order by Herman II to have her drowned.
The exhibition introduces visitors to the historical background of Veronika and Frederick II and explores how their story evolved over centuries from a historical event into a legend. It also presents artistic interpretations, historical sources, and the cultural heritage connected to Veliki Tabor Castle.
In Slovenian historical tradition, the story is primarily associated with the Counts of Celje, who played a significant political role in the late Middle Ages in the territory of present-day Slovenia. On the Croatian side, the narrative is deeply rooted in the oral tradition of Hrvatsko Zagorje. The wider recognition of the story was also shaped by Johann Weikhard von Valvasor, who was the first to record it in his renowned work The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola (1689).
Today, the story of Veronika of Desenice represents a shared cultural heritage, where history, legend, and collective memory intertwine across modern national borders.