SECRETS OF FERENC RAJHL’S PALACE
Famous architect Ferenc Rajhl showed how much he loved his mistress by making her secret chambers right next to the family home, in the center of Subotica.Her identity has not been publicly revealed until today, but according to some unofficial claims, she was a beautiful, blonde woman from Subotica who has deserved the attention and love of the artist for years.
Although it was just a figment of imagination and noon conversations between the lazy curious ladies of Subotica, the fact is that the second building was purposely made with secret passages to the rooms where the young lady, who won Ferenc’s heart, stayed.Although very little is known about this side building, the story of its creation is so intriguing that it served as the inspiration for the author of the exhibition “Amuse me”, the famous Belgrade artist, Ivana Ivković. The event took place in March 2018 in the premises of the Rajhl family home.
As it is known, this palace, which is located in the heart of town, belonged to Ferenc Rajhl, an architect from Subotica. It was built for two years, from 1902 to 1904, and only the highest quality materials available at that time were used in its construction. For example, ceramics arrived from the factory “Žolnai” from Pecs, and the mosaics were made of Murano glass from Italy.
The Rajhl’s Palace is located across from the main railway station in Subotica, and everyone who comes to Subotica by train, the first thing they see is this magnificent building. The purpose of this palace was for family purposes, more precisely, the architect Reichl lived in it with his wife Ilona and daughters for several years until they went bankrupt, so they had to leave the family hearth.
Nothing less intersting is life story of this great architect. He was born in Apatin in 1895. Rajhl finished his studies in Budapest, and art “took him under its wing” in every sense of the word. He has lived in Subotica since 1895, where also designed the Public Casino (today’s City Library), the Gymnasium and the building of the Austro-Hungarian Bank, which are symbols of this city.
Family palace and project bureau, in which, in addition to knowledge, talent, he weaved love, designed in 1904, which is why this building is different from his other projects. After the bankruptcy, he moved several times, to Szeged and then to Budapest, where he died at the age of 91. His palace changed many owners.
Today, this building intended to the Contemporary Gallery of Subotica, where artists love to display their works and which especially makes them inspired to constantly create something new, just as the famous Subotica artist did.
Tamara Roksandić
Photographs: wikimedia commons
