Franz Liszt played at the opening of the famous castle in Ecka: The castle is a symbol of Banat

In Vojvodina, a few kilometers from Zrenjanin, is Ecka, a village where anyone who leaves Belgrade on their way to the town formerly known as Becskerek must stop.

A water well reminiscent of a fortress, a castle, churches and busy streets exude the spirit of old times, tranquility and charm of the Vojvodina plain.

Although it is not known for sure how Ecka got its name, there are two legends that are still retold today. In both, the main character is Attila the Scourge of God.

According to one legend, the wife of the ruler of the Hun Empire was called Ecka, so out of great love for his beloved, he named the place where he stopped after her.

According to another legend, Attila's daughter's name was Ecka and she died very young from a fever, while in a camp, so a deeply saddened father gave her name to the whole area in her memory.

What Ecka is certainly most famous for is a castle called Kastel whose owner was the landowner Lazar Lukac from Erdelj.

The castle and the accompanying buildings were built in 1820, and according to some sources, the famous Franz Liszt, then nine years old, played at the opening of the edifice. The opening of the castle built in the English style was also attended by the famous Count Eszterhazy, the richest nobleman in Hungary.

Kastel was the epicenter of the most important events in this part of Banat for a long time.

Close by is a Catholic church dating back to 1864, while the Orthodox church of St. Nicholas, as well as a Romanian church built in the neoclassical style dating back to 1850 can be found in the village itself.

Photo: Ivan Strahinic

(Telegraf.rs)