TRG MLADENACA 7 – “THE REGISTRY OFFICE BUILDING”
The two-story palace on Trg Mladenaca was built near the end of his life by nobleman and county head Feliks Parčetić (1830–1889). He was granted nobility in recognition of his efforts to improve relations between Hungarians and Serbs, as well as for his contributions to the urbanization of Novi Sad and the development of education. He was last mentioned in historical records in 1888, during the defense of the city from flooding.
Toward the end of the 19th century, the palace was briefly owned by the Flau family, and at the beginning of the 20th century, it was purchased by Dr. Armin Kosović, a well-known dentist, president of the Jewish Community, and public figure. He thoroughly renovated the building—installing plumbing, building bathrooms, and modernizing heating systems.
After World War I, high maintenance costs led to the sale of the palace. In 1947, the state confiscated the property and assigned it to the City People’s Committee. Today, it houses the city’s Registry Office.
The main façade, with nine window axes, is accentuated by a central risalit. On the ground floor, there is a monumental carriage entrance, and on the upper floor, a massive balcony supported by five consoles.
The windows are semicircular and set within decorative frames, while those on the upper floor feature Baroque volute pediments. The balusters on the balcony railing are also found on the window parapets, creating a strong horizontal visual line.
The risalit is crowned by a low attic with a diamond-patterned frieze and a cartouche bearing a noble coat of arms.
A notable detail is the central console of the balcony, sculpted in the form of a bent figure of an old man wearing a shepherd’s hat.
The interior features a spacious hall with a three-flight staircase, an ornamental wrought iron railing, and massive columns made to imitate marble.
The upper floor was originally designed as a single residence, with formal salons and a series of rooms in the courtyard wings. The walls and ceilings were richly decorated with motifs of angels, lion masks, vegetal ornaments, and friezes.
During restoration works in the 1990s, painted compositions with angels were discovered, some of which have since been restored and partially relocated.
The palace is a lavish example of mature historicism. With its courtyard wings and tall masonry–iron fence, it once formed a closed courtyard.
The name of the original architect is unknown; builder Anton Tikmajer is likely mentioned only in connection with the early 20th-century renovations carried out by Dr. Kosović.
The realisation of this site was supported by the Administration for Culture of the City of Novi Sad
The sources and materials of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of the City of Novi Sad were used for the realization of this website
The Old Core of Novi Sad was declared a cultural asset, by the decision on establishing it as a spatial cultural-historical unit – 05 no. 633-151/2008 of January 17, 2008, “Sl. gazette of the Republic of Serbia” no. 07/2008.
