Raichle Palace

About this place

Raichle Palace is an Art Nouveau gem in Subotica, standing near the railway station with its colour and playful ornament. The architect Ferenc Raichle designed it as his family home and office. It is listed as a cultural monument of great importance and today houses a gallery of contemporary art. Raichle designed it in 1903 and finished it in 1904, when the city belonged to Austria-Hungary. The city authorities rejected his first plan for lacking grandeur, so he revised it. He chose a site near the station so that the building would be among the first things seen by anyone arriving by rail. Trained in Budapest, he had settled in Subotica after marrying the daughter of a city senator. The palace is known above all for its heart motif, repeated in the recessed entrance, the wrought iron gate and the balcony railings. It uses a wide mix of materials, including Zsolnay ceramics from Hungary, Murano mosaic, wrought iron and carved wood. Two Tuscan marble columns flank the entrance and hold up a closed loggia on the first floor. It is 400 m in a straight line from City Hall, so pass it when you arrive from the station or during your walk. Allow time for the details up close, the best being around the entrance. If the gallery is open, step inside to see the rooms, but check first, since hours may change with exhibitions.