Banski dvori was built in the
baroque classicism style at the end of the 18th century on the site of the
Petar Zrinski's house. Since the properties of the
Zrinski family were seized in 1671 after unsuccessful
Magnate conspiracy, Petar Zrinski's house on
St. Mark's Square was sold to the Čikulini family, later to Count Petar Troilo Sermage and finally Kulmer family. When the old Zrinski house (at the time already known as the
Sermage-Kulmer palace) was damaged by fire, Ivan Kulmer renovated it and expanded it to the neighboring buildings. In 1801, he began building a representative palace but ended up selling unfinished project to the Government of the
Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia in 1808 for 75,000 forints. By the beginning of 1809, the palace was renovated and upgraded so Ban, Royal State Archives, highest courts, and the Croatian Parliament moved in. In 1837, the north complex, the northern wing of the present-day Banski dvori, was purchased from the Rauch family, and after the expansion of the west and north wings, the Ban and the judiciary moved to that part of the palace. On September 10, 1850, during the tenure of Ban
Josip Jelačić, who lived and died in the palace, the telegraph wire was installed in the palace so Zagreb become connected to the Vienna-based power grid. On April 28, 1850, Deputy Ban Mirko Lentulaj sent the first Croatian telegraph ("Telegraph is in order") to Ban Jelačić, who was at the time in the official state visit to Vienna. The last major upgrading and expansion of the northwest part of the complex was carried out in 1882, at the end of Ban
Ivan Mažuranić's tenure. Thereafter, there were no major interventions on Banski dvori which would change the volume and spatial relations of the palace. At the beginning of the Ban
Nikola Tomašić's tenure (1910–1912), Banski dvori was decorated and renovated. During the time of the so-called
Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945), Banski dvori was used as the office of
Ante Pavelić and the headquarters of the
Government of the Independent State of Croatia. Between 2001 and 2002, two inner
courtyards where fully reconstructed and decorated. Next major renovation occurred in summer of 2008. The whole facade was restored, dormant carpentry replaced, two meeting rooms and the so-called
Blue salon renovated, and lobby and sanitary node redecorated. The project was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Croatian Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. In summer of 2017, floors with oak parquet and ceiling
stuccos and
rosette where refurbished. Various carpentry, locksmith and electrical engineering (lighting, information systems, TV installations and recording, sound and simultaneous translation, etc.) works were also carried out. Air conditioning and ventilation systems were changed as well. In addition, The
Ban Jelačić Hall, in which the government sessions are held, has also been thoroughly restored. ==Gallery==