Foto: Zoran Škrbić
Nestled in the elite and exclusive Dedinje district of the Serbian capital, Belgrade, at 53 Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević Boulevard, stands a magnificent 7,000-square-metre palace. Funded by the Zepter couple and set on their own estate, this impressive structure is located within their garden, an artistic and museum-like haven in its own right.
The Madlena Palace of Arts is far more than a mausoleum, a monument, or a castle shrouded in cold, dignified silence. Given its vibrant life, innovative ideas, and ambitious goals, it’s no surprise that it is consistently garners attention in the cultural sphere.
Five years in the making, the Madlena Palace of Arts celebrated its grand opening on September 19, 2022, attracting a significant crowd from the public and cultural spheres.
– Just as our Villa Trianon in Monte Carlo holds a special place in our hearts, so too has the Madlena Palace of Arts, into which I’ve poured countless hours of work, mental energy, knowledge, skills, and aesthetic vision, become a cherished endeavour—says Madlena Zepter, a businesswoman and a true patron of the arts.
Stretching across ,000 square metres and four resplendent floors, this breathtaking, multi-functional cultural haven is a one-of-a-kind temple where creativity, devotion, and love come alive in every corner.
– It is our legacy for the future, and its opening marked Philip’s and my 50th marriage anniversary, says Madlena and continues:
– Bringing the Madlena Palace of Arts to life took over five years, a journey I personally oversaw from the initial concept to its final realization. This building, alongside the Madlenianum Opera & Theatre and the Zepter Museum, stands as the crowning achievement of my work so far. I envisioned it as a temple of culture—open to all forms of artistic expression, both cutting-edge and timeless, while honouring classic traditions. The programming at the Palace of Arts embodies a synthesis of thought-provoking, original, and provocative works that are as exciting and aesthetically breathtaking as they are a reflection of my own tastes, my vision for a cultural legacy, and my enduring commitment to the arts.
Rooted in my own world, I pause and look around—filled with strength even in my weariness, with hope even in my doubt—driven by a constant search for meaning. Perhaps my urge to „give” and to “build” stems from a quiet rebellion sparked by the understanding that immense material power often walks hand in hand with spiritual emptiness. I yearn to reverse that flow, to transform the material into something spiritual and creative, to lift the “ordinary” into the “beautiful,” to fuse ethics with aesthetics. Power, authority, and material wealth are transitory. My vow has always been—and will always remain—to build palaces of the spirit, says Madlena Zepter.
Within the Palace of Arts, in the halls of its Museum of Antiquities, a remarkably valuable permanent collection of period furniture and fine artworks is on display.
– This collection is one I’ve carefully built over decades, striving to keep alive the legacy of deep appreciation and preservation—to honour the magnificence of art from eras when the human spirit embraced beauty, harmony, and refinement, reaching the very heights of craftmanship, perfection, and noble creativity.
Pieces from various eras and diverse origins—China, Japan, France, England, Italy, Portugal, and more—have been thoughtfully arranged to reflect Madlena’s distinctive aesthetics and sense of harmony, resulting in entirely new stylistic compositions.
– The collection on display not only showcases the refinement of each piece but also reflects a pursuit of deeper meaning in how each item connects and integrates with the others, elevating the interior with a unique tone, harmony, and a timeless touch. Each antique holds its own story, a testament to that Goethean “elective affinity”—a harmony by choice, not chance.
Part of this collection was brought over from the Villa Trianon in Monaco as well as from other private Zepter family properties. Three books have been published about the collection, detailing its background, origins, and cultural context. The first, The Collection of Madlena Zepter (2022) by French author Thomas Lapras, is also available in a Croatian edition.
The Palace of Arts opened with an exhibition by acclaimed Italian artist Carla Tolomeo, president of the ArtZept International Award jury. Her show, titled Chairs-Sculptures, delves into the evolution of the chair from a utilitarian tool to a cultural artefact, a totem of creativity. This unique display is thematically intertwined with the museum’s rich collection of period furniture—a series of lavish, authentic sets crafted in the distinctive styles of their respective eras.
– Speaking at the opening of the Madlena Palace of Arts, the renowned artist Carla Tolomeo praised our vision of patronage, remarking that “its greatness lies in how it expands on Maria Theresa’s ancient dream of a Europe united by the written word, art, and music, as a stand against the decadence and the decline into vulgarity.” — Madlena Zepter recalls and adds:
– Carla Tolomeo also noted that “our acquaintance deepened through meetings at Madame Zepter’s theatre, dinners at Villa Trianon, and in the scenic designs I’m creating for the Madlenianum—a symbol of goodness and beauty in the fight against mediocrity, malice, and war.”
Mrs Zepter firmly believes that culture is the cornerstone of progress and a pathway to a better life:
– Uncultured people suffocate in the darkness of ignorance, unable to grasp the answers to questions that plague their minds. They walk backwards, and this path leads them into the abyss of inhumanity and collective misfortune. Culture makes us better and reins in our base impulses. The culture of one nation belongs to all other nations, and vice versa. Of course, my efforts to contribute to general culture are of limited effect. But everyone should do what they can in these uncertain times in which we live.
The Madlena Palace of Art is already thriving as a vibrant home for all forms of art. It hosts everything from exhibitions, chamber concerts, and performances to film screenings (with a cinema hall equipped for premium sound and image quality), book launches, and prestigious award ceremonies, all held in thoughtfully designed spaces.
Within the Palace of Arts, you’ll find an array of intimate stages for smaller theatrical performances—monodramas, duodramas—a concert hall for close-up musical experiences, elegant exhibition spaces, the Museum of Antiquities, a panoramic terrace, an orangery with rare plants, a luxurious spa complex, and a sprawling garden—all crafted to offer the highest level of possibility for cultural and artistic expression.
– On the second floor of the Palace, next to the rooms where valuable antiques and art pieces are also exhibited, there are three rooms that are particularly dear to me. One of these is a library with 5,000 carefully selected titles spanning fine arts, music, encyclopaedias, classical literature, and outstanding contemporary works. The library has been fully digitized, with books organized into around fifty categories by topic for easy browsing. Various search filters allow easy navigation by genre, author, title, publisher, year of publications, keywords, and even custom tags, so every search can be tailored to specific interests—explains Mrs Zepter.
And concludes:
– Embracing both the classical spirit and the spirit of the avant-garde, the Madlena Palace of Arts is a space open not only to the creative potential of young artists but also serves as a bridge between the Serbian audience and the most vital expressions of the modern world’s cultural spirit. Here, we encounter groundbreaking works, artistic ranges, and visionary talents that, though new to us, are celebrated and acclaimed worldwide.
In this sense, the Madlena Palace of Arts is gradually becoming a home for the aspirations we once nurtured on a much smaller scale at Villa Trianon…
Translation by: Tea Alfirov Kožul
