Vrbovec

“Kaj su jeli naši stari” (What our elders ate")

Taste the past at a traditional event that has been held for almost 40 years on the last weekend of August. "Kaj su jeli naši stari" is a unique tourist-culinary event and tasting-sales exhibition that attracts more and more visitors, and is held every year at the end of August. Ancient dishes are part of the national identity, and this event allows this tradition to be maintained and old dishes and recipes to gain new fans. Don’t miss to try Vrbovečka pera, the most famous traditional cake of the region, whose recipe is passed down from generation to generation.

„Lovers' park“

If you do not have the opportunity to visit Vrbovec during the event "Kaj su jeli naši stari", do not worry because Vrbovec is a great weekend destination to rejuvenate your body and soul, but also to learn many interesting things. A walk through the city begins in the center with a description of what Vrbovec once looked like and when it was founded. Next, go to the park in the city center, the so-called "Lovers’ park", which houses the statue of Marija Jurić Zagorka, and then continue the walk to St. Vitus Parish Church, which has a pronounced Baroque style, and is mentioned back in 1338.

Lovrečina Castle

A castle with a turbulent history, its today’s appearance was given by remodelling in the neo-baroque style at the end of the 19th century. There used to be a very richly shaped park around it. It was built on the property of the Gregorians, and later changed hands frequently. It is owned by the Sisters of Charity of St.Vinko Paulski, who recently ceded the castle and the estate to the Cenacolo community.

Walking or fishing

In the immediate vicinity of Vrbovec there are two artificial lakes that are a great place for a walk or a Sunday picnic with the family! Lake Bajer is 2 to 4 m deep, while in a quarter of the lake the depth is much higher and ranges up to 12 m. The lake is inhabited by various species of fish such as pike, perch, carp, catfish, bream, sunfish, perch, grass carp therefore feel free to bring rods if you are fishing, and for details about fishing you can contact the Angling club “Amur” which takes care of Bayer lake. There is a beautiful promenade around the lake.

The Church of St.Lawrence

Lovrečka Varoš - the old late Gothic church was destroyed during the Turkish conquests. The current one is from the late Baroque from 1779. The nave is vaulted with a barrel vault, and the sanctuary with a Czech cap, it has a simple and clean, and yet truly baroque facade. The church has a baroque pulpit in the shape of Jonah’s fish and ivy from 1780. This motif is very rare in the world, and such pulpits can be found only in the Czech Republic and Germany. Not far from the church is a baroque fortress, i.e. a noble feudal castle which was most probably built in the 13th century.

Eco estate Zrno

In the village of Habijanovec near Vrbovečka Dubrava, there is the oldest (since 1988) eco estate in Croatia, with the highest bio-diversity on an area of 12 ha. The winner of the ECO-OSCAR for environmental protection in agriculture and forestry. On 12 ha, the area grows all cereals, fruits, vegetables and other agricultural eco-crops that are used as raw materials for the preparation of a fresh program of its own products.