Zagorje & Varaždin: the back story

About Zagorje & Varaždin: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Zagreb Editorial Team

North of Zagreb, the green hills of Hrvatsko zagorje roll towards Slovenia and Hungary, dotted with castles, vineyards, churches and villages. Further east lies Varaždin, a baroque town that was once Croatia’s capital.

The hills of Zagorje

Hrvatsko zagorje is a landscape of green hills, vineyards and little churches, with castles on the hilltops and spas in the valleys. It is an easy drive from Zagreb.

Trakošćan and Krapina

Trakošćan Castle stands on a wooded hill above a lake, restored in the 19th century in romantic style by the Drašković family, with furnished rooms and a park around the lake. At Krapina, one of the richest sites of Neanderthal remains in the world was found, and a modern museum tells their story.

Varaždin was briefly Croatia’s capital, until a great fire in 1776.

Varaždin

Varaždin is one of the best-preserved baroque towns in Croatia, with palaces, churches and an old castle surrounded by moats. It was the seat of the Croatian government until a great fire in 1776. Today it is known for its music festival and its lively street festival in late summer.

Samobor

West of Zagreb, the little town of Samobor is famous for its main square and its kremšnita, a vanilla cream cake that people drive out from Zagreb to eat.

Our advice: rent a car to explore Zagorje, combining Trakošćan with Krapina or Varaždin. Samobor is an easy half-day trip by bus from Zagreb.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Zagorje & Varaždin: the back story before you go.