The area
Thermal springs two thousand years old, a baroque city eleven kilometres away and a 13th-century castle — all within a single afternoon.
2 km
Varaždinske Toplice
The remains of a Roman bath, in use from the 1st to the 4th century, beside a spring that still runs at about 58 °C. Steam still rises over the old pool.
Photo: Rosa Gallica · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
20 km · 25 min
Ludbreg
A small town that calls itself, half in jest, the centre of the world: the “Centrum mundi” circle on the main square, and the Shrine of the Most Precious Blood of Christ.
Photo: Euterpa Globtroter · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
21 km · 30 min
Kalnik hills
The ruins of a medieval fortress on a rocky ridge, a five-kilometre circular trail and crags for climbing.
Photo: SpeedyGonsales · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
1 h drive
Croatian Zagorje
A 13th-century castle above its lake, with a park and a five-kilometre nature trail around the water.
Photo: Hrvoje Bađinec · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
December
The baroque centre turns into an Advent town, fifteen minutes from the villa — and the hot tub and sauna run all winter.
August
A street festival across the whole old town: music, street performers and stalls of traditional crafts.
September
A festival of baroque music, held every autumn since 1971.
Photo: Silverije · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The oldest thermal spa in Croatia, with roots in Roman times and the ancient settlement of Aquae Iasae. Today a spa and wellness centre, alongside the baroque Chapel of the Holy Spirit, the town park and a 16-kilometre cycling route down to Varaždin.
The baroque city of music and flowers: an intact old town, the Old Castle housing the city museum, the cathedral and a celebrated cemetery-park. Every August it hosts the Špancirfest street festival.
One of the most beautiful and best-preserved castles in Croatia, built in the 13th century, with a lake, parkland and a five-kilometre interpretive trail around the water.
The capital and its international airport are seventy kilometres away — close enough to fly in, far enough that you will never hear it from here.
Varaždinske Toplice
A gastro restaurant cooking with produce from its own biodynamic farm.
Varaždinske Toplice
A hilltop retreat above the village with panoramic views and both Zagorje and international cooking.
Varaždin
In the heart of the old town, beside the Sermage Palace.
Nearby
Tastings of local wine and rakija at family-run estates.
Varaždin
The old town's pedestrian street, lined with boutiques.
Varaždin
A larger shopping centre at the entrance to the city.
Varaždin
A shopping and lifestyle centre at the entrance to the city.