Castles, springs and quiet roads of Zagorje
A short guide to the places we like to recommend to guests, all within easy reach of Villa Beba.
Zagorje is the green, rolling country north of Zagreb, and Villa Beba sits on its western edge, close to the Slovenian border. Many guests come for the quiet and barely leave the estate. For those who want a day out, these are the places we suggest most often.
Kumrovec and Zelenjak
The Staro Selo museum in Kumrovec is the largest open-air ethnographic museum in Croatia: some thirty village houses and farm buildings from the turn of the 20th century, preserved where they stand. Inside you can see how people in these hills lived and worked not so long ago. The village is also the birthplace of Josip Broz Tito, with Antun Augustinčić’s well-known statue in front of the house.
On the road towards Klanjec, the protected landscape of Zelenjak has a short trail through the treetops and the monument to the Croatian anthem, “Lijepa naša”, raised in 1935.
Veliki Tabor
A fortified castle on a hilltop above Desinić, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Croatia, and home to the legend of Veronika of Desinić. Even if you do not go inside, the view over the hills is worth the drive.
Trakošćan
One of the most beautiful castles in Croatia, standing above a lake and surrounded by a park and forest paths. It was first mentioned in 1334 and belonged to the Drašković family for more than 400 years; today its rooms hold period furniture, portraits and a collection of old weapons. Plan time for a walk around the water. Then come back and tell us which you prefer: their castle or our stone house.
Marija Bistrica and Stubica
Marija Bistrica, 40 minutes from the estate, is the best-known pilgrimage church in Croatia. Some fifteen kilometres away, Gornja Stubica is the heart of the 1573 Peasants’ Revolt: the baroque Oršić castle houses the museum of the revolt, Augustinčić’s monumental bronze to Matija Gubec stands beside it, and in the village centre grows Gubec’s linden, more than 450 years old.
For lunch nearby, Lojzekova hiža in Gusakovec serves Zagorje dishes from old recipes: štrukli, turkey with mlinci and homemade corn bread.
Thermal springs
Zagorje is known for its thermal spas, such as Terme Tuhelj, Stubičke Toplice and Terme Jezerčica in Donja Stubica, which is built right on a spring of warm thermal water. Terme Čatež is just across the border in Slovenia.
Zagreb
The capital is 40 minutes from the estate. Walk through the Upper Town, visit the market in the morning and stay for dinner. Our guide to restaurants has a few places we like.
If you would like a suggestion for a day out, just ask us.
