Croatian Travel: Varazdin
The Baroque Style of Varazdin
The northern-most part of Croatia is commonly known as the Zagorje region and it is rarely packed with throngs of tourists, yet it is a beautiful part of the country known for its lush greenery, rolling hills, pastoral villages, medieval castles, and natural hot springs. There are many exclusive spas and resorts located in the region and make great getaways for those looking for a little rest, relaxation, and quiet tranquility.
Varazdin, the former capital of Croatia, is overflowing with well-kept baroque architecture, museums, and churches. It is most often compared to Prague for its rich history and scenery, yet without the pushy crowds and high price tags. The most imposing part of downtown Varazdin is the Romanesque-Gothic town hall building which holds a changing of the guard ceremony every Saturday at 11 a.m. You can spend the entire day wandering the streets and admiring the many baroque buildings that are beautifully decorated with pastel colored stucco.
Varazdin has huge German, Austrian, and Hungarian influences. In fact, German is the second most spoken language in the Zagorje region. These influences can also be seen in the large beer halls that exist in Varazdin. One of the largest and most popular is Pivnica Raj. Here the beer is always flowing and the food is always hearty. On the weekends you can enjoy traditional mandolin music while enjoying a pint of your favorite pilsner on the terrace.
In September the Varazdin Baroque Evenings festival brings music lovers from all over Europe. The month long music festival features local and international orchestras that play traditional baroque style music in the many theaters and churches throughout the city.
If you are interested in a more relaxing activity, you can travel just thirty minutes southeast of the city by bus to Varazdinske Toplice to take a dip in the sulfurous hot springs. This Roman spa health settlement established in the 1st century offers relaxing water therapies and wooded landscapes that will allow you to forget all of your travel worries instantly. There are also some Roman ruins and other building dating back to the 1500s that you can investigate while visiting the area.
