Međimurje

Međimurje

Lush green fields and two big rivers define **Međimurje**. This is the **Northern Croatia green route**. The Mura and Drava rivers wrap around the land and keep it fresh. Visit the **Miller's Path** to see a floating wooden mill that turns with the river current. You can also see how people once found gold in the river sand. They still show how it was done long ago. It is a land of rolling vineyard hills and quiet bike paths that go through the woods. The whole region looks like a well-kept garden. The roads go past many modern wineries built right on the slopes of the hills. You can try **Pušipel wine** on sunny terraces with great views of the distant Alps. The region has a thermal spa with warm healing waters that come from deep underground. You can also visit deer farms where the animals roam free in the meadows. The pace of life is very slow and the people are very friendly. They love to show travelers their gardens and their wine. It is a small region but it has a very big heart. Visit **Mađerkin breg** for the best 360-degree view of the region from a unique wooden tower that plays music as the wind blows. For a historical stop head to **Čakovec** and explore the **Zrinski Castle** museum to learn about the noble family that once ruled this land. If you visit in spring the Urbanovo wine festival is the best way to taste the local vintages. Eat the **Međimurska gibanica** which is a rich four-layer cake with poppy seeds, cheese, walnuts and apples. The **Sveti Martin na Muri** spa is the best place to park the car and spend a night in the middle of the green hills.

Međimurje highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route
The Heritage Drive
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History of Međimurje

Međimurje is the **Island between Rivers**, a lush green triangle that was once part of Hungary. The **Zrinski family** ruled from Čakovec, creating a center of European literature and military strategy. They were the Protectors of Europe, fighting off armies and building a brick fortress that still dominates the town center. Their legacy is seen in the region's strong work ethic and its reputation as the most industrially advanced part of the country. The Mura river is the wild heart of the county, home to the last **floating water mills**. In the village of Donji Vidovec, the **Golden Hunters** still know the secret of washing river sand to find pure gold flakes. This gold is said to be the purest in Europe, washed down from the Alps over millions of years by the river’s current. It is a tradition that has survived since the middle ages, making the Drava river the **El Dorado** of the north. The northern hills around Štrigova are the highest in the region, offering a view of five different countries. The wine made here is known as **Pušipel**, a fresh white grape that only grows in this specific soil. The vineyards are interspersed with apple orchards, as the region is also the largest producer of fruit in the country. For a road trip, it is the most bike-friendly and **eco-conscious** county, with perfect roads and endless apple orchards.
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