Green mountains and hills circle the capital city in **Zagreb (county)**. This is the **Zagreb ring scenic drive**. The **Žumberak mountains** have deep forests and hidden ruins of old fortresses. You can find **wooden manor houses** tucked into the quiet valleys. These were once the summer homes of noble families who wanted to escape the city. They feel like a journey back to a quieter time in history. The woods are very deep and you can hear the birds singing everywhere. It is a great place to go for a hike and breathe the fresh mountain air. The roads lead you to the charming town of **Samobor**. You must stop for the famous **kremšnita** custard cake. It is served warm in the main square and people come from far away just to taste it. Hike to the top of **Japetić** mountain for a view that can reach all the way to the Alps on a clear day. There is an old iron tower at the top that you can climb. The mountain huts along the way sell warm bean soup and local sausages to hungry hikers. It is a landscape of high peaks and sweet valleys that is only a few minutes from the city. Visit the **Lužnica Castle** in Zaprešić to see its baroque garden and lake or explore the **Novi Dvori** estate where the Ban Jelačić lived. For a unique drive head to the **Plešivica Wine Road** which is the "Champagne region" of Croatia, famous for its sparkling wines and Portugizac. If you are a fan of old villages the **Turopolje** region features 100-year-old wooden chapels like the one in Velika Mlaka. Try the samoborska muštarda (spicy mustard) and the local herbal liqueur bermet. The best time for a scenic drive is during the **Vukomeričke Gorice** harvest when the roadside stalls sell fresh grapes and autumn fruits.

Zagreb (county) highlights

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The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Zagreb (county)

The **Green Ring** was the retreat for the elite of the capital city. While Zagreb was the center of business, the county was the center of pleasure. Nobles built castles like Januševec and Lužnica to host weekend parties and **hunting trips** in the thick oak forests of the Sava valley. Many of these estates now serve as museums or spiritual retreats, preserving the high-society history of the 19th century. The region of **Turopolje** is the home of the Noble Municipality, a group of free men who answered only to the king. They built unique **wooden cathedrals** (chapels made of massive oak logs) without using a single metal nail. These structures were designed to be flexible, allowing them to survive the frequent tremors and soft soil of the river plains. These structures have survived earthquakes and wars, standing as monuments to the region’s ancient carpentry skills. In the mountains of **Žumberak**, the history is a story of warrior families who were moved here by the empire to guard the mountain passes. These families, known as Uskoks, were granted land in exchange for their military service against the rising Ottoman threat. The landscape is wild, filled with **hidden waterfalls** and deep canyons. It is a county where you can find a 19th century sparkling wine cellar in one village and a medieval stone ruin in the next.

Zagreb (county)

Zagreb (county) highlights

Part of these road trips

History of Zagreb (county)

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