Sadržaji

Holiday near River Drava!

You can see the river Drava from the living room of our house, 2.5 km away. With lots of experiences for nature lovers and those who think about the environment. Namely, the Drava, with its natural beauties and infrastructure, provides conditions for life 'tailored' to man. 

Kayak trails, kite club, bicycle trails, promenades and other sports and recreational activities are facilities that have improved the quality of life of local communities along all river Drava. The flora has also 'blossomed', so - among other things - walkers along river can enjoy the view, an extremely rare and most endangered plant species in Central Europe. 

Cave Vindija

A place for excursions and research: A mysterious cave near Varaždin, which is an archeological site of world importance.Vindija Cave, located 2 km from Donja Voća and 4 km from HHC in the Varaždin area, will captivate you with its appearance, mystery and fantastic view of the greenery, which will make you understand why Neanderthals cave bears chose it for their shelter. 

When you think of Neanderthals in Croatia, the first thing that comes to mind is Krapina and the well-known and gladly visited Museum of Krapina Neanderthals. But why not, for a change, look for traces of the life of these prehistoric inhabitants of Europe in other places in Croatia, for example in the immediate vicinity of Varaždin?Vindija Cave was a frequent cave bear den and a refuge for the last Neanderthal groups in Europe, and because of everything found in it, it is one of the most important European Paleolithic sites.

So what’s so special about Vindy Cave? It is a protected cultural asset, ie a geological, geomorphological and botanical monument of nature. The first mention of Vindija appears at the end of the 19th century, and it was in use from the Middle Paleolithic period until the Middle Ages. A real "archaeological treasure" has been found in it that allows us to trace evolution from Neanderthals to modern man.

This treasure includes thousands of stone and bone artifacts, ceramic vessels and numismatic material, and special attention of scientists has been attracted by the fossil remains of Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis). Analyzes have shown that the Neanderthals from Vindija were almost 100,000 years younger than the Krapina Neanderthals.

The peculiarity of this cave is a 9 meter high protective stratigraphic profile that reveals something that can rarely be seen - a sequence of Pleistocene and Holocene sediments deposited from 350,000 years ago to the present day.

The richness of archeological, paleontological and paleoanthropological finds defines Vindija as one of the most important European Paleolithic sites that is definitely worth getting to know.

Cultural route The Neanderthal Way

Vindija Cave is just one of the sites that make up the Neanderthal Way route, a very interesting itinerary with which, following in the footsteps of ancient rulers of Europe, you can experience continental and coastal Croatia in a different way if you embark on this unusual discovery.

The Old Town of Vinica

is located about 1.5 km from the village of Vinica or 6 km from Hmooyi Hill Cottage towards Vinicabreg, at an altitude of about 260 m. as Castrum Vinica was first mentioned in 1353, but it was not known who owned it at the time. ! 391. King Sigismund became the owner, and after him Burg was owned by the counts of Celje, Ivan Vitovac, Ivaniš Korvin, Ivan Gyulay ... 

It is known that in 1555 Castrum Vinica was hit by a catastrophic fire and almost completely destroyed. But the castrum was rebuilt and again became the target of controversy.1567. After the death of the last Gyulay, the Vinica estates belonged to Nikola Istvanffiy (1524 to 1615), and the castrum then, together with other estates, changed owners: Counts Keglević, Drašković, Malakoczy, Erdody and the latter - Bombellese. 

Although only a ruin remains of the Vinica castrum, thanks to some documents such as the inventory of Gyulay's estate, its original appearance can be faithfully presented. The preserved remains are very reminiscent of the Great Camp, and the remains of the Old Town are particularly significant due to the well-preserved height of the walls from which a magnificent view of the entire Varaždin field. The old town of Vinica has the status of a cultural asset, and since there is no documentation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, which approved the project and provided funding in the amount of 70,000.00 kn, a geodetic survey and 3D scan of the walls are being carried out. 

In order to reach the walls, which over time were overgrown with various vegetation, a group of workers employed in the Municipality of Vinica in the public works program, cleaned the entire area of ​​the fort, all under supervision and according to the Conservation Department of Varaždin.

The remains of the walls as well as their imposingness are only now coming to the fore. 

At the initiative of the Mayor, the Conservation Department of the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Heritage got involved in designing a project (presentation, educational promenades and excursion paths, lighting of the fort, etc.) that could make the walls of the Old Town accessible to the general public.

The Arboretum Opeka

There are three arboretums in Croatia, and one - the Opeka arboretum - is located only 18 kilometers from Varaždin & 8 km form Hmooyi Hill Cottage, as part of the park around the castle of the same name in the Marčan settlement. It contains more than 100,000 specimens of trees, shrubs, flowers ... and it can be easily reached even by bicycle. An easy walk and getting to know the plant treasures and a picnic in the greenery - the perfect scenario for a hot summer day.

In the heights ...

Height lovers in this part of Croatia are also coming to their senses. We suggest climbing Ivanščica, 30 min, 20 km from HHC, the roof of Hrvatsko zagorje, to which several different trails lead. At the top, at an altitude of 1060 meters, you will be greeted by the mountain lodge 'Josip Pasarić', as well as two lookouts, from where there is a view of Ivanec, Varaždin and Međimurje.

Trakoščan

Trakošćan Castle is one of our most beautiful castles and a favorite excursion destination in northwestern Croatia. Located in the hilly Zagorje, 28 km (38 min) from H.H.C., Trakošćan with its enchanting park and lake is one of the most romantic places for a trip in Lijepa naša.( Our beautiful )

With about 40,000 visitors a year, Trakošćan is one of the most visited Croatian castles, and in 2017 the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler magazine ranked it among the 12 most beautiful castles in Europe. These days are the ideal opportunity for you to experience it in full glory. Namely, at the beginning of March, water will be discharged from Lake Trakošćan in order to clean it of sludge.

VISIT THE MUSEUM AND ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS

Today, the castle houses a museum with a permanent exhibition, founded in 1954. It is open every day, including weekends and holidays. In winter (until March 31) it works from 9 am to 4 pm. The ticket price is 40 kn for adults and 20 kn for students (up to 18 years).

Entrance to the park is free, and food and drinks outside are available in Bistro Trakošćan from 11 am to 5 pm.

Take advantage of the sunny and beautiful weather for the weekend and head to Trakošćan - you will enjoy its rich history and beautiful nature that surrounds it.

From hidden backyards to street entertainment Varaždin.

For those who like a slightly more urban vacation, there is a mandatory visit to Varaždin 20 km from HHC, a city that The New York Times listed as one of the 52 world destinations worth visiting. From the Old Town Fortress, through the Museum of Angels, to a walk through the beautiful hidden courtyards of Varaždin - there is a lot of content offered by this city, and there is - of course - the well-known Špancirfest. This year 2021 it runs from August 20th to 29th!

Varaždinske Toplice

In the area of ​​today's Varaždinske Toplice, 45 min, 49 km from HHC, next to the thermal spring of healing water, there was a significant Roman settlement Aquae Iasae from the 1st to the 4th century. The public part of the Roman settlement was located on the uppermost terrace of the Toplica hill (today's park), the residential part on the terraces that descend to the foot of the hill, and at the very foot were established craft and trade and fair facilities (address). Thanks to archeological excavations and research carried out since 1953 by the Ancient Department of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, a complex of Roman public architecture (1st-4th century) was discovered in today's park. It consists of a bathing area consisting of bathing buildings with pools and a basilica, a forum with porches located around the main thermal spring, and a capitol with temples of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva.

A statue of the goddess Minerva with a pedestal was found in 1967 at the very entrance to the temple. Specific soil conditions around the source of thermal water, ie travertine deposits, have conditioned the good preservation of Roman architecture, so that this complex is one of the best preserved sites in Croatia. The thermal sulfur water that springs in the area of ​​today's park is extremely healing, with a temperature of 58 oC, and current knowledge indicates the use of the same source for more than 2000 years, from prehistory to the present day when the Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation is supplied from the same source. The researched parts of Roman architecture are located within the city park, ie the bathing park, which was founded in 1820 and at that time consisted of two parts: a decorative garden with a spring pavilion and a music pavilion on the ground floor (now an archeological site) and a landscape park on a hillside. which in the upper parts passes into a forest park. The portal at the entrance to the park was erected in 1865, and is decorated with a fragment of a nymph relief and a Roman inscription, and with two marble lions with fish tails.  

For pedestrians and cyclists

One of the most interesting areas in Croatia for an active vacation is certainly the cycling and hiking trail 'Svetomartinska Mura', which starts near the Mill on the Mura in Žabnik - the northernmost point of Croatia. The trail will satisfy the 'appetites' of those who are in favor of adrenaline cycling, but also a calmer ride on two wheels, and lovers of hiking. And there are forest classrooms with 20 educational boards that teach about the Mura River, a wooden bridge for attractive 'selfie' photos over the tributary of the Mura River, and in the immediate vicinity you can see a stable of Međimurje horses. Aprox. 1 hour from HHC 52 km by car.

Terme SVETI MARTIN

Terme Sveti Martin is a destination in continental Croatia for relaxation and wellness, sports and active holidays in beautiful nature. It is located in the protected nature of upper Međimurje.60 min – 48 km from HHC. The center of the resort consists of a complex of indoor pools with thermal water, a summer aquapark, a wellness center and gastronomic points. New golf course with 9 holes.