Town Lepoglava

Lepoglava is found in an idyllic landscape, at the foot of Mount Ivanscica and along the Bednja River. The importance of Lepoglava for Croatian art, culture, science, history and religion, has often been overlooked, an importance bestowed upon it by the Pauline Order which was active here from 1400 to 1786. The Paulines founded the first Croatian lyceum here in 1503, a faculty of philosophy in 1656 and the first Croatian university shortly afterwards. They were patrons of literature (Gasparoti, Kristolovec, Berger), lexicography (Belostenec), painting (Ranger), music and science.

Magnificent architectural works were built (such as the parish church and the monastery) with richly painted walls and furnishings (murals, altars, organs, church furniture) in part preserved to this day.

Other notable historical features of the area are the baroque churches in the vicinity of Lepoglava (Gorica, Lepoglavska Purga, Kamenica, Visnjica), decorated with murals by Ranger. In 1854 a grim albeit interesting period began when the monastery was converted to a male prison. In 1914 a large building (the "Star") was built for the Irish detention system and was later declared a cultural monument of the utmost importance. Many well-known personalities have in the past been imprisoned at Lepoglava (president Tudjman, cardinal Stepinac). Recently Lepoglava has tried to free itself from its reputation as a "penal colony" and thus reveal its true nature by means of numerous festivals and events (above all the "Lepoglava Days").

Of Lepoglavas architectural heritage, the "Guest-Quarters", chiefly comprising St. Marys Church, have been completely restored, and preparatory work is underway for the reconstruction of the monastery as well. A special town product is the renowned "Lepoglava lace" which was exported to all European markets in the Thirties as a part of haute couture. It was awarded numerous prizes at world exhibitions for example a gold medal in Paris in 1937, and a bronze in Berlin in 1939, and was even spotted at the Atlanta Summer Olympics in 1996. Lastly, on the outskirts of Lepoglava the only agate deposits in Croatia are found.

The area around Lepoglava is also most interesting. At less than 15 km from town there are the castles of Trakoscan and Klenovnik, the world-famous Vindija Cave as well as the Tomcats Cave, the mountain peaks of Ivanscica, Strahinjscica and Ravna gora, the gentle Zagorje hills and, last but not least, good-natured people.



Tourist destination - Croatia - Destinations Varazdin county