Bjelovar-Bilogora: Cycling Routes, Equestrian Tourism and Culture
Accommodation in Bjelovar-Bilogora
Bjelovar-Bilogora can be explored through a wide variety of activities: the county offers an extensive network of cycling routes, an internationally certified equestrian tourism trail and cultural destinations. The biological swimming pool in Čazma is also one of its distinctive features. So if you’re looking for a holiday apartment, your preferred focus for the trip may help you decide: do you want cycling to take centre stage, are you interested in equestrian tourism, or would you like to include culture and regional highlights?
Cycling routes with different points of reference
Bjelovar-Bilogora County offers more than 500 km of cycling tourism routes. This is an important figure to consider when planning a stay where cycling is a priority. Another specific point of reference is the international Lonjsko polje–Balaton cycling route: 69 km of it runs through the county. This figure refers to the section within Bjelovar-Bilogora, not the total length of the international route. Both figures provide different ways to assess your options: the county’s extensive range of cycling tourism routes and the precisely measured section of an international connection.
Along the marked cycling routes, you’ll find excursion destinations, restaurants serving traditional home-style food, covered rest areas, bicycle service stations and Smart Benches. Licensed cycling guides also offer guided tours through the county. This means that guidance for cycling travellers covers more than route information: the listed amenities also include places to eat, rest areas and bicycle services. If a guided tour interests you, licensed cycling guides offer another way to experience the county by bike.
A distinct focus on equestrian tourism
Bjelovar-Bilogora has a clearly defined equestrian tourism option in the Bilogorska konjička turistička staza. It is Croatia’s first internationally certified equestrian tourism trail and is 90 km long. There are also around 20 “horses welcome” points. This approximate number is a guide; it describes the points along this equestrian tourism offer, not additional kilometres. The trail’s length is a useful point of reference for planning your trip if you’re considering equestrian tourism as a focus. This sets it apart from cycling, for which the county has a network of more than 500 km of routes.
Cultural destinations and a distinctive swimming pool
Culture can also be considered as a separate part of your trip. The Lovrakovi dani kulture festival takes place at KUC Mato Lovrak in Veliki Grđevac. If you’re interested in culture, you can include this venue and the cultural days held there in your travel plans.
In Čazma, the town built Croatia’s first biological swimming pool as part of the Čazma Natura project. Its distinction as the country’s first biological swimming pool makes this project a special regional attraction. It adds another point of interest alongside the cycling routes, equestrian tourism trail and cultural offerings. If this distinctive feature matters to you, you can consider it alongside your active and cultural interests when choosing places to visit.
Choosing the right focus for your stay
When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to first decide what you want your stay to centre on. Cycling may be a good focus if you want to explore the marked routes and the associated rest, service and dining options. The equestrian tourism trail offers a different kind of trip, while the Lovrakovi dani kulture festival is a specific point of interest for culture lovers. The biological swimming pool in Čazma adds another dimension.
To get your bearings within the county, you can also explore its subregions individually: Municipality of Veliki Grđevac, Municipality of Čazma, Municipality of Daruvar, Municipality of Garešnica, Municipality of Kapela, Municipality of Bjelovar, Municipality of Grubišno Polje, Municipality of Veliko Trojstvo and Municipality of Berek.
For an overview of the wider region: Croatia.
