Municipality of Gola: Discover Drava Nature and Culture

Experience nature between the Drava and Čambina

The protected Čambina Landscape Area in Ždala covers 50 hectares and was formed from a former meander of the Drava. Activities available there include birdwatching, leisurely walks, photography and educational visits. This offers different ways to engage with the landscape: watching wildlife attentively, exploring on foot or capturing scenes with a camera. If you are travelling with children, you can combine nature-themed activities with exercise and exploring together.

Another natural monument is the group of pedunculate oaks in Ždala, protected since 1998. Only two of the originally protected trees remain; this change is part of the place’s history. At Art Centar Ješkovo, the Drava landscape meets art: the centre is located beside an old branch of the Drava and includes a sculpture collection along a walking trail. Nature watching and outdoor art are thus offered as different highlights.

Explore by bike or on the Drava

The international EuroVelo 13 cycling route, also known as the Iron Curtain Trail, passes through Gola and the Drava region. Regional cycling routes connect the Croatian and Hungarian Podravina. As part of the Bolenov dravski put project, 20 electric bicycles and their charging stations were acquired, and an app was set up for billing and rentals. As conditions on cycling routes can change, it is worth checking the current route and conditions before setting out.

There are also several options on the water: canoe routes on the Drava in the Municipality of Gola range from short, leisurely trips to 30 kilometres. This range lets you weigh up a shorter route against a longer trip, without every activity having to take the same amount of time or effort.

Galleries, collections and cultural heritage

The Bolenov dravski put Interpretation Centre comprises eight themed exhibition rooms dedicated to the natural heritage of the Municipality of Gola. The Stara Škola Gola Gallery offers another way to explore local history: it is housed in a former primary school building dating from 1897. Nature themes and the history of the building are presented in different ways here.

In Ždala, the Kolarić Studio and Gallery displays more than 350 works by Mihael Kolarić, as well as monumental sculptures by Petar Kolarić. Creative workshops for children, young people and adults are also held there. Art Centar Ješkovo runs ceramics and camera obscura workshops for children, young people and adults. Families therefore have a clear choice between days spent together in nature and creative activities; check the available workshops and dates in advance.

The Ivan Večenaj Gallery contains more than 100 works. Visitors can view paintings on glass and canvas, drawings and watercolours there, with expert, personal guidance from the Večenaj family. Before visiting, it is advisable to check the current visiting arrangements. The Etno Kuća Večenaj in Gola contains a collection of 700 ethnographic objects. Protected cultural heritage also includes the Church of the Holy Trinity in Ždala and the Jewish cemetery in the Municipality of Gola.

Choose the right holiday rental for your plans

The attractions are spread across different places: Gola is home to the Stara Škola Gallery and the Etno Kuća Večenaj, among others; in Ždala you will find Čambina, the protected group of pedunculate oaks and the Kolarić Gallery. Your planned focus—cycling, nature watching, paddling or culture—can therefore help guide your choice of accommodation, although no single location will suit every traveller equally well.

Discover more destinations: Municipality of Hlebine, Municipality of Koprivnica, Municipality of Molve, Municipality of Kloštar Podravski, Municipality of Križevci, Municipality of Sveti Ivan Žabno, Municipality of Sokolovac.

Back to the main travel overview: Koprivnica-Križevci County.