Municipality of Legrad – Lakes, Nature and Culture

Šoderica: Promenade, bathing area and summer programme

The 1.5-kilometre-long lakeside promenade is equipped with lighting, benches and waste bins. The project also included the construction of two viewpoints; two children’s playgrounds were built alongside the promenade. This area therefore connects the lakeshore and walking path with places where children can play. When choosing a holiday apartment in the Municipality of Legrad, you can consider whether the lake and its summer activities should be among the main focuses of your trip.

The excursion destination “Aquaterra adventure”, also known as “AquaTerra lake resort”, is located at the bathing beach. Its activities include an adventure park, paintball for adults and children, a zip line, archery and children’s playgrounds. The summer programme “Ljeto na Šoderici” has been held regularly at the lake during the summer months since 2009. It includes theatre performances, music events, sport-fishing competitions, and other cultural, entertainment and recreational activities. The lake’s offerings therefore range from outdoor activities to events focused on culture and music.

Cycling routes and river history

Legrad is a destination for cycling travellers: the Tour de Mur ends here and connects with the Drava Route and the Iron Curtain Trail (EuroVelo 13). The Drava Route opened in 2002 as the region’s first signposted cycle route and is part of this international cycling corridor. When choosing your holiday apartment based on the planned focus of your trip, cycling connections may be just as important as experiences at the lake.

Sip Beach is located at Halasz Csarda, an excursion area at the former confluence of the Mura and Drava rivers. Legrad residents use it for relaxation and swimming in summer. Local traditions also include residents crossing the river by ferry to Hungary twice a year: on the feast day of Saint Anne in July and on the feast day of Saint Michael in September. These dates describe a local tradition, not a general ferry timetable for travellers.

Discover Legrad: Churches, museums and history

In the town of Legrad, local history is intertwined with a range of cultural attractions. Legrad has been mentioned in written records since 1384 and received the status of a market town in the 15th century. The Church of the Holy Trinity was built between 1769 and 1784. Its size and late Baroque appearance explain the local nickname “Podravska Cathedral”. The Evangelical Church has been under provisional heritage protection since 2007; the Evangelical congregation of Legrad is one of Croatia’s oldest Lutheran congregations.

The School Museum Legrad, housed in the old school building, displays former teaching materials, books and old records. The memorial rooms for Marija Bango present the life and work of the writer and educator from Legrad. They opened as exhibition rooms on 26 January 2018. Another collection is dedicated to the history of the volunteer fire brigade, founded in 1884. It includes a flag from 1899, considered one of the oldest surviving fire brigade flags in Croatia.

The former Novi Zrin fortress is also part of the area’s history: it stood in Veliki Pažut from 1661 to 1664. A memorial obelisk marks its site. Basket weaving with willow branches adds to the local crafts and traditions. This craft continues to be developed in the Municipality of Legrad and is mentioned as a possible workshop topic. One of the events of the 16th International Folklore Festival “Iz bakine škrinje” was also held in Legrad.

The right holiday apartment for you depends on which of these aspects you would like to make the focus of your stay.

Other municipal destinations

For further trip planning: Municipality of Drnje, Municipality of Sokolovac, Municipality of Hlebine, Municipality of Sveti Ivan Žabno, Municipality of Gola, Municipality of Sveti Petar Orehovec and Municipality of Kalnik.

For the wider travel overview: Koprivnica-Križevci County.