Municipality of Molve: Discover Pilgrimage, Art and Nature

The Municipality of Molve brings together a vibrant Marian pilgrimage, art from Podravina and a variety of nature and water destinations. This makes choosing the focus of your holiday a good first step: would you like to explore religious history and culture above all, or would you prefer to focus on nature and fishing? These interests can help guide your search for a holiday rental, without requiring you to limit your stay to a single theme.

Pilgrimage and Churches in Molve

Molve is a Marian shrine and a centre of pilgrimage for believers. The reason is the statue of the Mother of God, which is considered miraculous. It is kept all year round in the Chapel of Our Lady of Miracles. Every year for the Feast of the Assumption, it is carried in a large procession from the chapel to the parish church. Those interested in religious traditions will find a tangible connection here that shapes Molve.

The parish church itself also tells the story of the town’s architectural history: it was built in the Classicist style. Construction began in 1853, and it was consecrated in 1862. The Church of the Assumption is designated as protected cultural heritage and is one of the tourist attractions of the Municipality of Molve. The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Repaš is also listed as a tourist attraction. If you would like to include both places in your travel plans, you can find Repaš and Molve here.

Naive Art and Local Culture

In Molve, the Molvarski likovni krug Gallery is associated with around 30 painters and sculptors connected with the naive art of Podravina. The gallery’s attic houses a permanent exhibition of historical household items and clothing. Alongside art, everyday objects are also a focus. The gallery and the Ethnographic Collection were officially opened on 5 August 2021.

The cultural offerings of the Municipality of Molve also include the birthplace of Mijo Kovačić, described as an important Croatian naive painter. The Molve Multimedia Cultural Centre is named as a cultural institution of the municipality. Together, these places and institutions offer several cultural points of interest beyond the history of the churches.

Nature, Water and Fishing

The natural attractions of the Municipality of Molve include Mura-Drava Regional Park, Repaška šuma and the artificial lake Sekuline. If you would like to focus your trip more on nature destinations, you can keep these places in mind when planning. Sekuline is also associated with Ribički dom, where fish can be prepared for groups of day-trippers and tourists passing through or staying longer in nature.

Fishing is also an option at other locations. It is listed as a possible activity at Čingi Lingi, which is considered the main bathing spot in this part of Podravina. The ŠRK Šaran Molve organises fishing competitions, including the traditional Kup Velika meša and the Ščukijada. Fishing competitions are also among the events held in the Municipality of Molve. Religious processions are another type of event. When planning your holiday, you can therefore choose between cultural traditions and water-related interests without conflating these different themes.

Getting There and Other Places

A branch of the Podravska magistrala runs through Molve and Repaš and connects the area to a border crossing towards Hungary. When looking for accommodation, you can therefore consider whether Molve or Repaš is a better fit for the places and themes you would like to explore during your stay. Other destinations at the same level are Municipality of Gola, Municipality of Drnje, Municipality of Sveti Ivan Žabno, Municipality of Kalnik, Municipality of Sokolovac and Municipality of Križevci.

For the broader travel overview: Koprivnica-Križevci County.