Municipality of Đurmanec

Forests, protected landscapes and places with their own cultural history shape the Municipality of Đurmanec. They are joined by a wine route, a traditional mini-football tournament and a cultural association that preserves musical and folkloric heritage. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can choose its location based on the interests you want to shape your holiday: nature and longer routes, religious culture, or winegrowing and local traditions.

Forest landscapes and protected nature

Parts of the municipality belong to the protected natural landscape of Maceljska Gora. Protected landscapes are also found in the southeastern settlements of Podbrezovica, Đurmanec and Ravninsko. The individual settlements also differ in character: Donji Macelj lies at the edges of the Maceljčica Valley and is largely surrounded by forests. Much of Gornji Macelj is also forested.

Hromec is not a compact settlement, but is spread across hills towards the Lupinjak border crossing and the Sutla Valley. The municipality’s natural environment also includes the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). It lives permanently or temporarily within the municipality and is one of 16 endangered and protected species there. These differences between landscapes and settlements offer practical points of reference when considering which part of the municipality suits your excursion interests.

Churches, chapels and cultural history

In Đurmanec are the parish church of St. George and its rectory. The church is among the municipality’s cultural monuments that have been recorded and granted precautionary protection. The votive chapel of St. Joseph is also in the settlement. Other chapels are located in Gornji Macelj, Hromec and Hlevnica: the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Chapel of St. Leopold Mandić and the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes. Together, these named religious buildings offer a glimpse into the religious culture of the different settlements.

The Church of the Passion of Jesus in Donji Macelj was completed in 2007. It is also the destination of the Way of the Cross, “Stopama pobijenih” (“In the Footsteps of the Slain”): the route begins at Đurmanec railway station and follows the road towards the Macelj forests for about 10 km, ending at the Church of the Passion of Jesus in Macelj. The route is said to take about four and a half hours. Its length and duration make it a standalone activity to take into account when planning your day.

Wine route and local traditions

Another distinctive feature is the first wine route in Hrvatsko Zagorje. It runs from Đurmanec via Putkovec towards Pregrada and opened in 1994. The Srevast winegrowing area is also located in Donji Macelj. Those interested in winegrowing and regional routes will therefore find two specific points of reference for planning their trip.

Community life is also part of the area’s character. The KUD Đurmanec cultural association was founded in 2006 to promote and preserve the musical and folkloric heritage and customs of Hrvatsko Zagorje and other parts of Croatia. It now has around 70 members. Jezerišće hosts the traditional Jezerišće mini-football tournament, which reached its 16th edition in 2026 and has for years attracted numerous teams and visitors from Đurmanec and nearby settlements.

Places and routes for planning your trip

Two specific points are noted to help with arrival and orientation: Đurmanec has an exit from the A2 motorway; Hromec is the last railway station on Croatian territory along this railway line. Along with the starting point of the Way of the Cross at Đurmanec railway station, these location details can help you plan which places to visit without conflating different settlements or routes.

When choosing a holiday apartment in the Municipality of Đurmanec, the focus of your trip may determine your choice: chapels and the church, forest landscapes, the Way of the Cross or the winegrowing areas. Check the location of the specific accommodation based on which of the places mentioned are important to your plans. Other municipalities for reference: Municipality of Klanjec, Municipality of Zabok, Municipality of Novi Golubovec, Municipality of Zagorska Sela, Municipality of Pregrada, Municipality of Donja Stubica, Municipality of Sveti Križ Začretje.

For the wider travel overview: Krapinsko-Zagorska.