Municipality of Selnica: Oil History and Culture

Oil History and Culture in Selnica

Oil production in Selnica continued until 1952. The Selničko naftno polje is considered one of the oldest oil fields in the world. Another cultural highlight is the Šardi Vintage Car Museum in Selnica: it is Croatia’s first museum of historic vehicles and displays more than 100 exhibits in a permanent exhibition. The municipality thus offers two distinct subjects to explore: the history of oil production and historic vehicles.

The parish church of St. Mark also has historical roots: it is mentioned in a parish register of the Diocese of Zagreb, compiled on 9 August 1334. The Selnički Pikač, the only traditional Međimurje mask in Croatia’s Register of Cultural Heritage, offers another way to engage with the area’s cultural heritage. Together, these examples show different sides of local history: an early written reference to the parish church and a registered mask tradition.

Events and Local Traditions

Dan Pikača takes place in Selnica on the third Saturday in July. If you include the event in your travel plans, check the exact date for the relevant year. At the seventh edition of the FICKO festival in Selnica, visitors were able to sample the žganice on offer in 2025; check the conditions for future access and tastings before your trip.

Another glimpse of local event culture is the traditional Traktorijada, a gathering of owners of old tractors. The 16th edition took place in Selnica in 2022. It was organised by the Oldtimer klub Selnica, the Municipality of Selnica and the City of Mursko Središće. Dan Pikača, FICKO and Traktorijada represent different occasions: an annual July event, a documented tasting at the 2025 edition, and a gathering of historic tractors in 2022.

MTB Loop and Road Conditions

The L17 Rudarska MTB loop passes through Selnica and by the Selnica retention basin. It is 17.70 kilometres long and rated as a moderately difficult route. The surface is 46 per cent gravel and 54 per cent asphalt. Its length, difficulty rating and surface give you concrete details to help decide whether this loop suits your trip.

The Municipality of Selnica is also close to the EuroVelo Iron Curtain Trail (Route 13) and Baltic–Adriatic Route (Route 9). The E65 traffic corridor, along which the Municipality of Selnica is located, is also relevant for navigating the roads; it is best to check road conditions and route plans separately. The L17 MTB loop and the EuroVelo routes mentioned here are different points of reference that you can consider separately when planning your trip.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in the Municipality of Selnica, you can base your choice on your planned activities: the L17 offers a clearly described MTB option, while the museum, parish church and Selnički Pikač provide cultural and historical points of interest. If you are planning a trip around Dan Pikača, the July date is another factor to consider.

More Destinations in Međimurje County

Međimurje County also offers other themes to explore during a trip to the region. Within the county, the Mura–Drava Regional Park covers 16,962.54 hectares. The “Med dvemi vodami” visitor centre has two modern galleries with a permanent interpretive exhibition. These nature and exhibition attractions offer a different focus from Selnica’s oil history and vehicle museum.

A further connection to oil history can be found in the Oil Industry Memorial Park in Peklenica. It features a reconstructed oil well, an oil museum, interactive exhibitions and educational activities for children. For a view across Međimurje County, visit the Mađerkin breg viewpoint in Robadje: it is about 27 metres high and offers a view from Međimurje’s highest point, at 361 metres above sea level. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between local history in Selnica and the county’s other nature, exhibition and viewpoint attractions.

Discover the Places of the Municipality of Selnica

Discover the places of Bukovec, Donji Koncovčak and Praporčan too.

For the broader travel overview: Međimurska.