Discover the Secrets of Green Međimurje

If you’re looking to experience something truly special this autumn — a memorable weekend in the heart of continental Croatia — let your journey lead you to Međimurje. This beautiful region, nestled between the Mura and Drava rivers, proudly preserves a rich tradition and cultural heritage that forms part of both Croatian and global patrimony. Often affectionately called the “Green Međimurje”, the name will make perfect sense once you begin to explore. Even when it rains, the fifty shades of green that surround you invite movement, exploration, and discovery — of natural beauty, cultural treasures, and living traditions, all crowned by an unforgettable food and wine experience.

Begin your story of Međimurje in the centre of Čakovec, at the Palace of Tourism, home to the Ecomuseum Međimurje Visitor Centre, which this year was included among the Top 100 Green Destinations Stories of the World at the international Green Destinations conference held in Montpellier, France.

“The Ecomuseum Međimurje is far from a classic museum. It’s an interactive space where tradition and modern life meet, offering a genuine experience of life in Međimurje,” says Rudi Grula, Director of the Međimurje County Tourist Board, proudly adding that through workshops, music, crafts, and customs, this museum brings the spirit of the region to life. Visitors can take part in activities, taste local delicacies, and get to know authentic customs carefully passed down through generations. Throughout the autumn, whether you’re planning a one-day visit or a weekend escape, the Ecomuseum serves as the perfect guide to everything this destination has to offer.

“We are a weekend destination — on average, modern travellers stay 2.3 days, spending around 146 euros per day. Last year alone, we recorded 100,000 arrivals and around 250,000 overnight stays. Interestingly, our guests are mostly independent travellers — people undeterred by rain, cold, or even strong sun when they’re in Međimurje. Moreover, we are one of Croatia’s most densely populated regions, yet also one that has spent decades investing in sustainability, environmental protection, and culture,” Grula adds, delighted that the region’s dedication is recognised both locally and internationally.

Located within the Palace of Tourism, the Ecomuseum Visitor Centre tells the story of Međimurje’s history, traditional crafts — weaving, pottery, woodcarving, goldsmithing — which can still be experienced through interactive programmes, its charming customs, natural heritage, diverse flora and fauna, the life and work of Rudolf Steiner, the world-renowned native pioneer of Waldorf education and biodynamics, and the local legend of Pozoj — the dragon said to guard the city walls. There’s also the Međimurska popevka, the region’s authentic melodic song tradition, and the sound of the cimbalom, once one of the main instruments accompanying local dances and festivities from the early 19th to mid-20th century. Although it was at one time replaced by the tamburica, the cimbalom has experienced a renaissance in the 21st century thanks to younger musicians eager to keep the tradition alive.

Beyond tradition, Međimurje tells another story — one of gastronomy and winemaking, each season in its own way. Autumn, when the grape harvests end and the distinct wines of the region are born, is an especially vibrant time. The air fills with the aroma of apples, homemade jams, and cured meats. Sit at your host’s table and savour flavours that carry you gently into the past: traditional meat z’tiblice (smoked and preserved pork stored in its own fat), freshly baked maize bread, pretepena juha (a rustic, hearty soup), and cornflour-coated roast chicken. To finish, there is, of course, the Međimurska gibanica — the famous layered cake of cheese, walnuts, poppy seeds, and apples, known throughout Croatia and beyond.

When it comes to wine, Međimurje ensures no one goes thirsty. The region is renowned for its gentle vineyards and its unique indigenous grape variety — Pušipel. Begin your wine adventure in the World Centre of Pušipel in Štrigova, where you can explore the history of the variety, learn how to taste it properly, and discover the distinctive bottle and glass used exclusively for this wine.

Just a few kilometres away lies the Kocijan Winery, whose story began in 1980 when Vladimir Kocijan planted his first vines. Today, their vineyards span around 10 hectares across the most celebrated slopes between Štrigova and Železna Gora, cultivating native and international varieties including Pušipel, Graševina, Green Sylvaner, Sauvignon Blanc, Rhine Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.

The winery’s modern cellar and tasting room, completed five years ago by the younger generation — Petar and Andreja Kocijan — offer a stylish setting for tastings and gatherings. Here you can sample their award-winning wines, among them a Decanter-winning Sauvignon Blanc.

When it comes to the food and wine experience of Međimurje, many will immediately think of Terbotz. Nestled in the heart of the Železna Gora vineyards, this stunning estate — home to a celebrated restaurant and now also a heritage hotel — is a landmark on Croatia’s gastronomic map. Built in 2002 on the Jakopić family estate, which has a long tradition of viticulture, Terbotz is known for using only the freshest seasonal produce from its own gardens, local farms, and the surrounding forests and rivers. The dishes are traditional yet modern — from hearty meats like meat z’tiblice and cornflour-roasted chicken to refined salads and desserts. All pastries and preserves are handmade according to recipes that preserve the flavours of the past, adapted to contemporary standards.

The restaurant’s cellar, housed in one of the oldest manor houses in the region (built in 1803), offers an extensive selection of wines — from Pušipel, Graševina, Sauvignon, and Riesling to Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Their pride and joy is the Terbotz sparkling wine, made from Pušipel, winner of numerous national and international awards. Autumn 2025 will be particularly special for Terbotz — the estate is set to open its heritage hotel in the restored former stables and village school, complete with a wellness centre featuring a sauna overlooking the vineyards.

Wherever you are in Međimurje, you’ll hear its authentic music. When you catch the unfamiliar words and the sound of the cimbalom, pause and listen closely — you’re hearing the Međimurska popevka, the traditional song form that was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2018, securing its global recognition.

“The Međimurska popevka, Croatia’s traditional musical gem, will reach its historic moment on 8 November 2025, when it will be performed in Vienna’s famed Golden Hall of the Musikverein,” says Grula. “Born in Međimurje, soprano Marija Vidović, who initiated and led the orchestration project, will perform with the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra in the concert ‘Homage – A Tribute to the Međimurska Popevka’. This will give our unique heritage the international recognition it deserves, and inspire us to continue developing new projects centred around the popevka next year.”Travellers who wish to attend this extraordinary event in Vienna in early November can find all details at https://zelena-hrvatska.eu/naslovna/pocast-medimurskoj-popevki/

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