Green mountains and hills circle the capital city in Zagreb (county). This is the Zagreb ring scenic drive. The Žumberak mountains have deep forests and hidden ruins of old fortresses. You can find wooden manor houses tucked into the quiet valleys. These were once the summer homes of noble families who wanted to escape the city. They feel like a journey back to a quieter time in history. The woods are very deep and you can hear the birds singing everywhere. It is a great place to go for a hike and breathe the fresh mountain air.
The roads lead you to the charming town of Samobor. You must stop for the famous kremšnita custard cake. It is served warm in the main square and people come from far away just to taste it. Hike to the top of Japetić mountain for a view that can reach all the way to the Alps on a clear day. There is an old iron tower at the top that you can climb. The mountain huts along the way sell warm bean soup and local sausages to hungry hikers. It is a landscape of high peaks and sweet valleys that is only a few minutes from the city.
Visit the Lužnica Castle in Zaprešić to see its baroque garden and lake or explore the Novi Dvori estate where the Ban Jelačić lived. For a unique drive head to the Plešivica Wine Road which is the "Champagne region" of Croatia, famous for its sparkling wines and Portugizac. If you are a fan of old villages the Turopolje region features 100-year-old wooden chapels like the one in Velika Mlaka. Try the samoborska muštarda (spicy mustard) and the local herbal liqueur bermet. The best time for a scenic drive is during the Vukomeričke Gorice harvest when the roadside stalls sell fresh grapes and autumn fruits.
Zagreb (county) highlights
- Samobor Main Square Stop for a warm custard cake in the old town square surrounded by yellow houses. The town has a quiet stream and a park that leads to a castle. It is the most popular day trip for people who live in the capital city.
- Žumberak Forest Road Drive into the high mountains for a wild trip through deep woods and canyons. You can see hidden waterfalls and old wooden villages along the rocky path. The road is narrow but very beautiful with many views of the green valleys.
- Plešivica Wine Hills Visit the home of sparkling wine on the steep slopes near the town of Jastrebarsko. The views from the vineyard terraces cover the whole southern plain. You can taste some of the best bubbles in the country on a sunny terrace.
- Turopolje Wood Chapel See the beautiful church built entirely of oak wood without using any metal nails. It is a masterpiece of local craft hidden in a small village. The dark wood has many carvings that show the history of the local people.
- Novi Dvori Estate Walk the long alley of old trees to see the palace where a famous ruler lived. The site has a museum and a quiet park for a slow walk. You can see the stone tomb where the national hero is buried today.
- Japetić Peak View Hike or drive to the top of the mountain for a view that reaches all the way to the Alps. There is a lodge at the top that serves local food. It is a favorite spot for people who love to fly with parachutes.
- Lonja Field Meadows Drive to the eastern part of the county to see the wide plains and the storks. The area is very flat and filled with old farms and green grass. You can see the river winding through the fields in the distant marshes.
- Vrbovec Old Tower Visit the last stone tower of a medieval castle in the center of the town. The town is famous for its food festival and old local recipes. It is a quiet stop with a lot of history from the middle ages.
- Zelinsko Prigorje Hills Follow the wine road through the hills to try the fresh white wine of the region. The small houses on the slopes are very charming and quiet. It is a great place to see the local life away from the big city.
- Lužnica Baroque Castle See the beautiful white palace and its lake hidden in a park near Zaprešić. It is a very calm place that feels like a trip to the past. The sisters who live there keep the gardens and the park very beautiful for visitors.
The local Four
History of Zagreb (county)
The Green Ring was the retreat for the elite of the capital city. While Zagreb was the center of business, the county was the center of pleasure. Nobles built castles like Januševec and Lužnica to host weekend parties and hunting trips in the thick oak forests of the Sava valley. Many of these estates now serve as museums or spiritual retreats, preserving the high-society history of the 19th century.
The region of Turopolje is the home of the Noble Municipality, a group of free men who answered only to the king. They built unique wooden cathedrals (chapels made of massive oak logs) without using a single metal nail. These structures were designed to be flexible, allowing them to survive the frequent tremors and soft soil of the river plains. These structures have survived earthquakes and wars, standing as monuments to the region’s ancient carpentry skills.
In the mountains of Žumberak, the history is a story of warrior families who were moved here by the empire to guard the mountain passes. These families, known as Uskoks, were granted land in exchange for their military service against the rising Ottoman threat. The landscape is wild, filled with hidden waterfalls and deep canyons. It is a county where you can find a 19th century sparkling wine cellar in one village and a medieval stone ruin in the next.