Lepoglava: Culture, Lace and Nature

If you’re looking for a hotel in Lepoglava, the city’s cultural sights and trails can shape your travel plans. Here, sacred art and the tradition of lace-making meet a geological natural monument and a range of routes through forests and vineyards. These themes offer different ways to plan your stay—from historic buildings to trails with viewpoints and distinctive natural landmarks.

Culture, Lace and the History of Lepoglava

Construction of the Crkva Sv. Marije in Lepoglava began around 1400; the church was consecrated in 1415. Its interior combines Baroque furnishings and altars, wood carvings, and frescoes by Ivan Krstitelj Ranger. The church’s history and furnishings give the site a sacred and artistic focus.

The Međunarodni festival čipke has been held in Lepoglava since 1997 and traditionally takes place in September. The festival includes lace-making workshops and a market for traditional crafts and historic trades. The program therefore features other handicrafts as well as lace-making.

Another cultural stop is the Galerija čipke. It opened in December 2023 in a former storage room beneath the entrance to the Dom kulture and is a center for numerous cultural events in Lepoglava. Its exhibitions combine Lepoglava’s rich tradition with modern technology. The specific exhibitions may change.

Gaveznica and Trails Through the Landscape

Gaveznica, also known as Kameni vrh, is a fossil volcano that formed 22 million years ago. The area is considered Croatia’s first known occurrence of the semiprecious stone agate. Visitor facilities have been established at the Gaveznica – Kameni vrh geological natural monument. If you’re planning a visit, check the current visiting conditions; organized visits may change.

The 13 km trail to Fairy Top starts in the southern part of Lepoglava and leads through the forest to a viewpoint. From there, the view stretches across the Bednja, Ravna gora, Lepoglava and Varaždin. Rest areas, caves and freshwater springs lie along the route. Named landmarks include Zmržnjak, Maks well and Bračko Cave. The trail is used for hiking and cycling.

In the eastern part of Lepoglava, the approximately 5 km Šumska-vila hiking trail runs through forests and vineyards. It passes the Masni kamen waterfall and the Vukovec stream before reaching a mysterious stone altar. Check trail conditions before setting out, as they may change. At 13 km and approximately 5 km respectively, the two trails differ in length; Fairy Top ends at a viewpoint, while Šumska-vila ends at the stone altar.

Religious Trail and Getting There

The Stepinčev križni put sets the Passion of Jesus alongside the sufferings of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac at 14 stations. The 1,600-meter-long trail starts at the Stepinac monument in front of the parish church of Bezgrješnog začeća Blažene Djevice Marije, passes the Kaznionica and ends at the Svetog Ivana Krstitelja chapel on Mount Gorica.

For geographical orientation when traveling there: Lepoglava is near the two European motorway routes, Zagreb–Graz and Zagreb–Budapest.

Discover more destinations: Žarovnica, Donja Višnjica.

For the broader travel overview: Općina Lepoglava.