In the Municipality of Đurmanec, travel ideas can be shaped around clearly defined local themes: the “Stopama pobijenih” Way of the Cross, churches and chapels in several settlements, and forest and wine-growing landscapes.

Landscape and Settlements

Donji Macelj lies on the edges of the Maceljčica Valley and is largely surrounded by forests. Much of Gornji Macelj is also forested. Hromec is a scattered settlement on the hills toward the Lupinjak border crossing and the Sutla Valley. The local descriptions thus identify different landscape features within the municipality: the edge of a valley and forest in Donji Macelj, extensive forests in Gornji Macelj, and a scattered hill settlement in Hromec.

Parts of the municipality lie within the protected natural landscape of Maceljska Gora. In the southeastern part of the municipality, protected landscapes are found in the settlements of Podbrezovica, Đurmanec and Ravninsko. According to available information, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) lives permanently or temporarily in the municipality and is one of the 16 endangered and protected species found there. Srevast is a wine-growing area in Donji Macelj.

Churches and Culture

In Đurmanec are the parish church of St. George and its rectory, as well as the votive chapel of St. Joseph. St. George is one of the cultural monuments in the municipality that are provisionally protected and catalogued. Other chapels can be found in Gornji Macelj, where the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary is located; in Hromec, with the Chapel of St. Leopold Mandić; and in Hlevnica, with the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Church of the Passion of Jesus in Donji Macelj was completed in 2007.

Community life also has a cultural dimension: 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. The association now has around 70 members.

Routes, Events and Getting There

The “Stopama pobijenih” Way of the Cross begins at Đurmanec railway station and follows the road for about 10 kilometres toward the Macelj forests, ending at the Church of the Passion of Jesus in Macelj. The route is listed as taking about four and a half hours. Allow for this amount of time and check current route conditions before your visit. Another hiking connection is the Planinarsko društvo “Husni” Đurmanec mountaineering club: in 2024, it continued its tradition of organizing hiking trips for its members.

There is an exit from the A2 motorway in Đurmanec, a specific landmark for those arriving by road. For wine enthusiasts, the history of a route also forms part of the local picture: the first wine road in Hrvatsko Zagorje opened in 1994 and ran from Đurmanec via Putkovec toward Pregrada.

An event can also shape your stay. The traditional Jezerišće five-a-side football tournament held its 16th edition in 2026 and has attracted numerous teams and visitors from Đurmanec and nearby towns for years. If the tournament is a key reason for your trip, check the dates for the relevant edition in advance.

Discover more destinations: Đurmanec, Municipality of Novi Golubovec, Municipality of Marija Bistrica, Municipality of Kumrovec, Municipality of Zabok, Municipality of Bedekovčina, Municipality of Oroslavje, Municipality of Sveti Križ Začretje.

For the broader travel overview: Krapina-Zagorje County.