This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality which will come into force from 1 January 2025 Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students Zvonimir Novosel was born on 30 October 1972 in Zagreb where he also graduated from the Faculty of Transport Sciences Novosel was Deputy Mayor from 2001 to 2012 and he is officially the first man of Jastrebarsko since 2013 In 2017 he was re-elected mayor at the first-round with 54.64% of the votes Jastrebarsko area holds some of the best-preserved landscapes and picturesque villages which make it a jewel of the Zagreb County What else do you want our audience to know about it Jastrebarsko is a small town halfway between Zagreb and Karlovac halfway between peace and the bustle of the city and it’s connecting these ways into an idyllic area with a special soul and domestic atmosphere The Jaska area is one of the most preserved parts of the nature and picturesque villages and represents a true pearl of the Zagreb County In the town of Jastrebarsko and 58 suburban areas and in this picturesque town you can find absolutely everything to feed your heart and soul – picturesque scenery that will titillate you with its beauty you can freshen up  with pure spring water take a deep breath of the forest freshness castles and a multitude of cultural and historical monuments and many many vineyards across the Plešivica wine road.. and you can also come across a hawk that carefully monitors its area The town of Jastrebarsko also has a very flattering title of which „Jaskanci and Jaskanke“ are particularly proud of and it is the “European City of the Future” so do not miss visiting Jastrebarsko – a town where every visitor is welcome You have been mayor of Jastrebarsko since 2013 How has the municipality changed over this period much has changed in Jastrebarsko for the better and more modern who faithfully follow and support us in the projects I can freely say that the Town of Jastrebarsko is becoming a true and modern European town and is increasingly becoming an even more desirable place for the life of young families We strive to be the Town tailored to family needs Jastrebarsko is very close to the capital city of Zagreb the Town offers a number of incentives for pre-school and school children and creates a family friendly infrastructure within the important zone of Jalševac and economic growth has enabled the unemployment rate to be less than half of the average for Croatia Jastrebarsko is today a big construction site in all respects and the development projects are oriented to the future Croatia has been a member of the EU for only 6 years a small town like Jastrebarsko has already managed to implement European projects contributing to the development of the city Share some good practices from your municipality and the fact to prove it is that we are the first in the Zagreb County for the utilization of money from EU funds We are currently implementing projects of a total value of 186 million Kunas (25 million Euros) of which 98% is the value of EU projects in which the Town of Jastrebarsko is the project beneficiary We are currently implementing the largest project in the history of Jastrebarsko which includes the upgrade of the water supply system the upgrade and reconstruction of the sewage system as well as the wastewater treatment system in the whole area of the town of Jastrebarsko Under construction is a 50-kilometre sewage system and three new water reservoirs that will enhance the water supply system the project “kulTura” should be singled out – a cross border cooperation where our partner is a Slovenian town of Črnomelj we also expect a soon reconstruction of the Erdödy castle worth 80 million Kunas We have submitted a project for the tender within the Urban Agglomeration Zagreb (ITI – integrated territorial investment) as this is the first tender which enables a complete restoration of the castle and putting it into service and we hope we will meet the criteria and get the necessary funds we are also preparing some new projects that will be ready for the tender during 2019 and 2020 I think this speaks for itself on how much emphasis we put on the future through the withdrawal of grants from the European Union we continually invest in reconstruction and construction of transport infrastructure as well as into green projects of the town with the objective of environmental protection and new breakthroughs in waste management all for the energy efficient renovation of buildings of public purpose a great attention is paid to the Smart City project We have developed numerous applications such as “E-roads Online” the main objective of the project being to better address the issues of citizens in day-to-day work and to establish a more efficient system of management and maintenance of unclassified roads the modern WebGIS system has been established which has a very simple access to information and is intended for a wider range of users We continue to upgrade the existing WebGIS system with new solutions It is our wish to also “open” the parts of the system to the citizens with the assistance of smart mobile devices they can report the communal issues they have to monitor the phases they are in and how much is invested in them both organizational and financial results can be seen With everyday use of the system for the maintenance of communal infrastructure system it was also achieved a fast and efficient communication of multiple services at the same time the implementation of the process is accelerated by more than 50% in comparison to the previous manner of functioning it is easier to set the priorities in the works to determine which traffic and other issues are to be done / solved first thereby significantly increasing the efficiency of the services to the citizens Instead of using classic correspondence and other documents the online system receives orders for interventions via smart mobile devices With the active use of road maintenance system issuance of quote cost estimate and order forms the cost has been reduced in the full that is the Town of Jastrebarsko has established communication between the local administration citizens and civil society organizations through the project INFO Jaska – an innovative media available to everyone which has also greatly reduced costs of advertising to NGOs in the areas of the Town and with the care of a cleaner environment the current information has become available to everyone More than 150 NGOs from the Town area thus have the opportunity to publish the information they want free of charge there is the application E-sessions which has greatly simplified the work of town services when preparing and archiving the sessions of the Town Council and the Mayor’s College achieved are great savings of paper and costs A permanent document database has been established as well as their accessibility at all times Transparency in work and sharing of timely and accurate information with fellow citizens is the mission of the Town of Jastrebarsko for which the town administration has been assessed as “excellent” on several occasions a “Smart Garage for e-bicycles” was opened – a modern storage for electric bicycles is intended for renting of e-bicycles via automated Nexbike billing system It is peculiar that this is the first garage with public electric bicycles built in Croatia – the project which combines the bike sharing technology with the renting of top-class city and mountain bicycles With the objective of promoting social development raising the competitiveness of the economy and efficiency of public administration as well as the level of quality of living of all citizens of the Town of Jastrebarsko by using information and communication technologies (ICT) we have also adopted the Strategy of Development of the Smart Town of Jastrebarsko for the period up to 2024 the business zone Jalševac is of great importance and has various benefits for investors which Jastrebarsko offers In the Business zone Jalševac there are currently 25 business entities operating with about 1,000 employees on the surface area of approximately 67 ha The total available area of the BZ Jalševac is for entrepreneurs undertaking entrepreneurial activities is approximately 293 ha The continuity of investment in the development of the Business Zone Jalševac was the main precondition for investment and creation of new jobs (road infrastructure An important segment are also the Town incentives for investors more precisely the communal fees (exemptions: 1st year 100% All this is responsible for the fact that we have one of the lowest unemployment rates (3.35%) How would you evaluate the necessity of a portal that brings together the best practices of European municipalities and aims to keep the citizens informed about the latest developments in local policies How can our platform be useful to your administration The objective is to exchange ideas and examples of good practice This is why I consider your portal to be a very important link of good examples of other cities and municipalities at the European level I also believe that your portal is read by a lot of readers from various private and business segments and some of them might also start a business in our town the ultimate goal and interest of your portal What will be the main goals you are planning to develop in the near future I am proud that Jastrebarsko is an example to many cities in Croatia I am of the opinion that there is no harm asking other colleagues for advice in implementation of “their” good projects The vision of the development of Jastrebarsko is to be the town that nurtures its past lives its present and as a “smart city” invests in the future there is almost no year that we do not receive a prize or confirmation for our work starting with acknowledgments of the respectable "Financial Times" which declared Jastrebarsko as one of the top ten best small European cities in attracting investors and also one of the cities of the future By preparation and implementation of numerous new projects we shall raise our town on all levels – both in terms of quality of life and business opportunities as well as cultural contents Find out more about Jastrebarsko here The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital Home   Sport   Article SWAY’S Josephine Hedger has added another European tree-climbing title to her ever-growing collection who works in the New Forest with her company Arbor Venture Tree Care overcame early adversity to claim the ISA European Tree Climbing Championship title in Jastrebarsko was disqualified from one of the qualification events after committing a minor infraction meaning she had to fight hard in the remaining four qualifiers to make this year’s final Hedger said: “It was particularly hard for me this year so I had to work extra hard in the remaining four events to ensure I accumulated enough points to make the final This was a good challenge not only physically but mentally an individual competes in five preliminary events The accumulation of points puts the top women and men into the masters climb on the second day This event allows the climbers to demonstrate how they read the tree and move around the canopy to get the marked targets within a specific time with the climber with the highest score winning There is also a separate event in which competitors compete in a head-to-head fastest vertical ascent to 15m Hedger added: “Winning the title still means a huge amount to me because I put a lot of time and effort into training before the event and the skill level of the other competitors gets higher every year “I have had to improve my own ability and skill since I first won it in 2014 The serial winner will now enjoy a few weekends off from training before preparations begin for the upcoming UK & Ireland championships in Warwickshire in September and the world championship in Atlanta She continued: “Out of all the events I have competed in the European competition is one of my favourites “The high level of both the trees and competitors is the best in the world And the camaraderie between all the competitors is something special even though you are competing against each other.” has now qualified for next year’s European championship at a yet-to-be-determined location Daniela Rogulj at least 80 percent of the castle area will be available to the public and 20 percent of the building can be commercialized The castle has been dilapidated since the late ’80s when the museum and the tenants who lived on the castle premises were evicted There were attempts to renovate in the early ’90s when the rehabilitation of certain parts of the castle began so this is the first serious renovation to revitalize the abandoned building and open it to the public “The castle renovation project is complex and time-consuming The administration itself is taking longer than we all would like but given the significant funds provided by the European Union for this project given the circumstances and the increase in prices at all levels that we monitor daily the value of the works on the castle will increase We have reached a historically important moment to renovate our most valuable cultural building and we will invest the maximum effort to realize this project,” said Mayor Zvonimir Novosel The renovation project envisages the castle’s ground floor as a space for communication with visitors they say that there will be an information desk There is even a planned space for presentations where sommelier courses and smaller educational gastronomic events will be held The first floor is intended to accommodate the city administration the second floor of the northern part and the attic space in the southern part is designed for the needs of the historical and ethnographic museum there will be a polyvalent space that will be used as a town hall There will also be smaller spaces for workshops and access by elevator is provided for people with disabilities will be arranged as a space for cultural and entertainment events The Erdödy castle renovation project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund of which approved funds from EU funds amount to HRK 49,503,626.59 For more, check out our lifestyle section.  and website in this browser for the next time I comment The 2015 European Vintage Road Racing champions as well as the Croatian motorcycle champions in all disciplines received their trophies and medals on the occasion of the “Night of Champions” in the full packed Princess Center in Jastrebarsko HMS President Stjepan Peršin welcomed guests from government the 2015 champions.FIM Europe President Dr who presented the trophies to the European Vintage Road Racing champions together with HMS Vice President Igor Bošković stated: “It was a very well organized Gala The level and the presentation was first class and well deserved for the successful riders and clubs I am happy that the fast growing vintage community had for the first time the high profile platform to get the official recognition I expect a lot of activities from the vintage riders and organizers in the future” | Copyright 2025 FIM Europe | Terms of use - Privacy statement | Print Reporting from Croatia — Pink rays from sunrise covered the rocky ruins of Okic castle on a peak outside Samobor and tinted the low-lying fog that snaked through valleys where cows grazed and grapes grew robust aromas swirled up from my breakfast spread — garlicky salami sweet berry jam and slabs of earthy rye bread my Croatian hosts at the rustic Etno Kuca farmhouse outside Samobor a ragged-shaped country on the Adriatic Sea opposite Italy then fought a four-year war for independence By the time peace came in 1995 it had missed the transition to fast-food and a modern lifestyle which had never abandoned its farm-to-table traditions I had long wanted to explore and eat my way across this diverse country of cosmopolitan cities wild mountain terrain and 1,000 miles of brilliant It’s a place North Americans are just discovering but that Europeans have long treasured as a friendly and affordable destination with great food I planned a cross-country road trip with a vague itinerary so I could stop U-turn and linger on back roads and race-track-like autobahns following routes created by ancient Romans I wound through rural regions known for their vineyards and welcoming agri-tourism farms Its hilly inland is a slow food haven and truffle heaven with hilltop medieval towns and rolling countryside ideal for cycling I ended on the coast where its Riviera atmosphere and Venetian-flavored seaside villages served up a roll call of legendary seafood My rental car and I met in Zagreb in Croatia’s northeast a capital city whose surrounding countryside is home to more than 90 castles many of them ruins accessible from a web of hiking trails On Sunday morning the aromas of coffee and warm pastry drifted through the streets which are lined with sidewalk cafes bustling with Zagrebcani — locals — and students of this university town Sleek blue streetcars glided past grand manors Centuries of Hapsburg Empire rule left angels in the architecture and churches with onion-shaped towers across this metropolis founded by the Romans in the 1st century The old city is divided into Lower Town and Upper Town restaurant and boutique district where shops sell stylish The grandest place to shop is the Oktogon built in 1900, covered passageways with ornately tiled floors beneath an octagon-shaped, domed stained-glass ceiling. Nearby, at the lively, daily Dolac market flower sellers and artisans hawked their goods beneath a sea of red umbrellas on a cobblestone square I ducked into the retro-chic Palace Hotel’s charmingly Viennese-style restaurant for the city’s signature dish of strukli mouth-watering Croatian dumplings filled with sweet ricotta cheese boiled and ladled into rich soups or stuffed with puréed seasonal vegetables such as pumpkin Zagreb is adorned with sculptures, many by Croatian master Ivan Mestrovic including several of local hero Nikola Tesla to the series of parks and open spaces that form a relaxing green horseshoe around Old Town Though a funicular chugs up the cliff-side to the medieval Upper Town I preferred wandering through a hilly labyrinth of stone and wooden stairways past a jumble of fortress towers and tile-roofed residences where window boxes burst with red geraniums I eventually reached a maze of cobblestone streets and squares lighted by gas lamps and passed the presidential palace and parliament with the city’s coat of arms displayed in colorful roof tiles Zagreb has museums and galleries galore, but my quest was the Museum of Broken Relationships a clever contemporary tribute to love gone wrong with an entertaining collection of stories and artifacts including the “ex-ax” donated by a Berlin woman who used it to chop up her former lover’s furniture In 2011 the quirky collection won an award as Europe’s most innovative museum Urban Zagreb quickly unspooled into farms and fields and by the time I reached small medieval Samobor I felt as though I had gone much farther than the 15 miles I drove After prowling the town’s local museum that explores the area’s history back to woolly mammoth days I settled into a café on the main square for cremeschnitte a square of light and luscious vanilla and custard cream between sheets of puff pastry “In Croatia you don’t find these local specialties all over the country,” the waitress told me “People travel specifically to enjoy the foods that a certain region or town is famous for.” Croatians mostly come to the Samobor region near the Slovenian border for a nature getaway doing easy day hikes to the castle ruins overlooking the town or multi-day treks to mountainside cabins Some have simple restaurants to feed hungry hikers I stopped for tastings at the Korak Winery where I left with remarkable Chardonnays and French-style fruity Pinot Noirs lusty Chardonnays and Rieslings aged underground in large terra-cotta amphorae At most wineries I was told me they would prepare meals if notified in advance; some also offered accommodations The restaurant Karlo serves exquisite all-local cuisine paired with local wines whose résumé includes a Michelin-starred restaurant in Switzerland who creates a fresh 6-foot-long strudel daily as a mind-boggling dessert demonstration for guests I spent the second night in the area at another rustic farmhouse outside Jastrebarsko built in 1855 and owned by the Ciban family After a meal harvested from their garden and barnyard the husband took me through his wine-making operation and showed off the antique wine press from the villa of Josip Tito “except for the Turks and the Russians….” That night as I drifted to sleep amid the heady aroma of fermenting grapes my head swirled with Croatia’s complex past a sleek freeway whose 80 mph speed limit is largely ignored was a jarring reintroduction to the 21st century forested mountains brought me to my exit and the spectacular medieval hilltop town of Buzet on the Istria peninsula that the world’s biggest white truffle at the time was found Because it was fall — and truffle season — I met the Karlic family at their farm in Buzet for a decadent breakfast of scrambled eggs served with grated white truffles and cheeses drizzled with truffle honey heading into the oak and hazelnut forests with their son and two charming mutts to sniff out treasured white tartufi that sell for about $3,600 a pound Though the Istria peninsula is known for its lovely seaside and towns it is the inland that grabs my heart — and stomach seemingly everyone makes almost everything: Wineries press rich olive oil keep a dog or two if they’re in truffle country churn their own butter and make killer cheeses and charcuterie with bicyclists also enjoying the country roads through one ancient hilltop town after another Groznjan is an artistic hive of galleries and studios with a popular annual jazz festival and Motovun is famed for its summer film festival with movies viewed outdoors among the castle and fortress walls I wound through hamlets of stone houses that sometimes harbor world-class slow food havens such as New York Times-acclaimed Toklarija a 17-seat restaurant where I spent an afternoon savoring one of the best meals of my life created by self-taught chef Nevio Sirotic in his 600-year-old olive oil mill At last I reached the coast with its mellow Riviera ambiance and towns that dazzled with Venetian architecture a legacy of four centuries of Venetian rule I finished my trip by strolling the car-less maze of Rovinj whose hilly cobblestone lanes worn smooth by centuries of passers-by Then I settled in at a seaside café for one more bit of tradition — fresh fish served with the area’s signature polenta colored black with squid ink travel@latimes.com and Air Canada offer connecting service (change of planes) from Zagreb 385 (the country code for Croatia) and the local number Esplanade Zagreb, 1 Mihanoviceva, Zagreb; 14-566-666, www.esplanade.hr once a stop on the Orient Express train between Paris and Istanbul Etno Kuca Pod Okićem, 98-92-88-773, www.etno-kuca.hr/en Comfortable rustic farmhouse outside Samobor OPG Ciban, 98-365-986, www.cibandrago.net/eng Farmhouse/winery accommodations near Jastrebarsko San Rocco Hotel, 2 Srednja ulica, Brtonigla, Istria; 52-725-000, www.san-rocco.hr Stylish boutique hotel in a small Istrian hill town Vinodol, 10 Teslina, Zagreb; 1-481-1427, www.vinodol-zg.hr Popular traditional continental and Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis on local Karlo Restaurant traditional cuisine created by a Michelin-star chef in a beautiful vineyard setting with a view Konoba Morgan All the well prepared food and wines served in this cozy stone restaurant originate no more than 10 miles away Toklarija Restaurant Outstanding slow-food restaurant serving creative cuisine with seasonal Karlic Tartufi, 14 Paladini, Buzet, Istria; 91-579-7016, www.karlictartufi.hr/en Go truffle-hunting with third-generation hunters and their dogs after a truffle-filled breakfast Plesivica Wine Road. More than two dozen wineries, www.lat.ms/plesivica Hiking: Trail maps can be picked up in Samobor’s visitor’s center Croatia Tourism, croatia.hr/en-GB Travel & Experiences California Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map The Croatian Motorcycle Federation HMS celebrated the 2016 Champions on the occasion of the “Night of Champions” in the full packed Princess Center in Jastrebarsko the 2016 champions in the various disciplines music) was well received and made the evening even more colorful From right to left: HMS President Stjepan Peršin Wolfgang Srb addressed the audience in his welcome speech and highlighted the activities of last year “It was a very well organized Gala by the Croatian Federation the participants at the Night of Champions The Congress and Banquet Center Jastrebarsko Dr Wolfgang Srb during his speech – Photo © Matija Grgas perfectly organised with the Princess Centre as a top location The riders as well as clubs and officials received their well deserved medals and trophies in a nice atmosphere” with FIM Europe 1st Deputy President Martin de Graaff on the right – Photo © Matija Grgas Dr Wolfgang Srb and Mr Martin de Graaff with HMS President Stjepan Peršin The sarcophagus of Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac in Zagreb Cathedral ROMAN CATHOLIC bishops in Croatia have accused the Serbian Orthodox Church of spreading “communist propaganda”, after the Orthodox Church canonised a group of children allegedly killed by RCs during the Second World War “No one has a right to overlook the pain of these children — but no one has a right to use their tragedy for narrow goals far from any compassion or commitment to justice,” bishops of the archdiocese of Zagreb told the Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia in an open letter “It is especially painful to see the continuation of ideological propaganda from the period of Yugoslav Communist totalitarianism was sent after the assignment by the Orthodox Holy Synod of a feast day in honour of seven “holy martyr children” who died in concentration camps at Jastrebarsko and Sisak The letter said that Bishop Gerasim (Popović) of Gornji Karlovac had submitted material on the “terrible and unprecedented torture of innocent children” at camps under the management of RC priests and nuns It had not provided documentary evidence or properly identify the perpetrators to implicate the wartime RC Archbishop of Zagreb with “tendentious descriptions and negative undertones “We have the impression that the Serbian Orthodox Church has accepted communist rhetoric full of untruths and manipulations seeking to blame innocent people for allegedly torturing and killing children,” the Croatian bishops wrote thousands were saved from death thanks to the love and care of Croatian Catholics.” Relations between the Serbian and Croatian Churches have long been tense over both the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Serbs and Roma under Croatia’s Nazi-aligned wartime regime who was later sentenced to 16 years’ hard labour for collaboration in war crimes by a Communist court He was created a cardinal in 1953 by Pope Pius XII Although Cardinal Stepinac was beatified in 1998 a process for his canonisation was suspended by Pope Francis in 2016 pending the resolution of disagreements over his case by Croatian and Serbian historians No mention was made of the controversy over the “holy-martyr children” by Patriarch Porfirije during a homily in the Orthodox cathedral in Zagreb accusing them of refusing “to allow a place among the saints for slaughtered Serbian children” A Serbian MP representing the interests of Serbs expelled from Croatia during the Balkan War of 1991-95 branded the letter a “shameless lie” He said that the death of at least 2300 Orthodox children at Jastrebarsko and Sisak had been established by “many reports and documents” said in a statement: “The bishops scandalously claim that these were shelters where nuns allegedly treated children and helped them survive “This continues a longstanding campaign by followers of the Ustasha ideology at denying the genocide committed against the Serbian people and at canonising the war criminal Alojzije Stepinac.” A special service to commemorate war orphans was held at the Jastrebarsko camp last Friday The sarcophagus of Cardinal Aloysius Stepinac in Zagreb Cathedral Nicholas Reed Langen examines the Supreme Court ruling on gender We are a partnership of six diverse and welcoming congregations in the northern districts of Milton Keynes offering a rich tapestry of worshipping traditions – Anglican USPG is looking to appoint 3 Trustees (lay or ordained) committed to global mission within the Anglican Communion The Diocese of Gloucester is looking for a practical team member to join the Department of Mission and Ministry who brings a creative and flexible approach as we seek to develop and implement innovative approaches to collaborative ministry across the Diocese The Bishop of Lincoln seeks an ordained colleague to lead in vocational discernment within the Diocese The Diocese of London is delighted to welcome applications for the position of Area Director of Ministry (Willesden) and Diocesan Clergy Wellbeing Adviser run jointly by Sarum College and The Church Times tickets available This online seminar, run jointly by Modern Church and The Church Times discusses the theology underpinning the drive for growth tickets available Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month Lauren Simmonds The Croatian Erdody Castle is located in Kerestinec and is the oldest remaining building in all of Jastrebarsko which isn’t too far from the City of Zagreb It was initially constructed by the Erdody family from which it draws its name This two story structure which has sadly been left to rot to an extent is a first category monument with its Renaissance fortified elements still impressive to this day a man who was working very hard on the construction of the structure which was then surrounded by a moat Petar II Erdody, was awarded the noble title of count the castle had been quite significantly expanded and given a new lease of life with works on it continuing on and off until the late 16th century It was rebuilt once again periodically during the 18th and 19th centuries and fully refurnished in the early 20th century It has since been left to the often cruel hands of time and the elements and is absolutely due a revamp before it is lost entirely As Poslovni Dnevnik/Mladen Miletic writes a contract was signed recently in Jastrebarsko between the mayor which will enable the start of works on the restoration of the neglected Croatian Erdody Castle The deadline for the execution of the works is 480 calendar days from the date of the introduction of the contractor to the work and the total value of the works stands at a massive 108,194,041.60 kuna excluding VAT Due to market disruptions caused by the global coronavirus pandemic and then by the war in Ukraine that sum exceeds the total value of the castle renovation and revitalisation project which in accordance with the Grant Agreement of which 49,503,626.59 kuna is being co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund 34 kuna bas been provided by Jastrebarsko itself It’s worth noting that despite constant interventions throughout time the Croatian Erdody Castle has been in a state of disrepair since the late 1980s For more, make sure to check out our dedicated lifestyle section and the Dubravkin Put restaurant from Zagreb while the restaurants Pelegrini (Šibenik) and Korak (Jastrebarsko) have successfully retained their stars “The new MICHELIN Guide is a reaffirmation of the excellence of Croatian gastronomy thanks to the creativity and passion of Croatian chefs as confirmed by the recent decision of the World Tourism Organization which named our chef Rudi Štefan a global ambassador for gastronomic tourism and the richness of the interpretation of Croatian dishes are an additional motive for many tourists to visit and the development of wine and gastronomic tourism is recognized in our strategic documents Congratulations to everyone who has been included in this globally relevant gastronomic guide this year and I believe that more and more of our restaurants will find their place in it year after year," said Tonči Glavina the restaurants Zinfandel’s (Zagreb) and Korak (Jastrebarsko) have successfully retained it This mark is awarded to restaurants particularly dedicated to sustainability and eco-friendliness in their gastronomy Croatia is very well recognized as a quality and attractive destination and MICHELIN awards confirm the excellence of Croatian gastronomy and the skill of our chefs who contribute to the satisfaction of our guests with their work and effort and the fact that we have something to boast about is proven by this MICHELIN selection which greatly contributes to promoting our country as a quality and prestigious gastronomic destination The fact that Croatia now has a total of 93 restaurants holding some sort of MICHELIN mark will be effectively used in further promotion both of gastronomy as a product and of Croatia as a destination as a whole,” said Kristjan Staničić extending sincere congratulations to all awarded and distinguished restaurants MICHELIN has also included the restaurant Fakin from Legrad on the Bib Gourmand list bringing the total to 11 restaurants in Croatia with this MICHELIN designation which is awarded to restaurants offering quality menus at affordable prices Let's add that the new awards are the result of the secret visits of Croatian restaurants by professional MICHELIN inspectors, from the globally most significant and recognized restaurant guide, whose list for Croatia has been published on their website May 06, 2025 283 Dubrovnik May 05, 2025 265 Times Travel May 05, 2025 549 Dubrovnik May 04, 2025 983 Croatia May 04, 2025 668 Opinion May 04, 2025 886 Croatia May 03, 2025 950 Dubrovnik May 03, 2025 1138 Croatia May 03, 2025 755 Dubrovnik Total Croatia News The RAAK winery from Draganić near Jastrebarsko presented their dessert and fruit wines – made from sour cherries and chokeberry/black currant – in the Red Wine Bar in Zagreb The tasting was conducted by Boris Rak and his wife Lorena with cheese platters prepared by the wine bar chef Guests were first introduced to RAAK wines exciting dessert and fruit wines unlike any in Croatia Their offer includes a rare fruit wine which is not sweet (thus going along with many dishes) – from chokeberry enriched with black currant and a romantic wine from two types of sour cherries – continental and maraska Then came the pairing of wines with cheeses First came cheese marinated in the RAAK chokeberry/black currant wine then a blue and goat cheese with homemade jam from black currant and chokeberry in lemon juice wines wee combined with sweets from the Cake Boutique from excellent chocolate and a cheesecake as well as original sweets from Brazil Refreshments came in the form of the Brazilian Caipirinha cocktail with a touch of RAAK wines prepared by the young owner of the wine bar Luka Elezović after which came a party to bossa nova rhythm was named after the old version of their last name who left a legal career in Brazil and married Boris Rak today with an equal share in the family business Thus this promotion was envisioned as a wine harmony of Croatia and Brazil “Since I came to Croatia I had the desire to create special products from eco fruits When my husband’s and father-in-law’s love for red wines joined that idea we became a partner trio,” said Lorena The RAAK winery is committed to making wines from a blend of innovative and exciting taste with high nutritional value of fruit They use only fruits that were not treated with chemicals They grow their own and have a modern winery They also take great care to preserve the vitamins and minerals found in fruit Hence the oenological process is designed to maintain the useful ingredients from fruit smaller shops with domestic products and delicacies and pastry shops They are available from Varaždin in the north to Dubrovnik in the south as well as some online shops In the coming period they plan to expand the production of fruit and wine aiming to create more fantastic fruit wines not made in Croatia or Europe “Most people think fruit wines are something new but they have a history from the Middle Ages Our grandmother in Draganić told us she remembers as a little girl the locals made wines from apples between the two World Wars,” said Boris Rak For the original and more from the G.E.T. Report, click here