The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended this evening the traditional Salami Fair in Samobor an event that has encouraged the making of indigenous traditional products for almost four decades and represents a valuable contribution to the tourist offer of the town of Samobor The Samobor Salami Fair is a competitive event where hobbyist and professional producers strive to excel as masters in making cured meat products and this year’s 37th Samobor Salami Fair is being held under the patronage of the President of the Republic The gathering was greeted by the host of the event the president of the Samobor Salami Fair Organizing Committee and vice president of its organizer the “Zlatna Šajba” Association The first Samobor Salami Fair was held in 1989 and since then it has developed into a real gastronomic attraction and a commendable event of a competitive nature Alongside President Milanović was the Special Adviser to the President for the Economy Velibor Mačkić PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek Lauren Simmonds a beautiful little town not far from Zagreb has ensured free public transport for everyone with the turn of the new year The betterment of the general quality of life for people up and down the country has been something mayors and other administrative leaders have been pondering about for some time now Some cities have made certain properties as cheap as a euro or two for purchase while others have provided both business and demographic incentives Samobor is the latest on the list of towns introducing measures to up quality of life levels locally with the introduction of entirely free public transport for everyone As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, speaking more specifically, on the first day of the New Year, Samobor introduced free public transport for everyone on seventeen different bus lines. Six of those local bus lines operating within the Samobor area are new, and another new feature is the circular line that connects the town centre of Samobor itself. The City of Samobor reported on Wednesday that the introduction of free public transport marks a “brand new era in city mobility” that will make everyday travel easier for everyone and improve quality of life levels overall. The biggest news from Samobor is by far the circular line that connects the town centre of Samobor. Samobor Mayor Petra Škrobot, Deputy Mayor Petar Burić and their associates took a ride on the circular line themselves,” Samobor’s administration revealed. Samobor is otherwise a favourite day trip destination for plenty of people from surrounding towns and cities, including Zagreb and Karlovac. The move to make public transport totally free will hopefully have a domino effect and be introduced by other areas nationwide. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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 Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Experiencing restaurants is the MICHELIN Guide inspectors’ prime focus Whether we’re travelling in our own hometowns and countries or internationally we always thrive on finding the most interesting food opportunities This spices up our job and makes travelling abroad even more interesting and challenging and finally we select the restaurants to test Once we’re in the field we slowly begin to discover the reality of life on the ground – the local customs the best places to go and the local produce we’ve been travelling with restrictions and have plenty of paperwork to fill in etc… but we managed to get through the spring and summer period our most important time for our southern Europe selection One of our inspectors spent time in Zagreb, an extremely beautiful city known for its cultural vibe, its winter markets – and less famous but excellent wine production! We came across some interesting wine producers from the Zagreb area and decided to talk to Ivan Jug, director of Noel restaurant and one of the best-known sommeliers in the country to hear more about the wine region around Zagreb and the main producers "Covid threw tremendous challenges at our industry I would lie if I told you we weren't facing harsh times for a brief period since that's natural in those peculiar circumstances so we took the situation as an opportunity to be the best we can Unpredictable circumstances during lockdowns prompted some changes that we should've implemented long ago we decided to step up our game and focus on even greater quality we are now growing produce in our own gardens just outside Zagreb. We stopped serving lunch bistro-oriented occasion and focused solely on our fine dining experience Clients soon recognized our qualitative growth and rewarded us with even greater attendance sport and gastronomy events have taken place this summer Our restaurant Noel works even better now than in 2019 – we can say this has been our best summer since opening Tourists are plentiful and Croatia has been a hugely popular destination this summer due to the favorable Covid situation our need to socialize struggled the most – restaurants are not here just to feed people they provide an important social role in our society and people couldn't wait to start visiting us again It has somehow influenced my whole life from that point and not a single day has passed by without my broadening my knowledge about wine I have gathered many incredible memories and experiences Maybe one of the most memorable was a visit to the Romanée-Conti winery which is an opportunity not many of us have had" Korak is a respectable winery with its own restaurant and Bernard Korak could be the next star on the Croatian chef's map although not as well-known as Istria for example I would pair it with our signature quail dish: quail The Plešivica Wine Road will take you straight to the magical hills along which kilometers of vineyards stretch Plešivica has established itself as a serious wine region and is most recognizable for its top-quality sparkling wines but you’ll also find something completely unexpected - wines from an amphora more and more Plešivica winemakers are turning to completely natural production Inspired by a long tradition of producing their own food which has been the standard here for many generations Žumberak restaurants will delight you with local traditional and high quality cuisine Zelina Wine Road is ruled by the Kraljevina It is an indigenous variety of wine that you will find only here and it is characterized by lightness and freshness and is therefore traditionally used for larger gatherings and is ideal for warm summer days a sparkling wine made from the same variety Let’s imagine a day out in the region and some interesting itineraries “If chance takes you to one of the wine roads of Zagreb County you can be sure that you will have not only experience top wines but also a series of incredible adventures regardless of whether you are traveling with a special person Samobor is a traditional excursion spot for the people of Zagreb where top treats await you - and we don't just mean foamy Samobor custard cream cake There is a traditional special aromatized wine called Bermet raisins and figs are added during the fermentation process and wormwood which gives Bermet a characteristic bitter note Unexpected Samobor flavor combinations don't stop there ; muštarda is a mustard to which red grape jam and red wine are combined The result is a spicy and sweet side dish to meat dishes not all Samobor attractions are in a glass or on a plate - some are hidden deep underground in which you can take a walk under the guidance of the finder himself We might suggest you try the Rudarska Greblica (Miners' cake) – a salty cake – now a protected geographical indication by the European Union (the 29th Croatian product to be protected in the European Union and the first in Zagreb County) Back to the Plešivica wine road – take a wine tasting at one of the many wineries (Jagunić winery) wine tasting autochthonous varieties Try traditional cuisine in one of the many restaurants holding the "Flavours of the Zagreb region" standard ; not to be missed is plešivički copanjek - traditional autochthonous salty pie Sometimes the day is simply not long enough for all that Zagreb County wine roads can offer that will turn a trip into an unforgettable weekend experience From listening bars to neighbourhood restaurants explore all the top recommendations from Chishuru’s Adejoké Bakare One of the most prominent chefs serving Indian cuisine talks India and his New York these splurge-worthy hotels have the design and prestige to rival even that most historic of city landmarks The first hotel on this list is just 20 minutes from Florence From vineyards to infinity pools and farm-to-table restaurants every one of these 14 Tuscan classics is within two hours of the city Whether it’s your first time in a fine dining restaurant or your fiftieth these tips from our seasoned MICHELIN Guide Inspectors will help you get it right — your way Croatian cuisine boasts a strong identity that reflects both the land and the sea A hub of cultures that look to the sea and the land Croatia is a place where tradition (including the culinary tradition) is still very much alive As you stroll down the long tree-lined avenue leading to the Baroque Novo Celje palace you know that the dining experience awaiting you will be very special indeed Chef Martin Gimenez Castro has found his new home and career much further north where he treats his guests to the finest seafood produce The fourth edition of the Serbia Michelin Guide has been published with good news for the country – a new Michelin star for two restaurants among the 23 listed in the world’s most famous “red” guide Download our app to carry The MICHELIN Guide in your pocket and book the world’s best restaurants and hotels on the go The 2025 Malta MICHELIN Guide selection celebrates a newly awarded One MICHELIN Star restaurant The MICHELIN Guide has arrived in the Philippines setting its sights on Manila and Environs & Cebu for its highly anticipated 2026 debut With our expert Inspectors already exploring the country’s vibrant dining scene Filipino cuisine is poised to take centre stage on the global culinary map Three new destinations will sparkle in the Sunshine State in 2025 What kind of story unfolds when eating becomes work An anonymous MICHELIN Guide Inspector in Asia takes us behind the curtain to find out more about the day-to-day tasks of this coveted job we invite our MICHELIN Inspectors to share their thoughts on food Mateo Meković is a talented and innovative chef at the renowned Waldinger restaurant in Osijek Known for his creative approach to traditional Croatian cuisine Mateo has made a name for himself by incorporating local ingredients and modern techniques into his dishes Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial By continuing I accept the Terms & Condition and Privacy Policy. I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels Once we\u2019re in the field we slowly begin to discover the reality of life on the ground \u2013 the local customs we\u2019ve been travelling with restrictions and have plenty of paperwork to fill in etc\u2026 but we managed to get through the spring and summer period One of our inspectors spent time in Zagreb, an extremely beautiful city known for its cultural vibe, its winter markets \u2013 and less famous but excellent wine production! We came across some interesting wine producers from the Zagreb area and decided to talk to Ivan Jug, director of Noel restaurant and one of the best-known sommeliers in the country \"Covid threw tremendous challenges at our industry Our restaurant Noel works even better now than in 2019 \u2013 we can say this has been our best summer since opening Tourists are plentiful and Croatia has been a hugely popular destination this summer due to the favorable Covid situation our need to socialize struggled the most \u2013 restaurants are not here just to feed people Maybe one of the most memorable was a visit to the Roman\u00e9e-Conti winery which is an opportunity not many of us have had\" An interesting region is Ple\u0161ivica hills The Ple\u0161ivica Wine Road will take you straight to the magical hills along which kilometers of vineyards stretch Ple\u0161ivica has established itself as a serious wine region but you\u2019ll also find something completely unexpected - wines from an amphora more and more Ple\u0161ivica winemakers are turning to completely natural production \u017dumberak restaurants will delight you with local traditional and high quality cuisine Zelina Wine Road is ruled by the Kraljevina It is an indigenous variety of wine that you will find only here Let\u2019s imagine a day out in the region and some interesting itineraries \u201cIf chance takes you to one of the wine roads of Zagreb County Samobor is a traditional excursion spot for the people of Zagreb Unexpected Samobor flavor combinations don't stop there ; mu\u0161tarda is a mustard to which red grape jam and red wine are combined We might suggest you try the Rudarska Greblica (Miners' cake) \u2013 a salty cake \u2013 now a protected geographical indication by the European Union (the 29th Croatian product to be protected in the European Union and the first in Zagreb County) Back to the Ple\u0161ivica wine road \u2013 take a wine tasting at one of the many wineries (Jaguni\u0107 winery) wine tasting autochthonous varieties Try traditional cuisine in one of the many restaurants holding the \"Flavours of the Zagreb region\" standard ; not to be missed is ple\u0161ivi\u010dki copanjek - traditional autochthonous salty pie Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Croatia this historic destination has many seasonal events and cultural attractions to offer over the months ahead Samobor is a picture-postcard retreat west of Zagreb only 30 minutes away when visitors hike in the surrounding hills before a rewarding helping of the town’s famous custard slice Samobor has much more to offer the curious visitor Host of one of Croatia’s biggest Mardi Gras carnivals after Rijeka museums and culinary traditions to discover while its Advent celebrations run until January 8 Samobor particularly suits the moment with a dusting of snow and atmospherically romantic long evenings Samobor’s traditional Advent celebrations are bigger and better than ever stalls and attractions set up between the main squares of Trg kralja Tomislava and Trg Matice Hrvatske A public skating rink (admission €2) is also open until January 8 the Samobor Carnival is one of the most imaginative in Croatia Running for over the week before Ash Wednesday this year’s Samoborski fašnik is being organised from February 10 to 21 This is when the biggest celebrations take place with a stage set up in town for live music and an awards ceremony for the best costumes Against a backdrop of a spectacular fireworks display an effigy of Prince Fašnik is burned on a bonfire While many cities in the region stage similar events Samobor’s leans on social criticism and satire Masks and costumes might mock the political figures of the day a tradition that dates as far back as 1860 The first Samobor Carnival that we know of occurred in 1827 as there is a record of the town hall being rented for a masked ball facebooktwitterinstagramAbout us ShareSaveCommentLifestyleTravelZ Towns — An Offbeat European Road TripByJoe Yogerst Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights urban areas and road trips.Follow AuthorSep 03 11:15am EDTShareSaveCommentThe boardwalk trail through Plitvice Lakes National Park Looking for an offbeat Euro road trip this fall that doesn’t involve hordes of other travelers The overland journey between Zagreb and Zadar in northern Croatia might be just the thing that feeds your appetite for Europe without the indigestion (a.k.a overcrowding and overpricing) that plagues popular destinations like Venice It’s not a long drive: Less 200 miles (300 km) via the Croatian wine country and a spectacular bridge before reaching the gorgeous Adriatic coast While you can start the road trip at either end the best jumping off spot is Croatian capital and a Franjo Tuđman International Airport that welcomes direct flights from Istanbul The rental car kiosks are a short walking distance outside the terminal There’s a lot of choice including well-known global brands like Enterprise and Hertz current Enterprise rates for a one-week one-way rental between Zagreb and Zadar (minus taxes because automatics are still rare in Europe The Croatian National Theatre reflects Zagreb's roots in the Austro-Hungarian Empire With the Dalmatian Coast such a star attraction, travelers tend to bypass much of inland Croatia. That’s a huge mistake, because Zagreb is one of Europe’s most underrated capital cities an old Austro-Hungarian Empire regional capital with plenty of vintage architecture Zagreb offers the usual array of modern, Western-style chain hotels (Hilton, Sheraton, Westin). But nothing beats the elegant Esplanade for romance Founded in 1925 as a stopover on the original Orient Express route the Art Nouveau landmark is totally modernized and located within walking distance of most of the places in Zagreb you’ll want to visit "On the Hills – Primeval Forest" by Ivan Rabuzin at the Croatian Museum of Naive Art A half-hour drive from downtown Zagreb, the village of Samobor is a gateway to the wine country along the Croatia-Slovenia frontier The village doesn’t look much older than the day it was founded in the 13th century as a free royal town within the Holy Roman Empire Nowadays its forte is hiking and mountain biking in the heavily wooded hills around Samobor and gourmet food and drinks in the old medieval town a favorite food of the copper and iron miners who once labored in this region where the dreamy views across the countryside are nearly as tasty as Chef Bernard’s out-of-this-world tasting menus rudarska greblica (miner cake) at Bakery Nikl in Samobor take the E65 motorway toll road in a westerly direction and veer south onto the D1 highway at Karlovac Follow the yellow signs pointing the way to Split/Rijeka One of Europe’s greatest natural wonders and the most picturesque spot in Croatia away from the coast their ever-changing color (a dozen different shades of blue and green) the subject of a billion social media posts Especially in summer when Croatian visitors are also out in force Follow the stairs down to the lakeshore and explore the boardwalk trail to several waterfalls Then hop the boat across the lake to another landing where you can catch a bus back to the visitor center or head down trails in the park’s less-crowded southern sector With numerous guesthouses and hotels in the area Plitvice is a great place to spend a night or two With the extra-added advantage of entering the park when it first opens before the crowds arrive Adriatic-style ceviche and caviar at Restaurant Kaštel in Zadar bungee jump off the bright red Maslenica Bridge Founded in the 9th century BC and the oldest, continuously occupied town in Croatia, Zadar has witnessed the march of empires over the years — Greeks The city’s eclectic architecture reflects its changing fortunes (and masters) especially the mishmash of overlapping styles in the walled old town This is a great place to splurge on a guided walking tour the city’s beloved Sea Organ playing a romantic wave-generated tune and superyachts in the harbor silhouetted by a sunset that film director Alfred Hitchcock called “the world’s most beautiful” during a 1964 visit to Zadar That Zadar sunset that Alfred Hitchcock so adored. While some centuries-old castles are still standing tall, others haven’t withstood the ravages of time, war, or natural disaster quite as well. To give you an idea of what once was, Australia-based insurance company Budget Direct has digitally reconstructed seven of them for its blog Watch below as ruins across Europe transform back into the formidable forts and turreted castles they used to be courtesy of a little modern-day magic we call GIF technology The only remaining piece of the 13th-century castle built by Bohemia’s King Ottokar II is the base of the guard tower—the rest of the ruins are from an expansion that happened about 300 years later It’s just a 10-minute walk from the Croatian city of Samobor King Richard I of England built Château Gaillard in just two years during the late 12th century as a fortress to protect the Duchy of Normandy It didn’t last very long—France’s King Philip II captured it six years later Dunnottar Castle overlooks the North Sea and is perhaps best known as the fortress that William Wallace (portrayed by Mel Gibson in 1995’s Braveheart) and Scottish forces won back from English occupation in 1297 it became the place where the Scottish monarchy stored their crown jewels which were smuggled to safety when Oliver Cromwell invaded during the 17th century This ivy-covered Irish castle was built during the 16th century and all but destroyed in a fire in 1910 English nobles who owned property all over the region The earliest known mention of Olsztyn Castle was in 1306 so we know it was constructed some time before then and expanded later that century by King Casimir III of Poland It was severely damaged during wars with Sweden in the 17th and 18th centuries but its highest tower—once a prison—still stands Slovakia’s massive Spiš Castle was built in the 12th century to mark the boundary of the Hungarian kingdom and fell to ruin after a fire in 1780. However, 20th-century restoration efforts helped fortify the remaining rooms, and it was even used as a filming location for parts of 1996’s DragonHeart This 13th-century Romanian castle boasts one previous resident of some celebrity: Vlad the Impaler, or Vlad Dracula, who may have been an early influence for Bram Stoker’s vampire, Dracula It also boasts a staggering 1480 stone steps [h/t Simply Savvy] © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved Dunnottar Castle overlooks the North Sea and is perhaps best known as the fortress that William Wallace (portrayed by Mel Gibson in 1995’s Braveheart) and Scottish forces won back from English occupation in 1297 The earliest known mention of Olsztyn Castle was in 1306 Slovakia’s massive Spiš Castle was built in the 12th century to mark the boundary of the Hungarian kingdom and fell to ruin after a fire in 1780. However, 20th-century restoration efforts helped fortify the remaining rooms, and it was even used as a filming location for parts of 1996’s DragonHeart This 13th-century Romanian castle boasts one previous resident of some celebrity: Vlad the Impaler, or Vlad Dracula, who may have been an early influence for Bram Stoker’s vampire, Dracula [h/t Simply Savvy] The built landscape of Europe has been sculpted by thousands of years of war and reconciliation all have built castles and forts with the strength of their workers’ hands many of these magnificent castles have fallen into ruin Some were abandoned after suffering war damage Budget Direct chose seven of the most unique ruined castles of Europe and working with a team of designers and architects created a series of architectural renders and reconstruction animations that bring them back to their former glory The seven castles included in this project are - Samobor Castle in Croatia Spiš Castle in Slovakia and Poenari Fortress in Romania As efforts to contain the effects of the COVID-19 crisis ramp up millions of people across the globe are stuck at home This project offers a slice of escapism and much-needed armchair travel inspiration and this is certainly worthy of grabbing your attention Samobor Castle was built between 1260 and 1264 by the Czech King Ottokar II of Bohemia who was then in a war with the Hungarian King Stephen V The castle is situated on a 220 metre hill some of them were often in conflict with Samobor’s residents the deserted castle became the property of Samobor for 5,293 korunas The Samobor Castle is an iconic landmark that dominates the whole area Well done to the team at Budget Direct for these brilliant project and check out the video below to see the steps that they went through to bring this popular castle back to its former glory And the castle returned to its former glory  Check out all of the reconsturtions here May 06, 2025 52 Interviews May 06, 2025 297 Dubrovnik May 05, 2025 273 Times Travel May 05, 2025 554 Dubrovnik May 04, 2025 990 Croatia May 04, 2025 675 Opinion May 04, 2025 892 Croatia May 03, 2025 958 Dubrovnik May 03, 2025 1152 Croatia Total Croatia News As reported from the City of Samobor is now legally protected as an autochthonous Samobor and Croatian brand samoborska kremšnita wears the title of intangible cultural property of Croatia this dessert made of puff pastry and whipped egg cream is known by various names and variants in Central and Mediterranean countries One of the most famous in Croatia comes from Samobor The original recipe was created in the 1920s by confectioner Đuro Lukačić Višnja Vukmanović and Branka Žganjer transferred the original recipe and knowledge to Kavana Livadić and the pastry shop “U prolazu,” which are also holders of the intangible cultural property The tradition of making samoborska kremšnita is cherished in these pastry shops to this day so that this foamy dessert is enjoyed by many visitors The queen of all cakes is how she is called in Samobor Samoborska kremsnita is one of the symbols and the first association with Samobor in Croatia and abroad It’s a dessert that encourages people to visit It is almost unthinkable to visit Samobor and not taste a nice light yellowish cream between the crispy puff pastry you must wait in line for samoborska kremšnita It is brought home as a souvenir from Samobor but samoborska kremšnita is unique because of its preparation and the Samobor ambiance that should be enjoyed while eating it The samoborska kremšnita is truly an exceptional dessert worthy of admiration. It also testifies that it was, along with popular Croatian cake mađarica, recently declared one of the 100 most popular cakes in the world according to the TasteAtlas portal Samoborska kremšnita enjoyed in one of Samobor’s pastry shops / Donatella Pauković However, samoborska kremšnita is not the first dessert from the Samobor area that received this title. Namely, a salty cake originating from the village of Ruda near Samobor named rudarska greblica was also declared a protected intangible cultural good this cake used to be prepared back in the 16th century when mining flourished in Rude Their wives made this cake for local miners The “Days of Rudarska Greblica” event has been held in the village of Rude for years Since it is impossible to travel and taste traditional dishes of different destinations due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, you can always try to make samoborska kremšnita yourself at home. Of course, nothing can replace a visit to Samobor and tasting traditional kremšnita in the ambiance of this beautiful medieval town https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v=HiuEu47ZsEA and website in this browser for the next time I comment As Poslovni Dnevnik writes due to the growing number of countries to which this company now exports a globally successful product the popular Samobor Frelimo cvarci have been given a new look and international name – Dr This manufacturer is working out of its Samobor home base with brand new and improved packaging and it produces some of the highest quality Croatian cvarci and healthy lard It plans to continue to export its products to European countries such as Germany the share of exports in our revenues is becoming more significant and we realised with our partners that we already have a quality product but we also need a recognisable market presence to further advance in both Croatian and foreign markets We want to clearly set ourselves aside and make ourselves stand out from the competition We devised a new communication strategy in collaboration with experts from Studio Conex who very quickly recognised our needs and did a great job Judging by the first reactions of our customers and business partners the new Dr.PIGLEY brand and better packaging will meet expectations in the markets in which we operate and win some brand new ones as well Demanding Croatian and foreign customers are accustomed to the quality of Samobor Frelimo cvarci crunchiness and freshness even longer,” stated Miroslav Matausic They have been producing lard and domestic cvarci a much loved pork snack which are very much like pork scratchings/rind (British English) for nineteen years now Fortuna food and the Dr.PIGLEY brand are the successors of the Frelimo company which has been producing lard and homemade cvarci for nineteen years in a modern facility with the highest health standards and family recipes “We enjoyed developing a new communication strategy and the Dr.PIGLEY brand It’s an extremely high quality product which will win people over on their very first taste we’ve known that we’re participating in a story with potentially great international success Dr.PIGLEY cvarci are a natural product prepared by hand according to a traditional recipe and are very different from industrial products from other manufacturers,” explained Boris Lesic Fortuna food has already won awards and recognitions for the quality of its Croatian cvarci and packaging innovation For more, check out Made in Croatia as hundreds of people gather outside Zagreb to stage the historic 1441 Battle of  Samobor Having recently gathered to recreate the greatest battle of the Peasants’ Revolt in the hills of Hrvatsko Zagorje the vibrant Croatian reenactment scene convened again this weekend to bring to life a similar scenario which took place in a peaceful town near Zagreb almost 600 years ago – the town of Samobor which is also known for its carnival and an signature cake called Kremšnite beneath glorious remains of the fortress of Samobor there was a chance for visitors to enter every historical camp A river of people approached with curiosity but only the bravest challenged great knights for a fight The smell of fire and smoke in the air indicated that royal lunches were being prepared while a light breeze made you look with longing at those warm knight’s mantle After the death of king Albrecht Habsburg in 1439 a fight for the heritage of the throne began throughout Croatia and Hungary Ulrik II Celjski sided with Elizabeth along with the military commander Stjepan Banić Lendavski chose the side of king Vladislav Jagelovic these armies clashed at Samobor on Ash Wednesday and the fierce battle ended with Vitovc’s victory It was a victory which included capturing the military leader Banić forcing Ulrick II to recognize Vladislav III There were also many groups from Slovenia and Hungary The event has progressed considerably since it was first held back in 2006 but so many people still do not know about this event This included one couple who happened to be in Samobor for the day and were quite thrilled: “We came here to relax in nature what luck to find such an amazing battle!” Children were enjoying playing with knights while amazed parents were trying to capture the moment Phones were only used for photos and videos; no one paid attention to them as people were in some different universe It was more than pleasing to see how everyone took pleasure on a sunny day in the fresh air Nourishing a tradition in this way keeps people outside teaching them about the history and all that while meeting other people and maybe even make one join one of the knight order Moving to Zagreb has given me a different perspective on life in the capital Whereas I previously came to visit the city and enjoy the increasingly diverse offer it has I now have one eye on what there is to explore in the region With a green ring of nature, tradition, culture, gastronomy, wine roads, and adventure tourism available in Zagreb County (much more on the excellent Around Zagreb website) there is plenty of family fun to be had just 20 minutes from home.  Arguably the most popular day trip destination is the gorgeous historic town of Samobor and a 20-minute drive west of the capital.  Just how popular it was I discovered on the first week of 2022, when we decided to go and explore the town, try the famous Kremsnita, and see what Samobor had to offer in the way of restaurants. According to the recently released Gault & Millau guide for Zagreb and Zagreb County it seems that there was plenty of choice of quality eateries with 3 Samobor restaurants featuring in the top 12 in Zagreb County.  It seems that quite a lot of other people also had the idea to grab a spot of weekend lunch out of the city (Photo by Ivan Tibor Grujic i Marivo) We managed a good lunch and then headed to King Tomislav Square for perhaps the most popular thing to do in Samobor – trying the famous Kremsnita. Protected and listed in Croatia’s Register of Cultural Goods it consists of two layers of puff pastry and fluffy custard cream The only two places serving the authentic Samobor-style kremsnita are located on the square: U prolazu pastry shop and Livadic cafe But while Samobor Kremsnita is undoubtedly the town’s most famous product there are some other indigenous treasures well worth exploring.  Meat lovers should seek out Samobor’s very own authentic sausages This is a smoked sausage with a combination of chopped pork As the name suggests (‘cesnjak’ means garlic in Croatian) Served in pairs after being stuffed in pork casings the sausages have a smoky and garlicky taste Every good sausage tastes better with a spot of mustard Samoborska mustarda it thought to have its origins with the French occupation of 1808-1812 The unique Samobor mix is made from mustard seeds emitting a peppery and fruity taste to compliment the traditional Samoborska cesnjovka.  Their lovely tasting room and shop are just around the main square The family also produce an excellent Samoborska mustarda.  There is one more Samobor speciality to try before you start your journey back to Zagreb, a delicacy which became a protected EU brand last year (as previously reported on TCN) – Rudarka Greblica The savoury pie and its name date back to the 16th century and have their roots in what used to be the local mining industry in nearby Rude ‘Greblica’ was the Croatian word for a traditional ask rake tool.  This dish can be best described as a savory pie with cheese filling neatly wrapped between two thin layers of dough The filling is occasionally enriched with other ingredients such as walnuts thanks to the geographical protection it now enjoys throughout the European Union can be produced exclusively in Rude and surrounding villages and is available at Bakery Nikl which is the only certified producer of Rudarska greblica.  take a stroll along the river of this picturesque historic town just one of the wonders you can find in Zagreb County a short drive or bus ride from the capital.  To learn more of the magic of Samobor, check out the Total Croatia Samobor in a Page guide.   You can take some stress from any situation by changing your perspective And that's exactly the effect of looking at these wonderfully colourful illustrations by Samobor-based artist Maja Tomljanović A post shared by Maja Tomljanovic (@majatomljanovic) on Mar 20 A post shared by Maja Tomljanovic (@majatomljanovic) on Mar 21 Maja is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer whose works has been used by companies and magazines across Croatia and Europe Her latest series of pictures manages to capture the current times A post shared by Maja Tomljanovic (@majatomljanovic) on Mar 23 A post shared by Maja Tomljanovic (@majatomljanovic) on Mar 22 A post shared by Maja Tomljanovic (@majatomljanovic) on Mar 26 In the brightly-coloured and distinctly feminine series shows a shopper returning home while masked and lists just some of the things she is thankful for Perhaps we all have similar things to be thankful for if we can share for a moment Maja's way of looking at things A post shared by Maja Tomljanovic (@majatomljanovic) on Mar 24 A post shared by Maja Tomljanovic (@majatomljanovic) on Mar 28, 2020 at 1:02am PDT After a stimulating and intense week of keynote speeches the final day of Zagreb Digital Nomad Week on Sunday took participants out of the city to explore Zagreb County.  The day, organised by the Zagreb County Tourist Board, is a continuation of the successful partnership with the Zagreb City Tourist Board on the Around Zagreb project cultural and adventure options available in the county a short distance from the city.   The intense heat necessitated a shorter day but where better to start than historic Samobor a delightfully charming old town a short drive west of Zagreb it was the natural ones that were the biggest initial attraction – the cooling air and spectacular nature along the river were a delight.  The Samobor Jazz Festival is currently taking place for a month.  And if there is one thing you must try when in Samobor a deliciously light dessert for which the town is rightly famous The visiting digital nomads needed no second invitiation.  To learn more about Samobor, check out the Total Croatia guide, Samobor in a Page.  was a little higher up – the Green Hills eco-village in Tihocaj in Zumberak Nature Park the first free-range wagju cows in Croatia A village which has not seen cows for 40 years now has 7 black Japanese residents Tihocaj has obviously been relaxing for Dougal the bull and his three female companions for each has given birth to a calf within the first year.  The only resident of Tihocaj today is Mare Gvozdanovic Mare lost her husband 4 years ago and now busies herself in the village looking after her vegetable and talking to her Japanese four-legged neighbours while enjoy the spectacular views and clean air.  for Tihocaj is home to one of the most interesting projects I have some across in Croatia our co-host – along with Ivana Alilovic Director of the Zagreb County Tourist Board (seen with TCN above) has been buying the land and property in and around the village high-speed Internet and (soon) swimming pool The properties are being refurbished authentically and there are no neighbours for miles.  for digital nomads wanting to work remotely in total peace There were plenty of murmurs of appreciation from the visiting nomads.  Stetner organised a wine tasting and barbecue for his guest Private parties in total isolation.There have already been several helicopter visits and VIP guests but it is scheduled to open for bookings next year.  As excellent day to end a truly excellent week The engagement from all the stakeholders was outstanding I was very pleasantly surprised at just how much the visiting digital nomads enjoyed the city It seems from following the participants of Zagreb Digital Nomad Week 2021 that the answer is VERY Dean Kuchel of Digital Nomad World put it very well when asked what Zagreb is missing in this video interview.  “The only thing missing in Zagreb is more digital nomads.” To learn more about the charms of Zagreb County, click here More on Zagreb Digital Nomad Week For more news and features on digital nomads in Croatia, visit the dedicated TCN section.  King Tomislav Square was bright but not uncomfortable Rows of covered carts with their awnings fluttering in the breeze displayed an array of souvenirs The pavement cafes in the square were doing brisk business I wandered around this little medieval town of Samobor Sitting at the foot of a long green hill called Tepec and the gurgling Gradna stream running through it dotted with pretty wooden and concrete bridges Samobor was the picture of idyllic relaxation What fascinated me was that the town was so compact that everything was just a few minutes' walk from King Tomislav Square It served as the town's cultural centre where fairs church gatherings and political meetings are held What drew my attention was the Church of St Anastasia-a 17th century Baroque church which dominated the square with a statue of the Virgin Mary in front closed on Mondays) filled with objects signifying the history and culture of the area I stopped briefly at Restoran Samoborska klet to lunch on piquant mushroom soup and grilled trout endeding with the Samobor version of kremsnite a classic dessert made with flaky filo pastry and custard In the distance I could see the ruins of the 13th century Samobor Castle on Tepec hill A short hike takes you to the summit where the castle stands its core was expanded through the 16-18th centuries after which started its decline and is now in ruins I passed the 500-year-old Church of St Michael Its brooding presence epitomised Samobor so well Getting there: Samobor is about 25 km from Zagreb There is public transport; it is also easy to self-drive Stay: Hotel LivadicKing Tomislav Square 1 2017 at Vugrinščak will be even more attractive this year and the medieval fair will be even more eventful it was announced at a press conference held on March 2 proudly pointed out that this initially modest manifestation has in recent years developed into one of the most important tourist and cultural events in Samobor The Battle of Samobor took place in the 15th ct when Kingdom of Croatia was in a personal union with Kingdom of Hungary King Albert II of Germany died in 1439 and fights for the throne broke out throughout Croatia and Hungary the army of the Polish king Vladislaus III of Varna The two armies fought near Samobor on Ash Wednesday and the fierce battle ended in Vitovec’s victory The recreation manifestation begins at 10 a.m with the opening of the medieval fair where various artists will present their products: hatters blacksmiths with wooden swords and shields In addition to the medieval fair and camps and gunners from knight societies knight from Zagreb and they will be joined by guests from Slovenia and Hungary – a total of about 450 participants Samobor Museum will be open for visitors from 10 a.m Source: ZG magazin See the event here Now in its 194th edition, Samobor Carnival can claim to be the biggest, best and oldest in Croatia, just after the one in Rijeka. The whole town, along with central Croatia and the rest of the country joins the parade and festival that spawns across town. Apart from tasty sweets on every corner, everything is filled with events ranging from music, pageants, parades and more - for both young and old.          A superb reenactment of the 1441 Battle of Samobor took place on March 5 Fast forward to 2017, and the battlefield looked very similar, with a superb reenactment of the battle, the highlight of the excellent annual Medieval Fair. Pictures are often much better than words, and so we hand you over to the fabulous photography of Mladen Ban who captured the event superbly.  To see more of Mladen’s work, click here.  Daniela Rogulj Sinj hosted a wonderful concert featuring the Samobor ensemble Sudar Percussion last weekend and the Tourist Board of Split-Dalmatia County organized a grand  concert by the Samobor percussion ensemble Sudar Percussion was successfully held the people of Sinj witnessed a true virtual music spectacle with the virtuoso performance of Samobor percussionist Sudar Percussion Members of the ensemble are eminent young musicians who went on tour with the album Oxygene an adaptation of the well-known pioneer of electronic music Jean Michael Jarre All of his compositions were arranged by member of the ensemble The members of the ensemble are Goran Gorše (artistic director – vibraphone) Nikolas Sinković (electronics and percussion) Aleksandar Vešić (bass guitar) and guest Darko Sedak Benčić (trumpet) Sudar Percussion has held an enviable number of concerts and tours in Croatia and abroad since 2010 including the Dubrovnik Summer Festival Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall (2012 and 2014) and Zagreb’s Cultural Summer at Lake Bundek.  Sudar Percussion has performed music cooperations with many famous artists and ensembles around the world including Zagreb soloist Stefan Milenković Matej Meštrović and Darko Sedak Benčić (trumpet) who plays as a soloist in the OXYGENE project.  Sudar Percussion has also cooperated with many famous artists and ensembles of the world including Zagreb soloists Stefan Milenković Matej Meštrović and Darko Sedak Benčić (trumpet) who plays as a soloist in the OXYGENE project and the current project “OXYGENE” by J.M.Jarre Sudar Percussion was the winner of the prestigious American Independent Music Awards of the year in 2015 with the album Eat Suite Numerous domestic and foreign audiences enjoyed a truly unique multimedia music spectacle in Sinj.  The Sinj Tourist Board will continue to organize such events to further position Sinj and the Cetina as a center of a vibrant cultural entertainment The Sinj Tourist Boards thanks everyone who helped make the concert happen as well as everyone that attended the show.  Održana druga inkluzivna biciklijada DOSI Varaždin Međunarodna konferencija „Psihološka otpornost djece i odraslih u dječjem vrtiću“ Nikola Rundek: Nikad ne propuštam prilike ako se pojave u životu Nogometni spektakl iz neposredne blizine za roditelje i djecu Udruge Ana Na izborima se treba čuti glas žena s invaliditetom VIROVITICA Udruga distrofičara traži osobnog asistenta/icu Društvo multiple skleroze traži osobnog asistenta Mogući brojni zdravstveni rizici zbog odvajanja od kućnih ljubimaca Nacionalni dan HMS-a posvećen moždanom udaru Početkom svibnja u Hrvatsku stiže novi lijek protiv debljine U Hrvatskoj je prošle godine smrtno stradalo 30 radnika ZADAR Utrka ‘Wings for Life World Run’ okupila rekordni broj natjecatelja MOSA BAVLJU Humanitarni ultramaraton za djecu s teškoćama ZADAR Wings for Life World Run starta u nedjelju PRELOG Održan parasportski kamp ‘Probudi sportaša u sebi’ SLAVONSKI BROD Održani parasportski susreti Bljesak 2025 Robo svadbena torta ili budućnost jestive tehnologije Plivanje pomaže pri liječenju od cistične fibroze pijenja i nedovoljne tjelovježbe osjećaju se već od 36 Platforma Zoom se prilagođava osobama s invaliditetom Digitalno obrazovno okruženje za djecu s teškoćama u razvoju NSK Izložba o 75 godina neizbrisivog traga u svjetskoj atletici TIFLOLOŠKI MUZEJ Taktilna postava ‘Dodirni i osjeti’ Pavla Beljanskog Party bajka o svijetu slijepih i slabovidnih Pokrenut CineO’ – filmski festival u bolnici za hospitaliziranu djecu i mlade INKAZ Međunarodni susret kulturno-umjetničkih skupina u Zagrebu ZAGREB Panel rasprava o priuštivom stanovanju u Europskoj uniji i Hrvatskoj EK analizira društvenu konvergenciju u deset članica Centar Doživi Europu je poruka građanima da budu dio europskog puta EUROBAROMETAR Građani žele da ih EU zaštiti i djeluje jedinstveno po redu Međunarodna vrtna izložba Floraart Grad Zagreb investira u novi centar za socijalne usluge za osobe s autizmom ZAGREB Rekordan broj stipendija za učenike i studente s invaliditetom ZAGREB ‘Fulir’ vratio besplatan prijevoz u centar grada UOSI Sinergija Samobor will continue to devote a lot of attention to informing its members the local community and the media about the topics they deal with namely assistance to people with disabilities suppression and protection against discrimination preventive action and improvement and protection of health the association’s website and Facebook will continue to be tools with which they will distribute news in a simple and fast way and inform relevant stakeholders about the projects and activities they carry out and about the topics they deal with and activities they carry out – In the premises of the association and through social digital platforms we will systematically work on the permanent life education of our members so that workshops on various topics will be organized as well as other issues related to people with disabilities in such a way that familiarize themselves with legal regulations and practice with the cooperation and financial support of the Zagreb County and the City of Samobor and the City of Sveta Nedelja is to acquire a new van and solve the issue of hiring drivers We want to improve the transportation of our members to all social and social activities of our members we will try to hire a part-time driver throughout the year We also plan to build a sensory room in which a multidisciplinary team composed of psychologists speech therapists and experts in educational rehabilitation would be employed through the project The purpose of the project would be to provide inclusion and social integration to children with disabilities from the autism spectrum which would include activities of independent living (room hygiene self-advocacy and counseling (information on rights self-promotion groups and workshops) and maintenance and promotion of health activities (see a doctor activities would be carried out through group and individual work within the framework of a half-day stay and psycho-social support occupational and social activities that would be designed according to individual plans The purpose of the activity will include cultivating daily work habits developing decision-making and selection skills promoting rights and raising awareness of the importance of health care maintaining partnership relations with other associations institutions and local and regional self-government encouraging motivation and active involvement of members in various activities of the association as well as providing professional support to members and their families only are some of the determinants of the strategic plan of the association – says the president about the plans for the future – I can say without a doubt that in the life of a disabled person there is a lot of pain problems with stigmas and personal inner turmoil and despair I would like to quote Nick Vujičić: ‘Give up a life full of self-pity in exchange for a life of purpose fear is a greater disability than not having arms and legs because challenges exist to strengthen our beliefs not to run over us’ – he concluded for this once the president of the Association Sinergija from Samobor Let’s also mention that the Sinergija association was recently awarded the Zagreb County Charter for 2021 Obavezna polja su označena sa * (obavezno) e-poštu i web-stranicu u ovom internet pregledniku za sljedeći put kada budem komentirao 1991 in Zagreb with the rare disease Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita This disease includes the upper and lower extremities He was diagnosed with gastroschisis at birth and complications arise The doctor’s prognosis was that he would not survive he went to America for an examination and received a recommendation for physical therapy and surgery my parents provided me with physical therapy I started kindergarten and there I adapted well with the other children In addition to the physical therapy at home mom exercised with me several times every day I was constantly going for examinations and treatment – says Mario about the first years of his life The first encounter with insults made Mario stronger – I started elementary school according to the regular program although my parents worked hard for me to be enrolled according to the regular program It was there that I encountered insults for the first time but later I got used to the fact that I am ‘different’ and that there will always be that I started swimming in a competitive program It helped me a lot to become independent and develop In fact since then I have been completely busy with commitments My parents and brother were a great support for me to get through it all faith in yourself and in God together with a positive attitude give you a goal I’m trying to turn a minus into a plus I must not forget my friends who were always there for me and helped me when I needed it – says Mario who today gives motivational lectures outside Croatia it was much easier in terms of accepting myself and being quite understanding of my uniqueness with the help of professors and colleagues I entered the Health Polytechnic to become a sanitary engineer I completed psychological and pedagogical education as a lecturer at the Teacher Training College and I am currently in the Specialist Study for a graduate sanitary engineer I am very satisfied with the attitude of my colleagues and professors towards me – says Bebek who once listened to comments like: ‘God punished you for having such hands’ ‘how are you not ashamed to walk with such hands’ ‘how is your mother not ashamed for giving birth to you like that?’ – I also did an internship at the Public Health Training Institute of Dr I would like to work on the same in the future My desire is to work on health promotion and to deal with bioethics I also want to make people aware of the principle of subsidiarity The principle of subsidiarity is primarily a rule for determining jurisdiction in the realization of common property An individual should strive to the maximum within the limits of his capabilities The new definition of Bioethics tells us that it is love for life I am currently engaged in motivational lectures I sensitize the public about the life of people with disabilities I tell my life story and try to motivate people so that they don’t think that their problem is the most difficult and that they don’t underestimate their abilities Life is a puzzle that a person puts together for years – says Mario Mario wrote a few motivational lines to our readers: – The key components for a successful life are will but there is only one life with countless directions It’s your turn to determine the direction of movement Don’t worry if you’re fooling around Worry if you don’t realize you’re a fool but check yourself a hundred times when you intend to do something Be wise and don’t run in front of the bully life is too short to be wandering all the time Now is the time to open your eyes and choose the path I just turn my head and smile and move on to new victories but it is important that you overcome them And when there are a lot of obstacles on your way it means that you are worth it and that’s the only way to get stronger just a smile on your face will be enough to win some things but you have to work hard for that sun to be able to enjoy it Life is made up of both good and bad things and the bad things warn us that we have gone astray life is a labyrinth from which only the persistent win We must first admit to ourselves that I have such and such a problem and we must find a solution We must know that there is always a bigger problem these problems are our guideposts and life guidelines Let’s stay on the ball and not go astray There’s nothing wrong with being annoyed so we should think about that problem and try to find a solution Each of us wanders into the dead end of life but we should find an exit to the main road and choose the right path don’t let someone else hold your pencil No encounter with any person is accidental Every person has a message that they carry his behavior… When something bothers you take the freedom and peace to think about everything The only solution for that is strong faith – says Bebek and he is a computer technician by profession and I spent a large part of my childhood in hospitals for various examinations – Deni tells us It was not easy to accept a lifelong disability it was really difficult to deal with disability and the fact that you are ‘different’ who explained to me very well that being a disabled person is nothing unusual and that in some situations it will be more difficult for me than some people of my age – During my primary and secondary education I had problems with the stares of ‘curious’ people who don’t know me but I quickly got used to it since I have a good attitude and I approach every person in a friendly way – continues Deni His love for athletics was born in his teenage years I received an invitation from Darko Kralj to ask if I would like to try training in athletics and a desire arose in me and I immediately agreed I liked the shot put and wanted to continue and thus additional motivation to be better and achieve more – he tells us 1st place discus F54 23.75 meters (world junior discus record in the F-54 category) Czech Republic – gold and two silver medals F54: 1st place discus India – 5th place in discus throw F54 UAE – bronze medal in discus throw F54 Netherlands – 6th place in discus throw F54 Germany – silver medal in shot put F33 Poland – bronze medal in shot put F33 France – 11th place in discus throw F54 Japan – bronze medal in shot put (11.25 meters 2009 – Charter of the City of Grubišno Polje public recognition of the City of Grubišno Polje public recognition of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County 2009 and 2010 – Golden plaque of the Sports Association of Bjelovar-Bilogora County for the best athlete with a disability in the junior competition 2020 and 2021 – Golden plaque of the Sports Association of Bjelovar-Bilogora County for the best athlete with a disability in the senior competition Svinjetina s krumpirom iz pećnice za prste polizati KINDER BUENO TORTA će zadiviti i najokorjelije sladokusce Klasična musaka od krumpira i mljevenog mesa JAFA KOCKE Neodoljivi kolač koji podsjeća na najdraži keks Čokolino kolač – za one koji ne žele odrasti a penzija mora iznositi barem 75 posto plaće Mlinci s piletinom: Najfinije jelo s hrvatskih stolova Even though kremšnite are more famous Samobor has some more yummy delicacies to offer – and they are part of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Croatia Rudarska greblica is a type of salted cake that has been part of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Croatia since 2007 Oral tradition has it that it originated in Rude at the same time when mining started developing there a tool used to keep the fire burning in a stone oven because the cake resembles “greblica” when it’s finished The only written trace of “greblica” can be found in Milan Lang’s 1915 book where it is mentioned as a “thin cake made from cheese and walnuts.” Rudarska greblica is a salted cake stuffed with cheese and various other types of stuffing Greblica used to be a cheap meal for miners who took it with them when they went to work and today it is normally eaten as a dessert or a delicacy normally at traditional festivities and celebrations in Samobor and Zagreb County.Rudarska This delicacy is celebrated every year at Samobor during Rudarska greblica Days – an event which has been held in Samobor since 1985 organised by Oštrc Cultural Association.  Greblica Days #32 will be held in Samobor this weekend, July 1 – 2, and visitors will be able to taste various types of greblica and enjoy concerts and folklore dance. Find out more here The European Best Destinations (EBD) organization has published best destinations in Europe for nature lovers in 2018 ‘’You are a nature lover and want to discover Europe’s most beautiful sceneries Find inspiration for the best nature holiday in Europe in the mountains or at the beach or even green city breaks in the most beautiful destinations in Europe’’ Among numerous European spots for nature lovers there are also several wonderful destinations from Croatia such as Šibenik The EBD describes the city of Šibenik as ‘’a piece of heaven’’ Samobor as a spot for ‘’relaxation in intact nature’’ Dubrovnik as a city ‘’where nature and history meet’’ Stari Grad on the island of Hvar as a destination of ‘’sunshine the island of Krk as a nature’s spot where ‘’spring is nature’s way of saying ‘Let’s have a party!’’ the Croatian region of Istria where ‘’colors are the smiles of nature’’ whilst the city of Zadar the EBD describes as a city of ‘’beauty and seduction’’ Here is the list of European Best Destinations for nature lovers in 2018 Hvar is one of the most pictersque Croatian islands  May 06, 2025 60 Interviews May 04, 2025 991 Croatia May 03, 2025 1153 Croatia By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. these 17 destinations make a memorable day out in winter Shorter days and colder nights are no excuse to stay inside this winter, especially when you have these fantastic day trips within easy reach of Zagreb. From fairytale castles to frozen-over lakes Zagreb is surrounded by beautiful winter destinations RECOMMENDED: Great things to do in Zagreb this winter. the upper slopes of Medvednica nature park on Zagreb’s northern doorstep but many locals are also happy to hike in the snowy landscape traditional mlinci pasta with turkey or bean soup in a rustic chalet eatery © Zlatko ZalecOpen every day throughout the winter the fairytale castle of Trakošćan an easy drive from Zagreb dominates a wondrous landscape when its large artificial lake freezes over and the many firs turn white with snow © Zlatko ZalecThe classic day trip from Zagreb picture-postcard pretty and easily accessible Samobor draws hikers and sightseers on romantic winter Sundays would meet in atmospheric cafés here © Dario BajurinThe Baroque magnificence of Varaždin the mansions and palaces of Croatia’s former capital looks even more striking when snow surrounds its cobbled streets Beneath the red rooftops of stark white Varaždin Castle weapons and ceramics merit investigation before a rewarding hot chocolate in the café by the entrance © Roberta FThe Church of St Martin looks down on this tranquil town of 10,000 souls 20km east of Zagreb Vineyards surround the Church of St Martin in Martin Breg on the northern outskirts besides which a seven-metre high statue of the saint has local symbolic significance © 진구 정The magnificent cascading lakes and waterfalls of the Plitvice National Park take on a majestic appearance when covered in a blanket of snow but the entrance fee from November through March is 60kn © Zagreb County Tourist BoardA health resort 25km south-east of Zagreb the former border town of Ivanić Grad now attracts visitors with its natural healing oils that help in the treatment of skin and rheumatic conditions Among the many natural attractions amid the greenery of nearby Šuma Žutica is a colony of beavers © Miroslav VajdićSet in beautiful wine country south-west of Zagreb Jastrebarsko is home to Erdödy Castle Also on view is the royal charter of King Béla IV granting Jastrebarsko free-city status in 1257 © Turistička zajednica općine KrašićThe pretty hamlet of Krašić is a bucolic getaway located near the Kupčina river with several pretty waterfalls nearby Križ was similarly a border town until the collapse of the Habsburg Empire in 1918 where a statue and memorial room pay homage to Croatia’s most famous opera singer © Ekopark KrašHalfway between Zagreb and Karlovac Pisarovina is where you find the open-air Donja Kupčina Museum and Ecopark Kraš that preserve the traditional rural way of life here Nearby Bratina was home to Titanic victim Stjepan Turčin and today contains a modest collection of mementos from the fateful liner © Sveti Ivan Zelina Tourist BoardLending its name to the Zelina wine road that runs through it and the many surrounding communities Sveti Ivan Zelina dates back many centuries as a visit to the town’s museum will attest Nearby Zelingrad-Zelinska gora was first mentioned in chronicles in 1295 © Dražen ŠkrinjarićClose to Zagreb Airport Velika Gorica is the main town in the historic Turopolje region named after the long-horned cattle that became extinct in the 1500s This history can be traced in the Turopolje Museum by the tourist office Nearby Lukavec Castle was the seat of Turopolje nobility © Zaprešić Tourist boardNorth-west of Zagreb Zaprešić was the seat of the Jelačić dynasty including Ban Josip whose statue stands in Zagreb’s main square The familyresided at the stately Novi Dvori mansion today also home to the Matija Skurjeni Museum a gallery dedicated to this painter of naïve art © Miroslav VajdićClose to Samobor just west of Zagreb Sveta Nedelja is best known for the Baroque Holy Trinity Parish Church and its links to the automotive industry As well as being the base for electric sports-car manufacturer Rimac © Turistička Zajednica Grada VrbovcaNorth-east of Zagreb was where the revered writer Marija Jurić Zagorka was born Croatia’s first woman journalist and activist for women’s rights Her books remain among the most popular in Croatian literature © ilijaaA protected Nature Park since 1999 the Žumberak-Samobor Hills lie 25km from Zagreb on the border with Slovenia Typified by waterfalls and mountain streams Also here is the Budinjak prehistoric site Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! Have you experienced some performance problems when visiting Samobor City in SCUM the September 20 Patch brought some needed improvements to address the situation Samobor City is one of the biggest cities in SCUM it is notorious for hogging up system memory developers made major optimizations in the September 20 Patch many buildings in Samobor City had to be closed down so you cannot enter them for the time being they might open these buildings up again as soon as they find a better way of solving the problem Here are some of the other bug fixes implemented in this update: What is your reaction to the change made to Samobor City SCUM Patch 0.7.500.53341 is available on PC