ABOUT VILAGE DUBRAVICA

Dubravica is a community in north-western corner of the Zagreb County some 20 km NW of Zagreb. Population about 5,500, the main vilage of the same name having no more then about 500. In 1992 when the administrative reform in Croatia was made the region was prescribed to be part of the community of Hruševec Kupljenski, however this was against the wish of the local population and such community was never constituted. Rather the community of Dubravica was estabished already in 1995. The community symbol bacame a rather unusual endemic carnivorious plant named in Croatian 'rosika' (in local dialect 'rozga'). The Coat of Arms is: Agrent a 'rosika' plant vert with two thorny traps and with two flowers and two buds both of the first. The flag is blue with the coat of arms bordered golden. The Ceremonial Flag is a blue golfalon with three rectangular tails containing oak ornaments, the coat of arms is in the middle and the name of the community above in two arches. Sources: Puhacki orkestar Rozga, "www.orkestar-rozga.hr", 10.06.2004. Prigorski Kaj, mjesecnik Grada Zaprešica, 2003 Zeljko Heimer, 10 June 2004 The plant seems to be a Drosera. The genus Drosera is the type of the family Droseraceae. Droseras are small plants which trap insects on their leaves, covered with sticky glandulous hairs, and slowly "digest" them by releasing proteolytic enzymes. The droseras lives in marshes and peat bogs, where their dense colonies can form kinds of floating mats. The most common drosera is Drosera rotundifolia. All droseras are endangered and protected, although it is difficult to avoid trampling them in places where they are very common, as for instance the Lofoten island in northern Norway. Another plant of the same family is Aldrovandia vesiculosa, an insectivorous plant which was already marked RRR (that is very very rare) in the plant guides of the beginning of the century and might have disappeared from France today. Digesting insects help these plants to survive in a very acid, poor in nitrogen environment. In English, the common name of the drosera is sundew. In French, the traditional name of the drosera is rossolis, which seems to be cognate of rosika and rozga. The name rossolis was derived from Latin ros solis, sun dew. The plant is also called rosee-du-soleil (lit., sundew) and herbe-a-la-rosee (lit., dew herb). The scientific name Drosera was of course coined by Carl Linne, and means "covered with dew" in Ancient Greek. This sun dew is made by the droplets of glue secreted by the hairs of the plants, which glisten in the sun. I have no evidence on this, but I won't be surprised if "dew" production was synchronized with the sunrise, when insects start to fly here and there and visit flowers. The drosera was a matter of controversy among botanists. The great botanist Gaston Bonnier (1853-1922), who popularized botany, wrote several flores portatives for plants, mosses and lichens, and did also several interesting research work, refused to admit that the droseras were carnivorous plants. Another famous author of plante guides, Paul Fournier, presents the droseras as carnivorous, with the following footnote full of respect and probably also irony: "Bonnier claims the opposite; however, his opinion is no longer tenable". The rossolis (here related to rose) was also a liquor made of burned brandy, sugar and cinnamon. Louis XIV enjoyed the rossolis du Roy, made of Spanish wine, brandy and other products as advized by his doctors. They also told him that sport was god for his health, that was playing billiards and go hunting in his coach. Louis XIV, in spite of several congenital diseases and malformations, died at the very respectable age of 77 years, after a 72 year reign.

Jelačić's Novi Dvori Castle

The town itself and its immediate vicinity feature a number of attractions for visitors. The most beautiful and interesting are castles. One should certainly mention the Jelačić's Novi Dvori Castle, a unique monument of cultural and historical heritage, located only 1.5 km from the centre of Zaprešić (20-odd km from Zagreb), along the road leading to the region of Croatian Zagorje. The castle is a unique example of preservation of the integral landed estate. Although being an exceptionally valuable monument, after 1945 the estate was left to deteriorate. Its partial reconstruction started in 1991.

The Novi Dvori complex, covering an area of 20.5 ha, comprises a castle, St. Joseph's chapel, the Jelačić family vault, a landscape garden, an orchard, residential and estate buildings, a vegetable garden, arable land and a forest park. The Novi Dvori Castle was mentioned under the name Curia nova as early as the end of the 16th century, as one of the mansions of the nobility of Susedgrad and Stubica, owned by the Zrinskis, owners of Susedgrad (Stari Dvori). However, in a document certified by the court in 1852, the foundation year mentioned was 1611. The Novi Dvori was at that time merely a two-storey manor, built mostly of wood.

Josip Jelačić (1801-1859) was appointed the Croatian viceroy in 1848 and held that office until his death. He was remembered in history as the viceroy who abolished serfdom in Croatia in 1848. In the second half of the 19th century, a monument was dedicated to him on the central square of Zagreb, made by the Viennese artist Anton Fernkorn. After the Second World War the monument was removed and dismantled. Fortunately, its parts were preserved so that in 1990 the monument could be reconstructed and returned to the central square, which was again named Jelačić's Square.

Its owners were the Zrinskis, the Čikulins, the Sermages, the Festetićs and the Erdődy Counts. The Croatian viceroy Josip Jelačić bought it from the Erdődys in 1851. The Jelačić family possessed the Novi Dvori until 1934, when Đuro Jelačić's daughters, Vera and Anka, bestowed it under their will upon the Croatian people.

Viceroy Josip Jelačić had commissioned the reconstruction of the castle and of the entire estate. In the eastern part the castle was extended for 18 metres, the upper storey was also extended and reconstructed, the roof was covered with roof tiles, the front and a large cellar were redecorated. The landscape garden around the castle was also made. In 1855, on a lawn near the castle, Jelačić had a neo-Gothic chapel of St. Joseph built. When, in September 1855, his nine-month-old daughter Anna suddenly died in Bohemia, a tomb was made in the chapel. Viceroy Josip Jelačić was also buried in the same tomb, on 26 May 1859, and his brother Antun, in 1875. After 1945 the chapel was plundered and the tomb desecrated. In February 1991, before the reconstruction of the chapel, the remains were temporarily placed at Mirogoj Cemetery and in October 1992 again buried into the reconstructed family vault. The neo-Gothic family vault, made of white stone (brought from the Cathedral after it had been severely damaged by an earthquake) according to designs by H. Bollé, was made by the sculptor I. Franz in 1884. Count Đuro Jelačić had it built under his brother Josip's will.

The preserved and partly reconstructed estate buildings are also very valuable. The round thresher is the oldest installation of the kind in Croatia, dating back to the 17th century. In 1987, the former three-storey granary was turned into the "Matija Skurjeni" Gallery. It houses a permanent display of paintings by the famous naive art painter Skurjeni, as well as an exhibition of historical photographs "Novi Dvori Jelačićevi".

From One Castle to Another

The Lužnica Castle is a two-storey Baroque structure. It was built at the beginning of the 18th century. This first-category monument is located 1 km from Zaprešić and was once owned by the Rauch family. It has three wings and a U-shaped ground plan. The central wing is distinguished by a projection, with cylindrical towers on the corners. Above the main entrance, opposite the park, there is a large balcony. The fronts above the windows are ornamented with a variety of fine relief busts. The castle chapel features a rococo-style altar.

The Januševec Castle, 6 km west of Zaprešić, is the most beautiful classicist-style castle in Croatia. It was commissioned, most probably around 1830, by General Vrkljan, the minister of Marie-Louise, the Grand Duchess of Parma, Napoleon's second wife. Plans were probably made by B. Felbinger. Later, in 1845, the castle was sold to E. Corberon; afterwards it frequently changed its owners. In May 1945 it was heavily damaged by explosions. The building reconstruction has been performed. The castle has a rectangular ground plan; the major north-south axis is emphasized by colonnaded porticoes and on the western side there is a loggia. The central round hall has an 11-m high dome. Some of the rooms in Januševec used to be adorned with mural paintings displaying panoramic views of various towns. There is a park around the castle. Januševec is a monument of the highest category.

The Laduč Castle is situated 7 km from Zaprešić. It was commissioned by the owner of the Laduč estate, Baron Vladimir Vranyczany, and built by the architect K. Waidman in 1882. It is a two-storey castle with a projection on the front. The monumental two-winged stairway with stone balustrades leads to the rooms in the first floor with their ceilings adorned with fine decorations by Ivan Klausen. In front of the castle there is a French-style garden.

The Baroque castle of the Oršić family in Gornja Bistra was erected in the second half of the 18th century. It is a two-storey structure of congruous proportions and a U-shaped ground plan, with a representative portal and a court chapel at its side. The central oval hall features illusionist-style paintings of mythological content from 1778. A large park with an alley surrounds the castle. Gornja Bistra is a monument of the highest category.

The Jakovlje castle features a park with sculptures.

Churches of the Zaprešić region

Castles are not the only attraction of the Zaprešić region. One should see other historical and cultural monuments. In the very town of Zaprešić there is a monument memorializing the fallen in the Homeland War, made by the sculptor Drago Grgas-Beli. There is also a monument to the novelist Ante Kovačić, made by Jure Žaja. Park sculptures by Lopatić, Vončina and Grgas are also worth seeing. In Brdovec, 3 km northwest of Zaprešić, whose first mention dates back to 1334, there is the Baroque parish church of St. Vitus and a belfry with loopholes. The Native Museum featuring historical and ethnographical collections was opened in Brdovec in 1973. Within the Museum there is also the Art Salon. The Baroque-style parish church of St. George in Donja Pušća, 7 km north of Zaprešić, features three classicist altars, the pulpit and the pew, as well as two chalices from the 18th century. In the chapel of Our Lady "Čislavska" there is a Baroque main altar from 1722, two rococo-style altars, the pulpit with the Evangelists painted on it and a series of painting depicting Stations of the Cross. Near the main road there is a Baroque stone statue of St. Florian from 1778.

In Marija Gorica, 9 km from Zaprešić, there is the parish (once Franciscan) church of Our Lady of the Visitation from the mid-18th century. The Baroque church has a quadrangular sanctuary, with the sacristy next to it, and a belfry next to the main front. It features a wooden Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary from the first half of the 15th century, a tombstone with the relief portrait of the Ogulin captain M. Mogorić from 1679, the Baroque-style main altar made of stone, wooden side altars, confessionals, the pulpit (1762) and the organ (1759). Not far from the church there is a parish mansion and the monument to the novelist A. Kovačić, made by the famous sculptor V. Radauš.

St. Nicholas' church in Poljanica was erected in 1631 and restored in 1925. There is a monument to the famous writer August Šenoa in Jablanovec. The famous stone remnants known as "Kameni svatovi" (a stone wedding procession) are also worth seeing.

The historical and cultural monuments of the Dubravica municipality include the parsonage in Rozga, the monument of the highest category, St. Anna's church in Rozga (1842) and a chapel on the local cemetery in Rozga (part of it dating back to 1609). Dubravica is the birthplace of Pavao Štoos, whose house has a memorial plate. Natural attractions of Dubravica include an eco-site - the natural habitat of insectivorous plants, and the Cret forest in Lugarski Brijeg.

The municipality of Luka is full of typical Zagorje hills, streams, marshes and groves. The area provides good opportunities for excursions, recreational walking and angling. In Luka there is also the famous excursion resort "Dva potoka", Ulica B. Masnjaka 122, phone: +385 1 793-484, with accommodation possibilities in rustic style.

Cherishing the Tradition

Old folk customs are cherished and the ethnological treasure carefully preserved in Zaprešić and its surroundings. There are two groups that greatly contribute to preservation of the tradition - the Zaprešić majorettes "Jelačićke" and the group called "Plemićka mladež Zaprešića" (The Noble Youth of Zaprešić), that revives the days of Jelačić with their luxurious ball toilets, officer uniforms and dances.

In the Brdovec area there are two cultural societies, "Januševec" and "Mihovil Krušlin". Famous is also the Parish Choir "St. Vitus". In the municipality of Luka there is also a majorette group called "Lučanke" and a brass band.

Zaprešić and its surroundings host a number of traditional and occasional cultural and sports events. In May and October, on the occasion of Jelačić's anniversaries, the "Jelačić's Days" take place, a series of events dedicated to the Viceroy. The carnival "Fašnički špancir" takes place in February. In July, apart from the International Folklore Festival in Zagreb, there is also the "Harvest Festival". Among sports events one should mention the Croatian motocross championship on Pepačev Breg in Savski Marof, traditionally held on Easter Monday, the motor-gliding championship in May, the riding events organized by "Trajbar Team" in May and October, the table tennis event "Jože Vogrinec Memorial" in June and the cycling event "V. Horvatić Memorial" in September.

The municipality of Luka is known for the traditional folk feast and patron saint's day - St. Roch. Merry carnival processions are also organized.

Ornithological Reserve
Nature lovers and recreation enthusiasts are offered a number of opportunities in the Zaprešić region. South of the Zaprešić centre, towards the Sava, there is the Zajarki Lake, a large gravel pit. It is a popular bathing place, visited by inhabitants of Zaprešić but also Zagreb. Farther towards the Sava there is the ornithological reserve Zaprešić-Sava, covered with groves and dense low vegetation, and intersected with marshy meadows. It provides nesting and migrating place for many birds. The nearby rivers, the Krapina and the Sava with its tributaries, as well as the Zajarki Lake (with a fish hatchery) provide excellent opportunities for anglers. Zaprešić has two hunting societies, LD "Zaprešić" and LD "Kuna" Jablanovec.

From Riding to Flying
Zaprešić and its surroundings are famous for sports. Apart from a football stadium there are football grounds, sports halls, bowling alleys, tennis courts, orienteering maps... The "Lamaki" Tennis Club has outdoor and indoor tennis courts. There are also opportunities to go in for rather unusual sports - baseball, paragliding and motor-gliding. In the Riding club "Trajbar Team" one can have a recreational ride, attend a "normal" riding school or - which is rather rare in Europe - a sports riding school under the guidance of a licensed coach. The club has also an indoor riding hall, a café and a restaurant. The motocross course on the hill Pepačev Breg in Prigorje Brdovečko is very attractive for spectators. In its immediate vicinity there are sports grounds of TC "Mont Antonio".