Đurđevac

Old town of Đurđevac

Fortress Stari grad Đurđevac is located in the very centre of the town of Ðurđevac and with its protected natural environment it makes an intriguing and almost surreal historical, urbanistic and architectural ensemble. Culturally and historically it is one of the most interesting urban units of northwestern Croatia. The perfect location, rich history, architectural rarity and a potential of connection with a modern way of life are the opportunities that have not yet been taken advantage of as tourist and cultural resources.

Đurđevački peski

In the east of Đurđevac, on the way to Kalinovac, there is a geographical and botanical reservation of Đurđevački peski, a unique natural phenomenon in Croatia. In this protected area, for more than 30 years, there are still visible remains of sand dunes. By a way of reforestation, Đurđevac managed to capture these “living and bloody desert,” as people of Podravina, the Podravci, once called them.

Today, the area of the geographic reservation, bearing the name “Đurđevački pijesci,” is grown with acacia and some lower trees, and numerous bushes of spiny restharrow, so that there would be no more sand in the place. Experts say that this sand has caused the wind to create the proper “Croatian Sahara” even though the name is exaggerated.