The city of Križevci is located in the southwestern part of Koprivnica-Križevci County, approximately 57 kilometers north of Zagreb, at a key transportation hub connecting Zagreb, Koprivnica, Bjelovar, and Varaždin.
The very name of the city evokes the idea of crossroads, which is no coincidence, as this area has been an important traffic junction since ancient and medieval times.
Križevci is one of the oldest medieval towns in northern Croatia. The first written record of the city dates back to 1193 when it was mentioned in the documents of King Bela III under the name Cris (Križ). In its early history, the city was divided into two parts – Upper and Lower Križevac (Upper and Lower Town). Upper Town was established as a new settlement, which was granted the status of a free royal borough by Ban Stjepan on April 24, 1252. Today, this date is celebrated as the City Day.
Lower Town gained the privileges of a free royal city in 1405, granted by King Sigismund, along with the right to build city walls. Later, an imperial military garrison, primarily composed of foreign soldiers, was stationed there. Conflicts between the residents of Upper and Lower Town persisted until 1752, when Empress Maria Theresa of Austria decided to merge the two into a single city – Križevci. On that occasion, the city received a coat of arms, whose simplified version is still used today as the official emblem of Križevci.
The historical significance of Križevci grew further when it became a venue for Croatian national assemblies. Of the thirty or so assemblies held there, the most infamous is the one from 1397, when King Sigismund ordered the execution of Croatian Ban Stjepan Lacković and his supporters. This event became known as the “Bloody Križevci Assembly” and was immortalized in a famous painting by Croatian artist Oton Iveković in 1914. The painting is still preserved today in the Church of St. Cross in the city center.
Culture and Art
City Museum (formerly Karas House)
One of the oldest preserved civic buildings in Križevci; in the museum courtyard, an ethnographic park has been established, featuring examples of traditional wooden architecture from the Kalnik Prigorje region.
Once a Pauline hospice, the building now houses the City Museum. Several exhibition rooms showcase the cultural and historical development of the city and its surroundings, including archaeological findings, documents, ethnographic artifacts, and valuable works of art. Next to the museum, a small ethnographic park has been arranged.
The Art Gallery building also serves as a venue for temporary exhibitions. It is located in the city center, right next to the town park, and its atrium is one of the most pleasant open spaces in the city for various cultural events during the summer months. In 2000, an office space was arranged on the ground floor, which now houses the Museum Administration.
The Art Gallery building, known as the “Sabornica,” is one of the oldest structures in Križevci. It was once situated next to the southern city gate at the very beginning of the main street. This structure represents borderland Baroque architecture, characterized by simple decorative elements and a massive mansard roof. The building took on its current appearance after renovations in 1984 when it became home to the Art Gallery and its exhibits.
The City of Eight Church Towers
Crkva sv. Ane i pavlinski samostan – Church of St. Ana and the Pauline Monastery
Crkva sv. Križa – Church of Sv. Križ
Grkokatolička katedrala Presvete Trojice – Greek Catholic Cathedral of ”Presveta Trojica”
Kapela sv. Florijana – Chapel of Sv. Florijan
Crkva Majke Božje Koruške – Church of Majka Božja Koruška
Kapela sv. Marka Križevčanina – Chapel of Sv. Marko Križevčanin
Pravoslavna crkva sv. Save – Orthodox Church of Sv. Sava
Kapela sv. Roka – Chapel of Sv. Rok
Attractions
The city of Križevci is located at the crossroads of roads connecting regional centers: Zagreb, Koprivnica, Bjelovar, and Varaždin. One of the associations with the city’s name, whether by chance or design, points to the intersection of paths, as this area has been a traffic crossroads since ancient and medieval times. The famous road of King Koloman, which connected the Pannonian and Adriatic regions, passed through Križevci. Naturally, these roadways facilitated the city’s development, as it was a junction for both trade and military routes, in addition to being close to feudal estates, cathedral, bishopric, and monastic properties. The construction of the railway line to Zagreb and Budapest in 1870, and to Bjelovar in 1894, further contributed to the city’s growth.
Križevci is situated at an altitude of 140 meters, on the southern side of the Kalnik Mountain. Due to its geographical location, which provides a moderate continental climate with colder winters and warmer summers, the Križevci region is rich in natural beauty, tourist potential, and cultural resources. The fertile plains suitable for growing various crops and the hills at the foot of Kalnik Mountain, ideal for vineyards, cellars, and orchards, are the reasons why the area surrounding Križevci is predominantly agricultural. The area spans 263.72 km² and has a population of 21,155, with 11,219 living in Križevci itself.
Križevci – Two Towns in One
Križevci is one of the oldest towns in continental Croatia. The first written mention of the town dates back to 1193 in a document by the Croatian-Hungarian King Bela III, where it is referred to as Cris (Križ). The most prominent settlement at that time was the castrum (fortress). North of this Križevci fortress, Ban Stjepan organized a new settlement for immigrants (present-day Upper Town), to which he granted the privileges of a free royal town on April 24, 1252. On that day, Ban Stjepan proclaimed and established the new royal town in Križevci, granting its inhabitants the same privileges enjoyed by the citizens of Grič and New Town Zagreb. Ban Stjepan’s charter was confirmed by King Bela IV on August 16, 1253.
The City Day of Križevci is celebrated on April 24, commemorating the proclamation of Križevci as a free royal town on that day in 1252.
The development of Lower Town was subordinated to the role of the royal fortress and became one of the important centers of western Croatia, where many assemblies were held, and thus Lower Town developed economically faster and stronger. By the early 16th century, Lower Town was almost twice as large as Upper Town. People traveled between the two towns through the northern city gate over a movable bridge. Remains of the former city walls are visible at the end of Zakmardijeva Street and near the Church of St. Cross.
Geographically, Križevci is more centrally located in the old region of Slavonia and Northern Croatia than Zagreb or Varaždin. Because of this, the Ban often came to Križevci, listened to lawsuits, made judgments, and issued other decisions and documents. The assembly of the Slavonian nobility, and later the Croatian nobility, was often held in Križevci to discuss national affairs, especially concerning the defense of the homeland from the Ottomans. The most famous assembly in Križevci took place in 1397. At this assembly, the supporters of two opposing sides gathered. On one side was King Sigismund of Luxembourg with his supporters, and on the other, Ban Stjepan Lacković with his. A quarrel broke out between the sides, and it ended in a great bloodbath. As a result, the assembly became known as the “Bloody Križevci Assembly.”
Until the 18th century, Križevci was divided into two parts: Lower Križevci and Upper Križevci. In 1405, King Sigismund granted Lower Križevci the privileges of a free royal town, and the same charter allowed the area to be enclosed with a city wall.
When, in 1614, Upper Town began using the same seal as Lower Town, long-lasting conflicts and lawsuits erupted. King Leopold I resolved the conflict by requiring Upper Town to use one cross on its seal, while Lower Town used two. This decision was made in 1670, but the conflicts did not cease. They were finally resolved by Empress Maria Theresa in 1752, who unified Upper and Lower Križevci into a single town, which from then on carried the name Križevci. The town’s coat of arms, symbolizing the union of Upper and Lower Town, dates back to the same year.
Tradition
The great hospitality of Croats toward all guests with good intentions has been known since time immemorial. Since Križevci is one of the oldest towns in the northern part of Croatia, the people of Križevci are particularly known for this, and their hospitality is often spoken about with fondness – our people always knew how to find a reason to celebrate and break the monotony of everyday life, but it was always in the company of cheerful friends, and in a way that left a lasting memory for everyone.
This is precisely the foundation of the Križevci Statutes – a set of unique rules and regulations governing behavior in joyful societies during various wine festivities. For public celebrations to be respectful, to avoid offending anyone, and to prevent drunkenness, the Križevci Statutes were introduced. These written rules of good behavior at the table date back to the 18th century and were an essential part of every real celebration and festivity. In addition to their practical importance, the Statutes have historical, patriotic, sociological, and literary value, as they require that three toasts be made in every gathering: “a toast to the homeland, to friendship, and to the fairer sex,” with the traditional “ciphered” way of speaking when making them.
There are two basic principles followed by the Statutes. The first states: “It is a living truth that wine enlivens and cheers a person, makes them sociable and joyful, and reduces many worries while beautifying life.” But the second principle says: “Wine and all strong drinks, if consumed without understanding and in excess, not only poison and destroy our lives, but also turn a person into something less than human and lead to much mental and physical harm.” Therefore, the Statutes continue: “Let us be friends of cheerful brotherly sociability, strengthen the old Croatian hospitality, never alienate ourselves from the honest and sober domestic companionship, but let us avoid, as we would the plague, any excess that destroys serious enthusiasm and causes much harm.”
Thus, the Križevci Statutes advocate joy and happiness in good company, where friendships, hospitality, and good interpersonal relations are nurtured, but they explicitly warn that drinking wine and spirits should be done with moderation, as anything done in excess is harmful both to the individual and to society.
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