The Municipality of Hum na Sutli covers an area of 36.83 km² in the westernmost part of the Krapina-Zagorje County.
To the north and west, along the Sutla River and Sutla Lake, it borders the Republic of Slovenia for a length of 27 km (with the municipalities of Rogatec, Rogaška Slatina, and Podčetrtek), and to the south and southeast, it borders the municipalities of Zagorska Sela, Desinić, Pregrada, and Đurmanec.
The interior of the municipality is made up of hilly and low-mountainous terrain with prominent peaks, meadows, and stream valleys. The elevation differences between the valleys and hills range from 218 to 485 meters above sea level. The area of the municipality experiences a continental climate. The temperature difference between the valleys and hilltops can reach up to 15°C. The prevailing winds are southeast, east-northeast, and north-northwest. The warmest month of the year is July (20°C), followed by August (19°C) and June (18°C), while the coldest month is January (-20°C).
Population and Households
The Municipality of Hum na Sutli, in addition to its central and largest village of the same name, includes seventeen surrounding villages: Klenovec Humski, Strmec Humski, Lupinjak, Rusnica, Orešje Humsko, Vrbišnica, Druškovec Humski, Druškovec Gora, Brezno Gora, Donje Brezno, Gornje Brezno, Zalug, Poredje, Grletinec, Prišlin, and Mali Tabor.
In all eighteen villages, there are 5,060 inhabitants, as follows: Brezno Gora 75, Donje Brezno 104, Druškovec Gora 86, Druškovec Humski 395, Gornje Brezno 289, Grletinec 204, Hum na Sutli 1,096, Klenovec Humski 389, Lastine 151, Lupinjak 366, Mali Tabor 348, Orešje Humsko 184, Poredje 220, Prišlin 430, Rusnica 191, Strmec Humski 183, Vrbišnica 240, Zalug 109 (Census 2011).
The number of households is 1,764, and despite a slight decrease in the population, the number of households has remained the same as in 2001. The population decline was recorded in Druškovec Gora (-4), Druškovec Humski (-12), Gornje Brezno (-6), Grletinec (-3), Hum na Sutli (-16), Lastine (-2), Lupinjak (-13), and Orešje Humsko (-1), while an increase in households was noted in Donje Brezno (+6), Mali Tabor (+22), Poredje (+2), Prišlin (+19), Rusnica (+5), Strmec Humski (+4), Vrbišnica (+4), and Zalug (+7).
The data shows that denser settlement is occurring in Hum na Sutli itself, the center of the municipality, and in Lupinjak, where due to the state road and the international border crossing Lupinjak-Dobovec, even denser settlement and the construction of business facilities can be expected.
The entire municipality area is served by a developed road network (15 km of asphalted state roads, 18 km of asphalted county roads, 59.5 km of asphalted municipal roads, and 61.5 km of unpaved municipal roads, totaling 154 km of road network, of which 92.5 km is asphalted and 61.5 km is unpaved), a gas network (1,094 households connected to the municipal gas pipeline), and a public water supply network (1,245 households connected to the municipal water supply). Efforts are being made to improve drinking water supply and to build a drainage system and wastewater treatment facilities, so that the rich natural heritage (Sutla Lake, Špiljakova and Drajža fishponds, and the beautiful viewpoints Žolekov Breg, Štruklečev Breg, Svekli Raj), along with cultural monuments, can become even more attractive.
The area of the municipality is covered by two Catholic parishes (Taborsko and Prišlin), an eight-year primary school Viktor Kovačić with five four-year departmental branches (Druškovec, Gornje Brezno, Lupinjak, Prišlin, and Taborsko), three cemeteries (Taborsko, Lastine, and Prišlin), and a designated municipal waste disposal site (on the south side of the glass factory).
Historical Heritage
Mali Tabor Castle
Originally, Mali Tabor was a fortress that was later converted into a Baroque castle. Historical documents first mention it in 1511 as Kys Thabor. It was owned by Ivaniš Korvin (1490–1504), Juraj Brandenburg (1509–1524), who sold it to the Rattkay family, who kept it in their possession until 1793, when it was inherited by their nephew, Baron Josip Wintershoffen. Through later marriage ties, Mali Tabor came into the possession of the Jelačić family, and later the Kavanagh family, whose descendants owned the castle until the end of World War II. Baron Kavanagh was interested in archaeology, and he conducted archaeological research in Brezno Gora, where he discovered the remains of an ancient fortification along with Roman coins and fibulae. In the 18th century, Mali Tabor was a single-story castle with three cylindrical towers, and the courtyard area on the ground floor was open with arcaded arches, which are now partially bricked up. The eastern wing of the castle was expanded in the 19th century.
Today, the “little brother” of the Veliki Tabor castle is in a dilapidated state, but it still attracts the attention of every passerby with its exterior appearance. With the right content and involvement of the local community, it could become one of the tourist attractions of the region!
