Municipality of Štefanje

The History of the Štefanje Region

Štefanje is a historic settlement in northwestern Croatia with roots dating back to Roman times, as shown by archaeological finds nearby. First mentioned in 1094 when King Ladislaus donated the area to the Zagreb Diocese, Štefanje grew around the Church of St. Stephen built in the 13th century.

The region suffered during the Mongol invasion in 1242 and later during Ottoman conquests in the 15th-16th centuries, causing depopulation and destruction. In the 17th century, Croat settlers repopulated the area, which became part of the Military Frontier.

Economic growth followed in the 18th and 19th centuries with agriculture, livestock farming, schools, and local administration developing. The 20th century brought challenges like wars and emigration, leading to population decline. Today, Štefanje is a small but stable community in central Croatia.

Štefanje is a local center named after the Church of St. Stephen, situated along a key road connecting Bjelovar and Čazma. It serves surrounding villages with essential services like an administrative office, school, medical and veterinary clinics, shops, and a post office.

The region features gently rolling hills with streams and the Česma River, which was historically prone to flooding but is now regulated to protect farmland and forests. The area’s soil is well-suited for fishponds, developed since 1961.

Štefanje has a moderately continental climate with about 10 °C average annual temperature and balanced rainfall, supporting agriculture despite occasional drought or heavy rains. The landscape is partly forested, with oak, poplar, beech, and hornbeam trees, although past military activities led to deforestation.

Settlements of the Municipality of Štefanje

Most settlements in the Štefanje area are located on the ridges or slopes of hills rising from the lowlands around the Česma River and its tributaries. The gently rolling hills provide favorable, well-drained land with fertile soil suitable for homes and gardens. Settlements near the Česma and its streams are smaller due to wetter, flood-prone terrain.

The villages are typically linear, with houses arranged along roads (so-called “road villages”), often growing close together. Residents usually have home plots near their houses and additional fragmented agricultural land spread across nearby hills and lowlands. This settlement pattern dates back to the Military Frontier period.

Štefanje is the oldest village and parish center, consisting of Old Štefanje and New Štefanje. New Štefanje developed on a prominent hill ridge at 165 meters elevation, with the Church of St. Stephen at its center, documented since 1242. Historically a market town, Štefanje’s main square was a hub for fairs and trade.
Old Štefanje (Old Village) lies about 1.5 km northwest, on a gentle rise near the Česma River. It was abandoned during the Turkish invasions but later resettled. The population has declined from 517 in 1900 to 229 in 1991, but the village shows signs of revitalization.
Daskatica is southwest of Štefanje, founded in the late 17th century by Croatian settlers. It had 322 residents in 1931 and 149 in 1991.
Narta stretches northeast between Štefanje and Bjelovar, along a gentle hill between the Česma River and Batinovac stream. Historically an important market village with an Orthodox parish since the 17th century, Narta has a mixed ethnic population of Croats, Serbs, Czechs, and Hungarians.
Laminac, east of Štefanje, occupies a small hill and is separated from Narta by forested areas. It grew in the 17th century and expanded in the late 19th century. Its population has declined due to emigration.
Starine is a smaller settlement near Laminac, formed around 1890, with about 100 residents.
Šušnjara, the most remote village in the parish, is southeast of Štefanje, surrounded by forests. Founded around 1690 by settlers from across the Česma River, it has about 245 residents. Due to difficult road access, its school is linked to Ivanska, not Štefanje.
Blatnica, northwest of Štefanje near the Česma River, originated with Serbian settlers in the early 17th century. It has seen population decline, with about 146 residents today.

Projects :

Ongoing Projects

Štefek Kindergarten
Reconstruction of D-43 road

Completed Projects

Adaptation of a public and community building in Donja Šušnjara – Space for associations – PHASE II
Green and Clean Štefanje
Zaželi Štefanje
Reconstruction of NRC 068 – Laminačke Ive – Measure 7.2.2
Construction and equipping of the fire station in Štefanje – Measure 7.4.1
Let’s Protect the Environment Together – 2019–2020
Development of a tourism strategy for the Municipality of Štefanje – Measure 7.1.1
Reconstruction of the Community Center in Gornja Šušnjara – 2019
Reconstruction of the Community Center in Laminac

Come to Štefanje and enjoy the charm of our local traditions and people.