Municipality of Jalžabet: Archaeology, Historic Buildings and Wine Route

In the eastern part of Varaždin County lies the Municipality of Jalžabet, shaped by prehistoric archaeology, historic buildings and vineyards. If you are looking for a hotel in the Municipality of Jalžabet, you can plan your stay around these highlights: Gomila represents its archaeological history, the Jalžabet Wine Road its vineyard landscape and local specialties, while several places add a sacred and architectural history to the picture.

Gomila and Prehistoric History

Gomila is one of the largest prehistoric burial mounds in Central Europe. The mound is approximately 75 metres in diameter and stands at a preserved height of more than eight metres. It is interpreted as the tomb of an unknown prehistoric ruler from the first half of the sixth century BC. The exceptionally well-preserved prehistoric architecture also makes the site archaeologically remarkable.

Finds include jewellery made of amber and bone, as well as decorative metal parts from horse harnesses. More than a dozen gold objects were also found in a monumental royal burial chamber. These details complement the mound’s dimensions with evidence of the objects and burial chamber associated with the archaeological site.

Gomila is accessible via a local road between Jalžabet and Novakovec. There is not yet established visitor infrastructure at the site. Check local conditions before setting out, as they may change.

Church, Castle and Archaeological Sites

The Church of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary in Jalžabet is dated to 1334. The town’s architectural heritage also includes the Baroque Somogy-Bedeković Castle and its park. Another notable feature is the Platanus acerifolia plane tree, described as one of the oldest surviving planted trees in Croatia. The archaeological sites of Blizna near Jakopovec and Villa Rustica in Kelemen add to the municipality’s historical attractions.

Vineyards and the Jalžabet Wine Road

Written records of vineyards in the area date from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Jalžabet Wine Road runs through the vineyard-covered hills of Topličko gorje. From the vineyards along the route, views stretch towards Varaždin. The Wine Road also connects local beekeepers. Tastings of local specialties are offered at hospitality businesses along the route; for a specific visit, it is best to check with the establishment in advance.

Walking and Cycling Routes

The family route introduced in 2024 runs from the centre of Jalžabet through Novakovec to an artificial island on the Plitvica. It is primarily intended for walking, is considered easy and is also suitable for cycling. Estimated times are around two and a half hours on foot or one hour by bicycle. You can use these estimates to weigh up a longer walk against a shorter bike ride on this route.

A 1.5-kilometre walking and cycling path connecting Jalžabet, Imbriovec, Leštakovec and Kelemen was also reported as completed in 2024. The two routes offer different ways to plan: walking and cycling times are given for the family route, while the other path is described as a link between four settlements.

Getting Around the Municipality

The transport routes also provide a sense of the area’s layout: the Zagreb–Varaždin–Goričan motorway runs through the western part of the municipality, while the Varaždin–Koprivnica railway line runs through the north. Local road LC 25088 connects Kelemen with Varaždinske Toplice via Vukovec. When looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether Gomila, the historic sites, the Wine Road or the routes will be the main focus of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Kaštelanec, Municipality of Varaždinske Toplice, Municipality of Maruševec, Municipality of Donja Voća, Municipality of Novi Marof, Gornji Kneginec, Municipality of Lepoglava, Municipality of Bednja.

For the broader travel overview: Varaždin County.