Pitomača: Drava Landscapes and Literary Heritage

Drava Landscapes and Birdlife

Since 2008, the Mura–Drava Regional Park has included the protected landscapes of Križnica, Jelkuš and Širinski otok, as well as the Vir wetland, within the municipality of Pitomača. These places represent different forms of river landscape. Jelkuš is bordered by the Croatian-Hungarian border and the Drava; an isolated sand ridge there provides a habitat for birds. Širinski otok is an isolated natural landscape, bordered by a side channel and the main course of the Drava, and is home to numerous bird species. At low water levels, the riverbed of the old Drava channel becomes a natural ford for animals.

Križnica is a river island and a particularly pronounced meander of the Drava. Its easily recognisable flower shape, with five petals, is considered a symbol of this stretch of the river. Bilogora is designated as an internationally important bird protection area (SPA, Special Protection Area) in the Natura 2000 network of Croatia and the European Union. Populations of bird species listed in the Red Book of Endangered Birds of Croatia nest there.

In the wider destination of Općina Pitomača, the old course of the Drava and the still waters in Križnica provide a habitat for many fish species. Important information for travelling to Križnica: the only land connection with the rest of Croatia is a suspension bridge about two metres wide, with a steel structure and a wooden walkway. A cable ferry also crosses the Drava, but it cannot operate when water levels are either low or high. Take these water-level conditions into account when planning to use the ferry. The Križnica Visitor Centre combines a modern multimedia centre with organised nature programmes and local cuisine.

Literary Heritage and Culture

In the wider destination of Općina Pitomača, the poet Petar Preradović’s birthplace is located in Grabrovnica. The historic house was built in 1775 and is a cultural monument; in 1968, one of the first museums dedicated to a writer was established there. The house is open to visitors, but individual and group visits must be announced and booked in advance. Visits to the Interpretacijski centar Kuća Petra Preradovića are possible Monday to Friday only with a prior appointment. Outside regular opening hours, visits can be arranged with at least 48 hours’ notice.

The “Virtualna Stvarnost” multimedia exhibition at the Petar Preradović House includes a walk-through 3D reconstruction of the birthplace. Interactive features include completing a poem, putting verses together as a group, and quizzes. In the basement area “Susreti,” visitors meet Petar Preradović in holographic form. The house thus combines a historic site with an exhibition that presents literature through interactive and multimedia formats.

In Pitomača, the Parish Church of St. Vitus is the largest church and a protected cultural heritage site. Since the mid-20th century, Pitomača has been considered the birthplace of tamburica instrument making in the Kos workshop. In the wider destination of Općina Pitomača, the tambura tradition also includes the founding of the first tambura ensemble in Pitomača in 1906. The Festival pjesme Podravine i Podravlja promotes new songs inspired by the culture and heritage of Croatian regions along the Drava.

Activities and Seasonal Highlights

In the wider destination of Općina Pitomača, TIC Klopotec on Kladarski breg is home to Croatia’s largest klopotec, a traditional symbol of winemaking in Podravina. Visitors can learn about local cultural heritage, take part in workshops and events, and enjoy panoramic views of the Podravina plains, the slopes of Bilogora, and the distant horizons of neighbouring Hungary.

The Klopotec Trail is a trail-running route through a landscape shaped by centuries of tradition. The route features climbs, descents and viewpoints. The wider destination of Općina Pitomača also includes the EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail – among the cycling routes in the Pitomača destination.

Another seasonal specialty is Pečenjak, or roasted corn. At a summer event in Pitomača, it is prepared and served to visitors in various ways in late July or early August.

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