Courtyards of the North – Discovering Hidden Gems
Following the successful first edition, the project Courtyards of the North: Discovering Hidden Gems continued its story into a second year of implementation. In cooperation with the tourist boards of Varaždin, Varaždinske Toplice, Novi Marof, and the “Center of the World” area, the project once again brought to life the unique courtyards of northern Croatia, transforming them into stages of culture, heritage, and encounters, while promoting the distinctive heritage of these regions.
The jubilee tenth edition of the Varaždin Courtyards Festival opened the doors to 20 intimate oases in the historic city center, where visitors could explore, listen, taste, and experience what makes Varaždin special.
A decade of the festival was marked by a rich and diverse program that combined music, creative workshops, exhibitions, lectures, science, fashion, and tastings. Musical experiences ranged from classical music concerts for the youngest visitors to group music-making workshops. Visitors tried their hand at designing handbags, learned about sustainable fashion, sampled local flavors, discovered the region’s rich cultural heritage through creative workshops, and felt the spirit of a century of the Varaždin City Museum through exhibitions, quizzes, and storytelling.
A particularly attractive experience was Varaždin under the Stars in the courtyard of Villa Bedeković, where the observatory of Varaždin’s Second Primary School revealed the secrets of the night sky.
In Novi Marof, the project included the courtyard of the Old School, specifically the Ebenspanger House—one of the oldest buildings in Novi Marof—and the Majur Courtyard. The event Meeting in Denim recalled the city’s strong industrial heritage from the time of the Levi’s factory, while open-air exhibitions, film screenings, and music programs demonstrated the potential of these spaces as new cultural and tourist hotspots and confirmed the importance of their further revitalization.
In Varaždinske Toplice, interactive workshops were held that interpreted the city’s cultural heritage in a contemporary way. The archaeological site of Aquae Iasae and the atrium of the Old town (Stari grad) became spaces where art and history met, offering visitors a unique experience of Roman heritage and cultural legacy.
Ludbreg and the Ludbreg Vineyards presented Podravina tradition through the Pumpkin Festival (Tikvijada) at Bakina Hiža and Dedekov Dvor, as well as the Chestnut Festival (Kestenijada) and Mushroom Festival (Gljivarijada) in the Gonjograd courtyard. Visitors took part in workshops, tasted local products, and enjoyed cultural programs that offered an authentic experience of Podravina courtyards, flavors, and customs.
Through a variety of events, the project Courtyards of the North: Discovering Hidden Gems continues to connect the local community with visitors, promote sustainable cultural tourism, and highlight the values that make northern Croatia special. The project’s second year further confirmed the importance of this increasingly recognizable tourism product, blending tradition and modernity within the authentic ambiance of courtyards.
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