Culture is the widening
of the mind and of the spirit.
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU
Cultured
City
museum
Located within three imposing historical buildings in Varaždin, the City Museum, just like a treasure chest, preserves the distinguished culture and identity of the city. The most spectacular aspect of the museum is the Cultural and Historical Department in the Old Town, taking you on a knowledgeable journey through history. The museum exhibition at the castle, known as the Old Town among Varaždin locals, unites valuable collections of various historical, functional and decorative items from the long history of Varaždin, arranged in stylishly decorated rooms.
City museum
Located within three imposing historical buildings in Varaždin, the City Museum, just like a treasure chest, preserves the distinguished culture and identity of the city. The most spectacular aspect of the museum is the Cultural and Historical Department in the Old Town, taking you on a knowledgeable journey through history. The museum exhibition at the castle, known as the Old Town among Varaždin locals, unites valuable collections of various historical, functional and decorative items from the long history of Varaždin, arranged in stylishly decorated rooms.
Gradski muzej
Time to meet the wonderful world of the creepy-crawlies! The entomology collection of The World of Insects, housed in the Herzer Palace, is for some, by far the most appealing – yet for others the scariest of all the collections of the City Museum, depending on your attitude to bugs! It is the legacy of Varaždin professor Franjo Koščec – a man who dedicated his entire life to studying and collecting insects. Today, the collection is multimedia updated and provides a hands-on interactive way of getting-up-close exploring these, mostly small, living beings. If you are not into bugs – no need to worry, the exhibits are no longer alive.
The Sermage Palace dominates the square named after the famous painter Miljenko Stančić. The Palace preserves a dozen collections of works by Croatian and European painters in the period from the 15th – 19th century. The permanent exhibition primarily includes significant works by old masters of the Italian and Dutch Baroque, and special attention is drawn to the oldest painting in the collection, the mysterious Žitna Madona (Madonna of Corn) from the 15th century. As for the “new” masters, they are primarily represented in the form of an extremely valuable collection The 20th Century Croatian Masters.
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Croatian National Theatre in Varaždin
This is the most recently built of all national theatres featured across the country, yet still has a long rich history and an outstanding reputation. This beautiful historicist building is a real temple of theatrical art that offers a valuable, diverse and acclaimed drama and opera repertoire. Something special about the Varaždin Theatre is the unofficial tradition of staging at least one play in the local Kajkavian dialect per season. The building itself is the first work of Hermann Helmer, the most acclaimed theatre architect in Central Europe. Hermann went on to create so many famous theatre buildings such as those in Zagreb, Vienna, Graz, Prague, Hamburg and Bratislava, etc. which many say were inspired and born from his first in Varaždin.
HNK in Varaždin
This is the most recently built of all national theatres featured across the country, yet still has a long rich history and an outstanding reputation. This beautiful historicist building is a real temple of theatrical art that offers a valuable, diverse and acclaimed drama and opera repertoire. Something special about the Varaždin Theatre is the unofficial tradition of staging at least one play in the local Kajkavian dialect per season. The building itself is the first work of Hermann Helmer, the most acclaimed theatre architect in Central Europe. Hermann went on to create so many famous theatre buildings such as those in Zagreb, Vienna, Graz, Prague, Hamburg and Bratislava, etc. which many say were inspired and born from his first in Varaždin.
Galleries
Varaždin’s artistic and creative scene is coloured with liveliness, great activity and diversity, which is best portrayed in the extensiveness of gallery spaces and content. The fastest overview of diversity can be found in the very centre of the city, on the stretch from the ceramics K10 Gallery and the charming gallery Zlati Ajngel – that hosts exhibitions of recent art, sculpture and photography, all the way to the almost steampunk aesthetics of metal works at the Prikratki Gallery.
Varaždin Baroque Evenings
The oldest, most significant Croatian festival of classical music, is the city’s cultural event of Varaždin in early autumn – Varaždin Baroque Evenings. Purposefully and significantly devoted to the music from the Baroque era, the golden period that produced some of the world’s greatest compositions, the festival is largely held in the above-ground acoustic Varaždin churches and other historical locations in Varaždin and beyond. Varaždin Baroque Evenings have become an indispensable part of Varaždin’s identity, which is as expected, given the long and rich musical tradition of this city.
TOTAL BAROQUE
For those without a keen interest in baroque music, Varaždin Baroque Evenings is still a great reason to visit Varaždin, primarily due to the accompanying festival programme known as Total Baroque. Essentially, packed with interesting crossover concerts, performances by bands from the festival’s partner countries, an irresistible gastro offer, an exhibition of flowers and a wide range of other day and evening events, establish this festival a part of the social life and tourism offer of Varaždin.
And that’s not all!
The past and the future constantly interweave through the streets of Varaždin. Understandably, it is natural that the Traditional Crafts Square has become one of the newest and most modern locations in the city centre. This is not just a spot to become acquainted with some of the old crafts on which the wealth of Varaždin was built. This is also a place to socialize, laugh, share conversations and pick up a few souvenirs as a constant reminder to return to Varaždin.
STREET ART
Immersing ourselves in Varaždin’s culture is not just focused on a night out at the theatre, museums or galleries – as in this city, culture and art literally are the pulse on the street. Art installations and sculptures of various types, styles and messages are sprinkled throughout the historic centre of the city. Some inspire, some will amuse, some even make sounds when you sit on them. Others give you the moment to lock your love forever, and one might just even give you recipes. Explore and discover, take photos – just don’t take them home with you!
MUSIC
In the early days of promoting the city, we branded Varaždin as the “city of baroque, flowers and music”. Times have changed, but this does not mean these elements, especially music, are no longer part of what makes Varaždin the city it is today. On the contrary. The musical tradition of Varaždin is its pride – it hosts a series of festivals which essentially cater for all tastes, and as soon as it warms up in the spring, Saturday’s musical backdrop comes from the balconies of every Varaždin square. And the cherry on the cake is in the form of a bench that projects sounds and a one-of-a-kind music camper in Croatia that brings music to every corner of the city and the nearby forests!
