The story of the famous Varaždin textile industrial heritage dates back to 1901. Back to a time when the first factory was built on a large plot of land on the southern edge of the town. In 1918, its name was changed to “Tekstilna tvornica Varaždin (Varaždin Textile Factory)” or TIVAR for short. While bearing that name, it transformed into a large, relevant and reputable textile producer in the period between the two world wars. However, it was only under the famous name VARTEKS, which it has had since 1948, that this factory became the largest in Croatia, as well as one of the largest factories in this part of Europe.

Although times have changed greatly since Varteks employed tens of thousands of workers, the people of Varaždin perceive this as far more than a factory. For them, it represents an industrial symbol of the town, as well as a symbol of its sports and cultural identity. The Varteks factory complex is also an extremely valuable example of industrial architecture from the first half of the 20th century. The factory facilities were built using modern construction solutions and materials, such as façade bricks, glass, steel, and concrete. The most attractive are certainly the factory halls and the administrative building located along Zagrebačka Street, the main street of southern Varaždin. Equally, the monumental 78 metre-tall factory chimney – signifying the town’s industrial heritage that can be seen from miles away.