Guided Tour to Kloštar Ivanić and Čazma

We are going to board a bus in front of the Faculty of Geodesy, Kačićeva 26, at 9:30.

At 10:30, we are going to arrive in Kloštar Ivanić, where we are going to visit the church of Blessed Virgin Mary, the most significant monument of sacral architecture in the area. It was built in 13th century, and its present appearance dates to 1759. The church is next to a new Franciscan monastery, which features an expansive library. The library originated in 1639, when Franciscan monks returned to Kloštar Ivanić. It expert literature reflects Franciscan activities in the area. Its complete inventory is adequately catalogued, there are 5000 units in total, among which there are three incunabulae (original prints!). Historical, cultural and artistic items from this area were collected on 900th anniversary of Kloštar Ivanić in 1993. Much of it was renovated and protected, and some of it was exhibited. Exhibits can be seen in the treasury and gallery of the Franciscan monastery and the Kloštar Ivanić parish.

Afterwards, we are going to visit the church of St. John the Baptist. The church was built in 1508 and next to it there used to be a Franciscan monastery, which is nowadays a Carmelite monastery. At the entrance to the monastery, there is a memorial plate with geodetic coordinates and explanation of the site's importance to land surveying. In 1850, the church tower was designated the origin of the Kloštar Ivanić coordinate system, in which old cadastral plans were produced. The tower is 69 m high and can be seen from many points in the vicinity, so it was adequate as the origin of the trigonometric network. There is also a neighbouring eccentric geodetic point at the old fairground. The stone pillar was renovated by the State Geodetic Administration.

Near the monastery, there is also a Franciscan pharmacy, one of the oldest in this part of Croatia. According to some data, it was built in 1670. A large central well can also be found in the town centre which is a rare building monument of that kind in northern Croatia.

After visiting Kloštar Ivanić, we are going to continue to Čazma, a small town in the heart of the former Zagreb diocese. It stands proud over the bed of river Česma, with Mount Moslavina behind its back. The church of St. Mary Magdalene was built in the centre of Čazma in the 13th century. It is the oldest sacral monument in the Bjelovar-Bilogora county and is a very important monument.

Our next stop is going to be Matešin Gallery, which was opened in 2002. It is in the village Bojana, 7 km away from Čazma. The gallery features a permanent exhibition of artwork by academic painter Franjo Matešin. The gallery and amphitheatre are also used for other exhibitions, concerts and shows, movie projections, promotions, meetings, as well as other cultural and social events.

We are going to continue our trip by visiting the Salaj estate in Grabovnica, near Čazma. The Christmas Story in Čazma started in 2002, when the Salaj family bedecked its estate with thousands of lightbulbs. River Grabovnica flows through the estate and park, and the owner Zlatko Salaj constructed three additional lakes with lots of fish and small bridges.

Finally, we are going to visit the Kezele family estate. The Kezele family has established rural tourism in the family tradition of stew and wine production. In the estate there are about 100-year-old wooden houses for visitors, where they enjoy dishes from local cuisine and wines from their own cellar. The experience of a true rural economy combines a beautiful view of vineyards, stables with domestic animals and an ethnographic collection with amazing starry.

On this property every goodwill traveller will find something for themselves. Wine lovers will visit the cellar and get acquainted with the autochthonous Moslavina wine sort škrlet, children will fall in love with the playground and the horses Croatian posavac breed, and the recreationist will walk or drive by bicycle through the woods to the lake. There will be lunch served consisting of a homemade soup, “Kezele” family stew (kotlovina), and homemade cakes.

Our return to Zagreb is planned in the evening.