FAMOUS 45th WINE PARALLEL

7:00 departure: Munich – Varaždin 6 h 30 min, 554 km, arrival 16:00 (incl. 2 hour break)
6:00 departure: Stuttgart – Varaždin 8 h 30 min, 759 km, arrival 17:00 (incl. 2 hour break)
7:00 a.m. Departure: Nuremberg – Varaždin 7 h 15 min, 639 km, arrival 3:30 p.m. (incl. 1.5 hour break)

Arrival in Varaždin in the afternoon, accommodation in the hotel, early dinner
Evening Tour of Varaždin, Croatian “Vienna”.

The city of Varaždin is located in the northwestern part of Croatia on the right bank of the Drava River.
Varaždin reveals itself to the guest as a rare urban pearl. To this day, Varaždin has retained some important features of Croatian “Vienna” as a city of baroque, music and flowers.
The biggest attraction of Varaždin is the fortress called “Stari grad” – Old Town.

As the operetta “Countess Mariza” by Emmerich Kálmán ​says”: “Come to Varaždin”

Breakfast, Varaždin – Lonjsko polje Nature Park, Čigoč, 2 hours, 160 km

In 1994, the village of Čigoč was declared the first European stork village.
In summer, the stork population is larger than the human population of the village.

Lonjsko Polje Nature Park: Get to know the largest Croatian floodplain of the Danube basin and the traditional architecture of this area.

Lunch at “Tradicije Čigoč”, autochthonous ambience with traditional Croatian delicacies.

Transfer Čigoč – Stupnički Dvori 1 h 40 min, 123 km

Stupnički Dvori – hotel, winery and restaurant built in the spirit of tradition and local architecture.
In the afternoon we have an organized tour of vineyards, cellars, wine shops and most importantly an attractive tasting of the best Croatian wines.

Accommodation in the hotel, dinner, overnight.

Breakfast, Stupnički dvori – Stara Kapela 35 min, 20 km

Stara Kapela eco-ethno village is a tourist area that faithfully shows how people used to live in this area. Relaxation from hectic everyday life, full of green and untouched nature.

Afterwards lunch and wine tasting in the old wine cellar. Gastronomic specialties and wines of this area.

In the afternoon, Stara Kapla – Osijek 1 h 40 min, 167 km

Osijek is located in the east of Croatia. It lies in the plain on the right bank of the river Drava.
Osijek is the greenest city in Croatia. The most important monument of the city is the fortress, the baroque historical core of the city from the time of the Austro-Hungarian
monarchy.

Hotel accommodation, dinner, overnight stay.

“Kopčki Rit Nature Park” is located 10 minutes away by car from Osijek.
The nature park is located in a triangle between the Danube and the Drava. Depending on the water level, the waters of these two rivers constantly shape and change the appearance of the Rit, creating a beautiful mosaic of lakes, canals, ponds and riparian forests, reeds and wet meadows. All of Rit is widely known as a habitat for many wetland birds, deer populations and in particular the bald eagle which is a symbol of the park.

Then a short walk, boat trip and visit to the Tikveš hunting lodge.

Continue to the ethno village of Karanac to the restaurant “Baranjska kuća”. In the “Ulica zaboravljenog vremena” ( open air museum with ethnic collection of Slavonian handcrafts) there will be a tasting of local brandies and liqueurs.

For lunch we visit a special location “Pointers Goldberg” where traditional delicacies await us.

Return to Osijek and visit the “Tvrđa (Fortress)” in the afternoon, a baroque city-fortress from the 18th century. There is a wine tasting at the end of the tour.

Return to the hotel, dinner, overnight.

Breakfast, Osijek -Vukovar 40 min, 36 km

Vukovar, “where the Danube kisses the sky”. A city with a turbulent history from prehistory to the Homeland War.
Let’s get to know the most important parts of this city with a little walk.
Next is a visit to the Water Tower, a symbol of the 1991 war events, which offers a magnificent view of the Danube and the surrounding area.

Vukovar – Ilok 40 min, 36 km

Ilok, the easternmost town in Croatia.
Let’s briefly get acquainted with the turbulent history of the city, the centuries-old crossroads of many civilizations. The Danube was the border of European civilizations, East and West.
Take a guided tour through one of the oldest wine cellars in Europe, followed by wine tasting and lunch.

In the immediate vicinity is the Principovac viewpoint, where we can have afternoon coffee with a fantastic panorama.

Return to Osijek, dinner, overnight stay.

Breakfast, Osijek – Đakovo 45 min, 40 km

Đakovo is located in the heart of the geographical region of Slavonia in eastern Croatia. Đakovo is an episcopal town that attracts attention with its monumental cathedral. Pope John XXIII, walking through Đakovo, proclaimed Đakovo Cathedral “the most beautiful church between Venice and Constantinople”.
Wine tasting in the Episcopal Cellars next to the Cathedral, free time for lunch (individually) and continuation of the journey.

Đakovo – Tuheljske Toplice 3 h, 291 km

Terme Tuhelj Spa Hotel is located next to a thermal spring in the mountainous region of Hrvatsko Zagorje, 40 km from Zagreb. Numerous indoor and outdoor pools, saunas and steam baths are available on site.

Hotel accommodation, dinner, overnight.

The morning tour takes us to Klanjec, only 7 km from Tuheljske Toplice.

The monumental building of the Franciscan monastery in Klanjec has been an insider tip for many years. The tomb of the Erdödy family, precious sarcophagi from the 17th century, is located in the crypt of the monastery and is open to the public. The sarcophagi are the work of Viennese masters and were made in the early Baroque style.

A short tour of the town follows and then return to the hotel.

Just a few meters from the hotel is the “Restaurant Dvorac (Castle) Mihanovic”. With unique dishes, top wines from local winemakers and a special ambience, you will learn the history of the gastronomic beauty of Hrvatsko Zagorje.

Free afternoon, possibility to swim, dinner, overnight stay.

Breakfast, Tuheljske Toplice – Krapina 30 min, 21 km

Krapina or more precisely Krapina Neanderthal Museum is one of the most modern museum projects in Croatia and in this part of Europe. An interesting story about the life and culture of the Neanderthals in Krapina, a variety of multimedia and other content, and most importantly, special architecture awaits you. The new museum is connected to the site of prehistoric man, Krapina on Hušnjakovo Hill, by well-groomed hiking trails.

Around noon departure to Germany.