February the 23rd, 2026 – Wellovar, or should we say Bjelovar, has been an up and coming settlement for a while now, and it’s latest geothermal miracle attests to its bright future.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the Wellovar geothermal sport and recreation park is currently in the final stages of construction in Bjelovar. It’s one of the most demanding projects in the city’s history by far, both in the sense of finances and infrastructure. It is an expansive future complex that, in terms of its scope, technological solutions and planned purpose, goes beyond local significance and positions Bjelovar among the rare continental Croatian cities with year-round thermal and sport facilities.
The Wellovar geothermal project includes a complete complex of thermal baths and swimming pool facilities, and is being built on an impressive 13,000 m2 of indoor space. An additional several thousand square metres of outdoor areas are intended for swimming pools and recreation. The total investment is estimated to stand at a whopping 41.5 million euros (excluding VAT), of which 17 million euros are provided by the EU through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The rest of the funds are being provided by Terme Bjelovar through a loan arrangement. A significant part of the cost, totalling 24 million euros, refers to the loan that will be repaid over the next 15 years. These figures show that a complex is growing that continental Croatia has never had before. The opening is currently being planned to take place on the Day of the City of Bjelovar in September this year, reports Večernji list.
On that day, visitors will be greeted by an impressive Olympic-sized swimming pool measuring 50 x 25 m (standard for international competitions), a lap pool, three additional indoor pools with wellness facilities, three large outdoor pools, stands for 600 spectators, wellness and relaxation areas, including saunas and massage zones. The pool area alone will span as much as 3,900 square meters, 2,000 of them being indoor and 1,900 of them being outdoor.
Wellovar’s heating system is based on two geothermal wells, one 500 metres deep with a temperature of 33 degrees and the other 1.5 kilometres deep with a temperature of 75 to 83 degrees. In addition, a 1.3 megawatt photovoltaic system will provide additional energy, while the planned 500 kilowatt battery system enables almost complete energy independence.
From the beginning, Bjelovar Mayor Dario Hrebak hasn’t presented Wellovar as a mere new swimming pool complex, but as a new standard. A standard that, as he himself says, 95% of cities in Croatia don’t currently have. In his vision, the spa is not an end in and of itself.
“They’re an extension of the city, its new entrance sign and a powerful generator of development. The expressway, which is being completed only three hundred metres from the complex, physically brings Bjelovar closer to Zagreb, making it just a 35-minute drive away. The Korenovo industrial zone, planned in the immediate vicinity, will open up space for new investments, new jobs and a completely new dynamic for this part of the city,” predicts Mayor Hrebak.
According to Terme Bjelovar projections and feasibility studies, the expected number of visitors per year is 180,000–200,000 without hotel capacities. With the development of accommodation capacities (Garden House, bungalows, and then a hotel) that figure will possibly grow to 300,000 visitors per year.
