May the 15th, 2025 – The Croatian Minerva Hotel is set to be transformed into a 4* hotel after over 40 years, marking a huge step forward for health tourism and the continental part of the country.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Tourism and Sport Minister Tonči Glavina recently visited Varaždin County and checked on the progress of work on two major projects currently playing out in northern Croatia. The reconstruction and renovation of the Minerva Hotel within the Varaždinske Toplice Special Hospital is underway, and the Opeka arboretum in Vinica is also being revitalised.
These two projects are worth more than 32 million euros in total. The works on the Croatian Minerva Hotel is being carried out as part of the wider “Improving the Quality of Accommodation and Facilities at the Minerva Hotel” project, carrying a total value of 22,177,913.51 euros. 77% of it, or 17,112,791.55 euros, are EU grants. Thanks to this, Minerva will become a four-star hotel.
the croatian hotel minerva will be the epicentre of health tourism
“The Varaždinske Toplice Special Hospital is already the largest medical rehabilitation institution in Croatia, and with the reconstruction of the Minerva Hotel, we’re raising the bar even higher. After over 40 years, the Minerva Hotel will shine once again as a modern four-star hotel. We’re developing the entire complex into a representative centre of Croatian health tourism.
from the roman period to the modern day
The total sum of the investments poured into the hospital will thus exceed 45 million euros. Varaždinske Toplice and this healing thermal water was recognised long ago by the Romans, and we’re now transforming it all into a place of high quality medical rehabilitation with a quality tourist offer. Together, it will all provide a special experience for people recovering and spending time here,” said County Prefect Anđelko Stričak, before thanking the aforementioned ministry and the Croatian Government for their ongoing support.
Minister Glavina commented on both of these commendable northern Croatian projects.
a huge step forward for continental croatian tourism
“Across the whole of Croatia, only thirteen projects in the field of health and spa tourism have received maximum support from the EU and the government. The Special Hospital in Varaždinske Toplice is one of those thirteen projects. The Opeka Arboretum, on the other hand, is one of only six or seven tourism infrastructure projects that have been co-financed. Over fifty projects that initially applied failed to meet the criteria for the allocation of these funds.
This is a major step forward for all of Varaždin County. Perhaps we’re still not sufficiently aware of how big a step forward this is, because we aren’t just talking about the renovation of facilities here, we’re talking about the creation of a future tourist and health centre in this part of Croatia. It will be built on a whole range of additional values: accommodation capacities, a hospitality and catering offer, family farms (OPGs), and local crafts. These investments will be felt by generations to come. I’m convinced that the renovation of Hotel Minerva and the Opeka Arboretum will position Varaždin County as an unmissable continental destination,” said Glavina.
Otherwise, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport has approved more than 23 million euros in grants from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. It is all being carried out through the “Regional Diversification and Specialisation of Croatian Tourism through Investments in the Development of High-Value-Added Tourism Products” public tender.
