The one town in Croaita which has surprised me more than any other during my 18 years here has been Ludbreg, an hour north of Zagreb in Varazdin County.
I have made several visits since my first back in 2016, when I penned Ludbreg, the Most Fascinating, Unusual Little Town in Croatia?
And that was before I made many more discoveries about this town which appears to be similar to those around it at first glance, but…
I had no idea that Ludbreg was a wine town, for instance, or that it had its own wine road at a time that more celebrated destinations such as Dalmatia did not.
I also had no idea that for 30 years Ludbreg has been hosting the biggest international festival dedicated to young wines, which takes place in the town each January.
And i was truly surprised to learn that Ludbreg is home to the largest St. Vincent statue in the world, which overlooks the vineyards of the area. Sv Vinko as he is known locally, is a protector of vineyards.
The Feast of St. Martin falls on November 11, and it is celebrated each year on or around that date in many vineyards all over Croatia. Known as Martinje, the vineyards are blessed and the young wines sampled. It is an important and fun day for locals and visitors alike.
In order to mark this year’s event, the Ludbreg Tourist Board, together with the town’s winemakers, has organised Wine & Walk Ludbreg on November 6, a chance to get to know the town, wineries, food and nature of Ludbreg and the surrounding area. More from the tourist board:
A new eno-gastro recreational event takes you on an adventure through the vineyards and forests of Ludbreg.
“Wine & Walk Ludbreg” is a new eno-gastro recreational event intended for lovers of nature, wine, authentic, local gastronomic products, and walking.
Visitors will walk a new route inspired by the pilgrimage tradition of Ludbreg and the roads of St. Martin. The route, about 12 kilometers long, connects two “saints” – statues of St. Martin and St. Vincent which adorn the two hills that surround the city.
Participants will be guided through a wooded hilly landscape challenging enough to spend an active Saturday, and yet gentle enough for anyone looking for fun, socializing and recreation to go through.
Along the way, there will be tasting points or rest areas where winemakers will offer their authentic wines, local “snacks” and a breath of local culture and customs.
All participants of “Wine & Walk Ludbreg” will, with a registration fee of 150 kuna, receive a starter pack in which a special practical bag contains: a tasting glass, a route map, a voucher for participation and water, and at the start and, in particular, the finish will be fun and motivating.
Wine & Walk Ludbreg pilot is a release of a new tourist product Ludbreg which is strategically oriented in the direction of excursion, outdoor and gastro tourism. The term is located on the eve of the important wine holiday of St. Martin, and the walking route is inspired by the pilgrimage tradition of the Ludbreg region, which connects it with a number of similar ones across Europe, related to the name of St. Martin.
Ludbreg Wine & Walk will start on November 6 from 9:30 to 11:00, and completion is scheduled for 17:00.
For the latest news from Ludbreg, follow the dedicated TCN section.
