The Noble Municipality of Turopolje

Short drive from Zagreb to Andautonia – large and important archaeological site. Andautonia was the seat of the Illiryan tribe and the Roman municipality of the Upper Pannonia, built on the Roman road Siscia – Poetovio (Sisak – Ptuj). Excavations revealed the foundations of Roman buildings, thermal complex, parts of the road, remains of wall paintings with ornaments, tools, tableware, jewelery, money from the Titus to Valens period – between the 1st and the 4th ct. when here was the administrative, political and cultural center of the region.
On the way to Velika Gorica a short stop in the place Staro Čiče, where the only remained wooden parish court in the area can be found, representing the exquisite original construction of Turopolje (could be only seen from outside).  Arrival to the Velika Gorica, the biggest and central town of Turopolje, in history first mentioned in 1228. In the city center there is so called City of Turopolje – one level building built middle 18th ct. It used to be a town hall of “Aristocratic Turopolje Municipality”. In 1960 this became The Museum of Turopolje. It houses archaeological, ethnographic, cultural and historic collections of Velika Gorica region.
Lunch in one of the restaurants in the surrounding area with local gastro-specialties.
After lunch a visit to the Castle Lukavec, mentioned for the first time in 1256 as “caput Lukavez”. Lukavec had an undeniably restless history, many owners, but has always been a symbol of Turopolje. The existing castle is the only object built from stone in Turopolje. Until mid of the 19th ct. this was the place where nobles kept their title-deeds and important documents and held their assemblies.
In the neighboring village there is an eye catching one level building “kurija” (domestic court) Modić-Bedeković from 1806. This is the best-preserved, beautiful example of the original wooden country architecture, that used to be built by lower aristocracy.
A short drive and a visit to St. Barbara’s Chapel. This building is the most attractive and most representative work of wooden sacral architecture in the Northern part of Croatia, entirely built of cleft oak planks. It has survived three centuries, but the time didn’t at all lessen her original beauty. door, walls, ceiling and altar are decorated with paintings and ornaments up to the smallest details. Return to Zagreb.

Information:

• duration: 7-8 hours
• available throughout the year
• minimum 6 pax