Novi Marof

Welcome to Novi Marof, a small town surrounded by the almost untouched greenery of a lively and varied landscape that seems made for a weekend escape to nature, for recharging your batteries and for exploring the many beauties hidden in the forested hills.

Novi Marof lies in north-western Croatia and is one of the six towns of Varaždin County. It sits in the Bednja valley, on the easternmost slopes of Ivanščica, the highest mountain of Hrvatsko zagorje; to the east of the town there is a view of Kalnik, while the Varaždinske Toplice hills rise to the north and north-east. Its excellent location right by the A3 motorway, which runs from Zagreb to Varaždin and on towards the Hungarian border, makes it an easy day-trip destination.

The landscape around Novi Marof is full of gentle contrasts: forested hills and the gentle Bednja valley, untouched nature and the many traces of history hidden in it, above all the mighty medieval forts, and the proximity of larger towns. These landscapes and their pastel sunsets were a lifelong inspiration to Ivan Rabuzin, one of the great masters of Croatian naïve art, who was born and lived in the village of Ključ just outside the town.

Eight walking, hiking and running trails have been laid out, waymarked and regularly maintained around Novi Marof, about 50 kilometres in total with 2,300 metres of climbing. More experienced hikers can use the town as a base for longer trips to Ivanščica or Kalnik, climbers will find one of the most interesting and most accessible natural crags in continental Croatia, and cyclists can enjoy riding through the forested, hilly countryside around the town.