The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Tuhelj

A magnificent 17th-century jewel of sacred art, the Church of the Three Kings, lies amidst the rolling hills of the Zagorje region in Velika Erpenja, not far from Veliki Trgovišće. On the stone above the large entrance gate is an inscription dating the year 1650, the year in which this parish church was built. It is believed that the name of the village of Velika Erpenja is partly derived from Hungarian. The word "eper" translates from Hungarian as strawberry. Apparently, the ignorant inhabitants of the time distorted the word slightly and named the place Velika Erpenja, which means "large strawberry grove." In 1842, a public school was built next to the church, the first in this part of the Croatian Zagorje region. Tomo Gajdek, educator, patron, poet, and later parish priest, made a significant contribution to popular education. This period marks the beginning of education in this region. Classes used to be held in a house next to the parish hall; today, the branch school is located in nearby Dubrovčan and belongs to the Veliko Elementary School. A bench at the viewing point offers the opportunity to charge cell phones and provides explanations.

The Chapel of St. George was first mentioned in 1439 when the new pastor arrived. This chapel is located in solitude at an altitude of 268 m in Klanječko Lake with a beautiful view of the river Krapinica and two streams Kostelina and Horvatcka and surrounding villages such as Martinišće, Jalšje, Jurjevec, Dubrovčan, Gubaševo, Strmec, etc., and Velika Erpenja and its surroundings. Not far from the chapel is a parking lot, a morgue and a small chapel of St. Antuna. The cemetery is entered through a metal door that is open every day so that people can visit their loved ones, ie the deceased souls who have remained in our hearts. This chapel became a parish church until 1880, ie four years after the new parish church was built in Veliki Trgovišće, which was built in 1876. This chapel has three altars: the altar of the Suffering Jesus, the altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the main altar of St. George. In this chapel there is a flat ceiling (tabulat). On the choir are Ovčarić's organ dating from 1930. In the 16-meter bell tower there are three bells, one of which is a zinc: the bell of St. George 413 kg ton b ', bell of St. Josip 293 kg ton c 'and the bell of St. Antuna 132 kg ton es ''). There are two sacristies in this chapel: the past one (located on the left in front of the chapel portal) and the new one (it is behind the chapel and through it you enter near the main altar on the left)

CHAPEL OF THE HOLY CROSS IN THE HOLY CROSS All the chapels of the Tuhelj parish are located on the hills with beautiful views. Perhaps the most beautiful lookout point is the chapel of the Holy Cross, from where you can see Tuheljske Toplice. A Gothic chapel was built on the site of today's chapel around 1519, which would be the oldest chapel in the parish. Next to it, in 1739, the chapel of St. Helena was added, which stood not far away on the same hill. Today's chapel is from 1831. Above the altar is a baroque painting depicting the Good Shepherd - the Risen Christ - whose blood leaks from his wounds, giving food and drink to the sheep. The side altars are dedicated to St. John the Baptist and St. Anthony of Padua. Masses are served in the chapel for the New Year (January 1), the Ascension Day and Thanksgiving on the last Sunday in October. http://www.zg-nadbiskupija.hr/nadbiskupija/zupe?zupeid=68

Memorial area to the Croatian Mother in Velika Erpenja Mons. Kolarić visited Velika Erpenja as a student in 1968 and discovered there that the mother of the author of the Croatian anthem - Justina Mihanović - was buried in the cemetery next to the church. He even found that it was recorded that her son Antun was also present at her funeral, and he believes that he was sitting on that hill, from where a beautiful view of Hrvatsko Zagorje can be seen, and got the inspiration to write the Croatian anthem. Justin's grave was decorated in 1974, as was the tombstone. With the arrival of democracy in Croatia, the Society of the Brothers of the Croatian Dragon was re-established, which seeks to preserve the memory of great people and events from the Croatian past. The Grand Master in the Society was also Msgr. Kolarić, who suggested that the grave of Mihanović's mother be arranged in Velika Erpenja, but also the tradition of celebrating Mother's Day. "The renovation lasted for three years. We had a new tombstone on which it was written in Croatian who was buried there, and originally the inscription was in German. Our architect Ante Vodnjaković made a big stage, and many others participated in the project. I remind you that there was one of the first schools in Zagorje that was visited by the first Archbishop of Zagreb Juraj Haulik, it was a nursery of culture. The first celebration of Mother's Day, after the renovation, took place on June 10, 1998. And the following year, on May 9, the celebration was joined by the Croatian Women's Society, which was entrusted by the Society of the Croatian Dragon Brothers to take care of further Mother's Day celebrations, "said Msgr. Kolarić. From year to year, this day in Velika Erpenja is celebrated with a festive all-day program. Anyone who wishes can come to the memorial area to express their gratitude to the Croatian mother for the love they give. Retrieved from: https://hkm.hr/vijesti/domovina/kako-je-nastalo-spomen-podrucje-hrvatskoj-majci-u-velikoj-erpenji/

The aristocratic town of Veliki Tabor is one of the most important cultural and historical monuments of the profane architecture of continental Croatia. Veliki Tabor is exceptional precisely because of its monumental and authentic fortification architecture. With its location on the top of Hum Košnićki, at 333 m above sea level, it has dominated the Zagorje region for more than half a millennium - the architecture has actually merged with nature, forming a unique image. The view from Veliki Tabor to the entire Croatian Zagorje and part of Slovenia is also impressive. This cultural monument of the highest zero category is one of the most recognizable identities, not only of Hrvatsko Zagorje, but also of Croatia. Opinions of the profession are divided over the dating of the Great Camp. Some are of the opinion that the oldest part of Veliki Tabor was built in the middle of the 15th century, while others believe that the construction of the oldest part began only after 1502. The recently conducted conservation research, comparative architectural analysis and analysis of the discovered archaeological finds speak in favor of earlier dating of the oldest part of Veliki Tabor (mid-15th century). More .... https://www.veliki-tabor.hr/o-muzeju/pregled/povijest Much more about the Palace ... https://www.veliki-tabor.hr/

The fort of Veliki Tabor is one of the most important cultural and historical monuments of secular architecture in continental Croatia, with a unique monumental and authentic fortification structure. Situated at the top of Mount Hum Košnički, at 333 meters above sea level, it has dominated the Zagorje area for over half a millennium, during which time the architecture has blended in with nature. The impressive view from Veliki Tabor stretches over the entire Hrvatsko Zagorje area and part of Slovenia.