After we have already presented Zagreb to you in detail in an article, today we are going to the border area of Croatia and Slovenia. Samobor today has almost 40,000 inhabitants (in the core town there are almost 20,000) and is located only about 30 km west of the Croatian capital on the edge of the nature park Žumberak-Samoborsko gorje. In this picturesque landscape a town was founded already in the Middle Ages, which was mentioned in a document for the first time in 1242.
From 1699 the village was part of the Habsburg Empire and later, as part of the Hungarian Empire, it was called Szamobor. Today Samobor is known mainly for its numerous culinary specialties and its carnival. In this article we will take you with us and introduce you to the most beautiful Samobor sights, show you what a Kremšnita is and what Jackie Chan did at the castle.
Trg Kralja Tomislava
There is no way around Trg Kralja Tomislava (“King Tomislav Square”) in Samobor and it is the perfect starting point for your exploration of Samobor’s sights. All of the baroque buildings on the long square are protected monuments. You can still tell how present the influence of the German population was here by the fact that the people of Samobor affectionately call it “plac” (“square”). Every building can look back on a long history. It’s great that the town has put up signs on the houses, which also provide information about the individual buildings in English. You can look for Ljubica’s house (see below). Tip: It is yellow. You will also find several restaurants and the local tourist information office, where you can get lots of tips for your visit to Samobor.
A fountain to come back
In the middle of the square is a fountain that is surrounded by a beautiful legend: Once you drink the water from the fountain, you will always return to Samobor, or so the local legend goes. No wonder the townspeople love to show the fountain to visitors! It is also known in the town as the “Two Dragons” because the water here comes out of two dragon-shaped taps.
Not a paradise for pigeons
By the way, the square is pigeon-free! Anyone who has ever been to the Trg bana Josipa Jelačića in Zagreb, which makes even the Piazza del Duomo in Milan green with envy in terms of pigeons, knows that this is not a matter of course in Croatia.
Off to Venice
Speaking of Italy, from the market square you’ll be in Venice in no time, at least in Little Venice, as the area on the banks of the leisurely flowing Gradna is called.
A beautiful wooden bridge crosses the water here and is one of the most popular photo opportunities in Samobor. It is not known exactly when it was built, but it takes you to the part of the town south of the Gradna River in no time at all. Its appearance reminded me a little of an alpine hut, which is not as far-fetched as it might sound at first, given that the town once belonged to Austria-Hungary.
Galerija Prica
If you walk a little to the east on the northern bank of the Gradna, you will come to Galerija Prica. It commemorates Zlatko Prica, who was born in Pécs, Hungary, in 1916. The Croatian painter was a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb and worked with numerous techniques. You can see the painter’s rich creative power for yourself here today with numerous paintings, drawings, frescoes and illustrations, including his famous Samobor cycle.
There are also numerous works by the photographer Vesna Prica, who unfortunately did not survive her father, who initiated the collection after her death in 1996 (he died in 2003). The square in front of the summer is always used for an open-air cinema on Thursdays in summer, and in winter you can enjoy an ice skating rink here.
Anastasia Church (Crkva sv. Anastazija)
One of the most beautiful sights in Sambor is the church not far from Trg Kralja Tomislava. It was built in the 17th century in the Baroque style and has been the most important church in the town ever since. Over the course of time, the only church in northern Croatia dedicated to St. Anastasia has been repeatedly rebuilt and is currently being restored. Its pastel yellow exterior forms an interesting contrast to the snow-white interior.
The Croatian Romeo and Juliet
There is a small cemetery right next to the church. Julijana (Ljublica) Cantilly also found her final resting place here. The famous poet Stanko Vraz is said to have met her in Samobor in the 19th century and immediately fell in love with her. He went on to write numerous love poems, which are among the most beautiful romantic works in Croatian literary history. Ljubica also fell in love with the poor poet, but due to her wealthy background, the two were unable to marry and Ljubica had to marry a rich merchant from Ljubljana, which is why the two are referred to as the Croatian Romeo and Juliet story.
Samoborski Muzej
Back at the marketplace, this time we cross the bridge to the south directly to the Samobor City Museum. It is housed in an old building from the late 17th century. After the town had already set up its own museum at the end of the 19th century, it was moved here after the Second World War. And visitors to this Samobor attraction will never cease to be amazed: archaeological finds, Roman coins, everyday objects from the Middle Ages – you can easily spend two hours here without getting bored!
Also on display is the piano by Ferdo Livadić. The composer set to music, among others, the poem “Još Hrvatska ni propala” (“Croatia is not yet lost”) by Ljudevit Gaj. The work was composed in Samobor and became the unofficial anthem of the Illyrian movement during the time before the revolution of 1848/1849. Also among the exhibits are a kiln made of Meissen porcelain and a model of the castle (see below) showing the site in the 17th century. Also great is the Etno Kuća (“ethno hut”), which is attached to the museum. Here you can see what life was like in the villages in the area in the 19th century.
Great is also the Etno kuća (“ethno hut”), which is attached to the museum. Here you can see what life was like in the villages of the area in the 19th century.
Samobor castle
Perhaps the most important of all Samobor sights, the once mighty castle of the same name, towers high above the town on Tepec Hill. It was built in just four years in the 13th century and was intended to protect the town’s citizens from attacks.
The castle would be a little more complete today if it had not been demolished after a fire to build houses in the city. The view from up here is spectacular and it is great fun to walk through the ruins of the complex. Incidentally, parts of the Jackie Chan film “The Right Arm of the Gods” were filmed here in 1986. Unfortunately, Chan injured his head so badly during filming that his hearing is impaired to this day.
Breathtaking climb
But one of the most beautiful things about the castle is the ascent from Samobor. From the town museum, you first walk through a park and then to an outdoor pool. Although Samobor is not by the sea, you can swim here with a view of the castle ruins! Afterwards, there is an easy section through a shady forest before you reach the castle, which should take about half an hour from the town center.
Lookout tower Vidikovec Tepec
A bit higher than the castle is the lookout tower Vidikovec Tepec. It is 14 meters high and you should definitely be free from vertigo to climb it. However, you will be rewarded with a sensational view of the Sambor sights at the top. In good weather, you can even make out Zagreb in the distance.
Eating and drinking in Samobor
Although Samobor is not particularly large, there are many good cafés, restaurants and pubs here where you can stop for a bite to eat. The town is even known throughout the country as a culinary paradise! Since you’re bound to be hungry after visiting the sights of Samobor, we’ll first introduce you to some of Samobor’s specialties and then give you a few gastronomic recommendations.
Specialties from Samobor
And we’ll start with dessert, because that’s what Samobor is best known for today. Kremšnita (“cream slice”) is known all over the country, but only in its home town of Samobor is it served so wonderfully fluffy. The recipes are closely guarded, but what they all have in common is the yellow color of the cream, which is surrounded by a thin layer of dough and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
For a dessert like this, you probably need a proper base first. This is where the Samoborski cutlet comes in. The cutlet is certainly not an invention from Samobor, but here it is served with a delicious garlic sauce, which is the name by which this specialty is known throughout Croatia. Meat fans in the city will also enjoy Samobor salami. Only the best pork is used in its production, and the salami here is very mild. Salami is so popular in the city that there is even a salami festival, the Salamijada! The mustard produced here, muštarda , is also a good accompaniment to a snack. Compared to the mild salami, however, Samobor mustard is quite fiery!
A Bermet as an aperitif
There’s always something to wash it down with, for example the local specialty Bermet . It is not easy to describe the taste of this drink, as it is somewhere between sweet and bitter on the finish. The drink is made from red wine, fruit and herbs, and you can get a particularly tasty Bermet from the Philipecz company in Stražnička ul. 1a, where you can taste and, of course, buy bermet in a rustic wine cellar, as well as delicious mustard. Incidentally, it was long believed that bermet came to Samobor from Napoleon’s troops before it was discovered that there was no comparable drink in France and that it was probably invented here by a pharmacist.
Eating an drinking in Samobor
- Scout, ul. Josipa Kompare 5: A pub could hardly be more cozy than this Irish pub. Here you can sit in a kind of small wooden hut and enjoy one of the many beers from all over the world that are served here.
- Samoborska Pivovarna Razum, Ul. Matije Gupca 2. It’s worth the walk from the old town to the east of Samobor, because several beers named after old legends are brewed here, which are tapped directly from the tank and are incredibly cheap. If you want, you can also take them home in 1-liter bottles.
- Gradna, Mlinksa ul. This café with a balcony directly above the Gradna is also a very nice place to sit, although it does not serve food.
Shopping in Samobor
- Srčeko, ul. Svete Ane 1b. This small store sells handmade souvenirs, especially small glass hearts that can be individually engraved – a great souvenir!
- There is a market in Samobor every day! Traders from the surrounding area offer their goods on Tržnica northeast of Trg Kralja Tomislava until 5 pm, on Sundays only until 1 pm.
Samobor Sights Book Tips
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How did you like our article about Samobor sightseeing? And what place should we visit next for you? Feel free to leave us a comment!
