Varaždin

Varaždin is a continental city in the northwest part of Croatia and, while other Croatian cities have had the obvious influence of the sea and the coast on their development, Varaždin is a different story altogether. It is known as a city of Baroque and Renaissance influences and, consequently, its inhabitants place a special emphasis on the history and music of those periods. Central to this interest are two high-quality festivals that draw attendees from Croatia and around the world. The first is Varaždin's famous music festival Varaždinske barokne veceri (Varaždin Baroque Evenings), which since 1971 has presented performances of both well-known and newly-discovered or non-published Baroque music pieces in authentic period interiors. The other Varaždin festival that pays homage to the history of the city is Špancir Fest, held at the beginning of September for ten days. Traditionally-attired people wander the promenade, crafts are on offer and recipes faithful to the tastes of the past are prepared. There are also evening jazz, rock and classical concerts to help mark the event. Regardless of whether you make it to one of the festivals, you'll find hospitable citizens who are eager to show off their unique city. As a starting point, they might direct you to the most recognizable place in town, the Renaissance Old Town fortress, which houses the city's museum. Inside, you can catch a glimpse of the story of the city that helped make it such an interesting place today.