Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Miklin Chapel) – Protected cultural heritage
The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as Miklin's Chapel, is located in the settlement of Križanče, on top of a hill, off the main roads. It was built by the couple Ana and Tomo Mikl in 1872, and the year of construction is engraved on the portal's keystone.
The single-nave building is regularly oriented and has a rectangular ground plan with a small bell tower above the entrance. In 1896, the chapel was decorated with frescoes by the famous masters of the Brollo family from the Italian region of Friuli, known for their church paintings. The chapel was the target of a robbery in 1989, during which some of the valuable statues and chalices were stolen. Despite this, it remains a significant example of 19th-century sacral architecture and preserves historical and spiritual value for the parish and the surrounding area.
Church of Saint Barbara and the parish house – protected cultural heritage
The Church of St. Barbara is located in one of the most attractive locations in the municipality, at the highest altitude of 325 meters above sea level. Originally, this hill was home to the private wooden chapel of St. Joseph, built on the property of Josip Kušter. The present-day church dates from the 18th century; in 1768, a nave was added, and in 1775, a tower. The year 1687 and the initials of the Križovlje parish priest Andrija Katulić are engraved on the suffocation altar of the present-day church, which testifies to the use of inventory from the former chapel during the renovation.
The parish was founded in 1789 from parts of the Križovljan and Vinica parishes. The Baroque altars were brought from Zagreb from a church scheduled for demolition, while Saint Barbara was chosen as the patron saint because of the nearby mines in Maruševac and the steep vineyard area. The church is a single-nave building in the late Baroque style with a rectangular ground plan, a sanctuary facing north, and a massive brick tower in front of the main entrance.
The parish manor, located next to the church on the north side, is a one-story building with a rectangular floor plan and a hipped roof. The church is reached by 142 steps, built in 1988 during the parish administration of Rev. Vlado Stolnik, or by an asphalt road for vehicles.
The organ is the work of the Zagreb builder Dobnik from 1891.
Križovljan Castle - a protected cultural heritage site
Križovljan-grad Castle is the northernmost castle in the Croatian Zagorje region and was first mentioned in the mid-16th century as a wooden structure. In the 17th century, a brick lowland castle was built with Renaissance elements such as volume and architectural details. It is a one-story fortification-residential building with a central floor plan, which is rare in this part of Croatia. The castle, together with its park, is among the most valuable monuments of the Croatian Zagorje region.
The castle reached its peak in the 18th century when it was owned by Karlo Paszthory. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by fire in 1949, after which it began to deteriorate, despite occasional attempts at restoration. After World War II, the owners abandoned the castle, which has not been given a proper purpose since.
The oldest historical sources testify that the area of today's Cestica municipality belonged to the Vragović family from Maruševac in the 14th century. The Križovljangrad branch of the Vragović family built two wooden castles and in the 16th century built the Parish Church on the Prekorje hill for their serfs. The castle remained in the ownership of the Vragović family until 1717, when Kristofor Vragović was killed in the Battle of Zrinj, and the estates passed under the administration of the royal treasury.
The Bakići noble family from Split inherited the castle. Petar Bakić, a bishop, managed the castle until the conflict with the Franciscans in 1729. In 1740, the property was given to his successor Pavle Bakić, who built a new brick castle on the site of the old castle in 1752. The castle passed into the possession of the Paszthory family upon the marriage of Bakić's daughter Marija Ana. The Paszthory family further embellished the castle and arranged the park. The castle contained a Renaissance chapel with an altar of the Mother of God, stucco with flower and grape motifs, and corridors with rich details. The family coat of arms placed on the entrance door was partially covered by the Varady family.
An English-style landscape park covering an area of 22.97 ha was created next to the castle, which connects to the indigenous forest along the Drava arm. The lawns with groups of trees and solitary oaks form a classic example of an English park, designed around 1800 and redesigned in 1869. The park was declared a monument of park architecture on April 1, 1952.
Today, the castle is privately owned, but without significant investment. A fire in 1949, allegedly caused by human negligence, destroyed a large part of the valuable furniture and artwork, one of which is preserved in the Varaždin City Museum. Despite numerous plans for restoration, the castle is still waiting for its salvation.
Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the parish hall – protected cultural property
The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is located in the center of Radovec and is today the parish church of the Križovljan parish. The original chapel on that site, built in the 17th century, was dedicated to the Mother of God and built in the late Gothic style. The new church was built in 1753, when the nave was expanded, and the existing material of the old church was used to build a new sanctuary and tower in the Baroque style.
The church is a single-nave building with a polygonal sanctuary narrower than the nave, reinforced by buttresses. On the north side of the church are the sacristy, chapel and massive bell tower. On the facade of the church there is a Renaissance bifora, surrounded by 11 painted niches depicting the apostles and Christ.
The original altar of the church was dedicated to the Mother of God, while the side altars were dedicated to St. Anne and the Roman martyrs John and Paul. Over time, the statues on the facade were replaced by wall paintings. The gilded ciborium, the work of master Juraj Kuntić, is one of the most valuable preserved objects in the church.
The mechanical organ, built in 1888, is the work of the architect Ferdo Heferer. The pulpit and altars of Tyrolean origin, made in 1896, have no special artistic value.
Due to its location on slippery terrain, the church requires constant renovation. During the last renovation, the facade and interior of the church were decorated, and the renovation was carried out with the support of the parish priest Zorislav Šafran. Today, masses are held in the church almost daily, while the parish mass is held every Sunday.
The manor house of the rectory
The rectory is located 200 meters north of the church. It is a two-story building that served as the residence of the pastor and is part of the parish's historical heritage.
A look at the history of the church and its facade
In the 17th century, the chapel of the Mother of God stood on the site of the present church. The relocation and construction of a new church was proposed by the visitors due to the unfavorable location and the influence of groundwater on the first church and cemetery. The proposal was realized in 1753 under the patronage of Pavle Bakić.
The facade of the church is marked by niches that once contained statues of Jesus and the apostles, and the top was adorned with a statue of Mary and John under the cross. During the 19th century, the statues were replaced by frescoes by Vjekoslav Dolinšek, while the upper niches remained empty. Earthquakes in 1930 damaged the wall and ceiling above the choir, which led to the installation of retaining walls and braces to stabilize the structure.
The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is today a significant spiritual and cultural center, a place for the veneration of the Cross and traditional events such as Christmas concerts.
Chapel of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac
The chapel of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac was built in memory of the victims of World War II, during which more than 180 residents of the Cestica municipality lost their lives. The dead were buried in the Pancerica cemetery, which today surrounds this chapel. The idea of building a chapel was initiated in 1994, when a cross was blessed in memory of the victims, as part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the suffering of innocent people. In the same year, a committee for the construction of a chapel in Virje Otok was established, which submitted an official request for its realization under the leadership of the Križovljan parish.
The residents of the municipality raised just over 400,000 kuna for the construction of the chapel. The work began in 1997 under the leadership of local craftsman Ivan Hrnčić. The final work was carried out by Slunjski, Krasnić and Mindek with the support of other sponsors. After the construction was completed, the chapel was visited by survivors of World War II. Shortly afterwards, the access road to the chapel was paved, a bell weighing 162 kilograms was installed, and the surroundings were landscaped.
The final works, such as paving and landscaping, were carried out by the locals of Virje Otok completely free of charge. The chapel was blessed in 2000 by the then Bishop Marko Culej. In later years, the chapel was further equipped – it received an organ and a fence, and white crosses were placed on the graves.
Since the chapel's blessing, mass has been celebrated there on the last Sunday of every month. The Chapel of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac remains a permanent reminder of the victims of war and a symbol of the unity of the local community.
Chapel of St. Lawrence – protected cultural heritage
The Chapel of St. Lawrence is located on top of a hill in the settlement of Lovrečan, where its prominent position dominates the village and part of the Drava valley. It is a single-nave building with a rectangular floor plan, with a sanctuary on the eastern side and a tower built behind the sanctuary. The ground floor of the tower has a square floor plan, while the upper part turns into an octagon. According to records, the original rotunda – a building with a circular floor plan – was built by an unknown cavalry captain as a thank you to God after the victory over the Turks. The chapel was completely renovated in 1678 and dedicated to St. Lawrence. The current building dates from the second half of the 18th century, more precisely from 1738, when the tower was erected, making it the oldest building in the Cestica municipality.
The organ that is in the chapel today was purchased in 1896.
Pillar with the sculpture of the Sad Christ, Dubrava Križovljanska – protected cultural heritage
The pillar in Dubrava Križovljanska is located on a private plot, along the secondary Vinogradska road leading to Zavrč, not far from the border with Slovenia. It consists of two stone pillars with a square cross-section, placed one above the other, dated 1674. On the upper, wider part of the pillar is a sculpture of the Sorrowful Christ.
This depiction of an imaginary Christ on a saint's pillar, placed at a crossroads as a vertical accent, is the work of a currently anonymous, probably local sculptor. According to the dating, the pillar from Dubrava stands at the beginning of a series of public sculptures with the iconography of the Sorrowful Christ in this part of Croatia.
The Pillar of the Sorrowful Christ in Kolarovac – Protected Cultural Property and Testimony of the Baroque
The Pillar of the Sorrowful Christ, located in Kolarovac along the state road connecting Varaždin and Lovrečan, is one of the oldest and most valuable sacral monuments in northern Croatia. This stone pillar depicting a seated and pensive Christ is an example of early Baroque sculpture and an invaluable testimony to the faith and art of the 17th century.
According to the carved Latin inscription, the pillar was erected in 1658 at the initiative of the parish priest Martin Čelijak. The inscription reads:
“To the greater glory of God and in memory of the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Erected by pastor Martin Čelijak in 1658.”
Originally located in the village of Babinec, the pil was moved over time to Kolarovec, where it is now located within the courtyard of a residential plot.
Despite the damage caused by weather conditions, the stone sculpture of Christ has been identified as the work of an unknown but exceptionally skilled Baroque sculptor. The manner of execution and composition reveal a high artistic achievement, while the other petroglyphs testify to the deep piety of the local population.
As the oldest and most valuable monument of the Križovljan parish, this pilaster remains a lasting testimony to the Baroque period in Croatia, combining religious devotion and artistic expression into a unique cultural heritage.
