The Camino, also known as the Way of St. James, has led pilgrims and travelers across Europe for thousands of years to the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela, where, according to tradition, the tomb of St. James is located. But in addition to the spiritual dimension, these paths today also offer a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and tourist experiences.
I Medjimurje will soon become recognizable as part of the European Camino route network. Located between the Mura and Drava rivers, it offers a unique blend of spirituality, natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, making it an ideal part of the pilgrimage and tourism story of the Way of St. James. Preparations are complete, the infrastructure is ready and 10 Međimurje hiking trails – 115 kilometers in total length and requiring a total of 34 hours of walking at an average speed – will be entered on the map of European Camino trails, making the county in the far north of Croatia even more attractive to tourists looking for something more than just a vacation. Because, in addition to traditional pilgrims, more and more people are deciding to use the Camino trails for a vacation, in order to experience a slower, more thoughtful way of traveling.
Small, authentic accommodations, local cuisine, and encounters with people from all over the world make it one of the most exciting journeys of today, offering, in addition to the spiritual dimension, a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and tourist experiences. An authentic experience of local culture, gastronomy, and natural landscapes, which resist the challenges of a modern, increasingly polluted world, is increasingly similar to heaven on earth.
The most famous Camino route is the Camino Francés, which starts in France and passes through northern Spain, but there are a number of other routes, including the Camino del Norte along the coast, the Camino Portugués from Lisbon or Porto, and the Camino Primitivo, the oldest route. Croatia is also part of the Camino route network, with historical paths that connected our coast and interior with European pilgrimage centers.
Today, the trails have been renovated and marked. Camino Krk, Camino Podravina, Camino Banovina and the Sisak route and Camino Imota and Camino Split, and it was only a matter of days before the Camino Međimurje would also be marked. This is an idea that the people of Međimurje have been thinking about for a long time, and are now putting it into practice. Local tourism stakeholders are also satisfied with the project, who see the Camino trail as an opportunity to enrich their offer, but also to increase the number of overnight stays it will bring.
– We know that the Camino routes have long been recognized among a large number of tourists, which brings an increase in the number of guests at these destinations. We sat down with the director of the Međimurje County Tourist Board and defined the story, contacted the Brotherhood of St. James, authorized to organize Camino routes. The originally planned route of about thirty kilometers was too short for us, so we defined the route Ludbreg – Donja Dubrava – Čukovec -Donji Kraljevec – Prelog – Orehovica – Čakovec, from where a branch goes to Varaždin, where it connects to the Slovenian route via the future Zagorje route. The second branch from Čakovec goes towards Štrigova, via Mađerkin Breg to Ljutomer. Everything has already been mapped with GPS and The opening will be on March 22nd., says the project coordinator Zvonko Laitman, who, together with his wife, owns the Holiday Home Lina, the first Croatian holiday home certified with the Ecolabel.
The Camino trails are an opportunity for the development of sustainable tourism that Međimurje carefully nurtures. They connect small towns, stimulate the local economy through family-run accommodations, restaurants and artisans, and promote active tourism. Hiking these trails allows visitors to experience the authentic side of destinations, far from mass tourism. At the same time, the Camino in Croatia offers a blend of sea, rivers, mountains and cultural attractions, giving travelers the opportunity to slowly explore the country and find their own rhythm, whether through spirituality, nature or simply - the love of travel.
Međimurje, with its oases of untouched nature, enviable cultural heritage and historical story, but also ecological wine and gastronomy and accommodation in facilities dedicated to tradition and ecology, has everything needed to meet the demanding parameters of the Camino routes.
What also attracts pilgrims is the fact that Međimurje has historically been a crossroads of trade and pilgrimage routes. Churches dedicated to Saint James, old chapels, votive crosses and centuries-old routes testify to the long tradition of pilgrimage in the far north of Croatia. The Camino route passes through a picturesque landscape of vineyards, forests and rivers, connecting sacred buildings and places of special significance for the region. Međimurje has already established itself as a destination for sustainable and rural tourism, and the Camino route further contributes to this identity. Pilgrims and tourists passing through this area bring new life to local communities, using small family accommodations, restaurants with local products and craft workshops.
By connecting spirituality with active tourism (cycling, nature walks, eno-gastro offerings), the Camino Međimurje can become an attractive route for all those seeking peace, an authentic experience and a slower way of traveling. Because the Camino in Međimurje is not just a pilgrimage trail – it is an opportunity to discover the hidden beauties of northern Croatia, connect with tradition and enjoy the rich cultural and gastronomic offer. Whether you are a pilgrim in search of a spiritual experience or a traveler eager for adventure and authentic experiences, the Camino Međimurje offers a special blend of past and present, faith and nature, silence and hospitality.
– We have sent a letter to interested tourist and hospitality facilities and transport companies asking them to apply if they want to be part of the Camino story, and if they do, their facilities and services will be listed on the Camino Croatia website. For us, holiday home owners, the possibilities of a larger number of guests on a half-board basis are opening up, but they will also be able to rely on us, for example to provide them with transport from point A to point B. So far, 14 facilities have expressed interest, but they can still apply. As for Međimurje, the Camino route will give it additional recognition and it is a story that benefits the entire county, concludes Zvonko Lajtman.
