Krapina (; ) is a town in northern

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

and the administrative centre of

Krapina-Zagorje County Krapina-Zagorje County (, ) is a county in northern Croatia, bordering Slovenia. It encompasses most of the historic region called Hrvatsko Zagorje. The area contains the excavation site of a 100,000-year-old Neanderthal man in caves near the ...

with a population of 4,482 (2011) and a total municipality population of 12,480 (2011). Krapina is located in the hilly

Zagorje Hrvatsko Zagorje (; Croatian Zagorje; ''zagorje'' is Croatian language, Croatian for 'backland' or 'behind the hills') is a cultural region in northern Croatia, traditionally separated from the country's capital Zagreb by the Medvednica mount ...

region of Croatia, approximately from both

Zagreb Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...

and

Varaždin Varaždin ( or ; , also known by #Name, alternative names) is a city in Northern Croatia, north-east of Zagreb. The total population is 46,946, with 38,839 in the city settlement itself (2011). The city is best known for its baroque buildings, ...

Population

The following settlements comprise the Krapina municipality: * Bobovje, population 510 * Doliće, population 436 * Donja Šemnica, population 912 * Gornja Pačetina, population 404 * Krapina, population 4,471 * Lazi Krapinski, population 79 * Lepajci, population 391 * Mihaljekov Jarek, population 469 * Podgora Krapinska, population 565 * Polje Krapinsko, population 666 * Pretkovec, population 66 * Pristava Krapinska, population 214 * Strahinje, population 328 * Straža Krapinska, population 42 * Škarićevo, population 707 * Šušelj Brijeg, population 4 * Tkalci, population 432 * Trški Vrh, population 399 * Velika Ves, population 727 * Vidovec Krapinski, population 215 * Vidovec Petrovski, population 101 * Zagora, population 94 * Žutnica, population 248

Climate

Since records began in 1993, the highest temperature recorded at the local weather station at an elevation of was , on 8 August 2017. The coldest temperature was , on 10 February 2005. At the KL station, the coldest temperature was , on 13 February 1985.

History

Krapina has been known since 1193. It has always been a favorite site for castles and country houses of Croatian and Hungarian rulers. In the first half of the 15th century, it was an important center of the

Counts of Celje The Counts of Celje () or the Counts of Cilli (; ) were the most influential late medieval noble dynasty on the territory of present-day Slovenia. Risen as vassals of the Habsburg dukes of Styria in the early 14th century, they ruled the County ...

, who additionally fortified the town and expanded the nearby castle. Later, it came into the possession of the Keglević family. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Krapina was a district capital in

Varaždin County Varaždin County () is a county in Hrvatsko Zagorje. It is named after its county seat, the city of Varaždin. Geography The county contains the city of Varaždin, the towns of: Ivanec, Ludbreg, Lepoglava, Novi Marof and Varaždinske Top ...

of the

Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia The Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia (; or ; ) was a nominally autonomous kingdom and constitutionally defined separate political nation within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was created in 1868 by merging the kingdoms of Kingdom of Croatia (Habs ...

Prehistoric site

In 1899, on a hill called Hušnjakovo near modern Krapina, the archaeologist and paleontologist

Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger (October 25, 1856, in Zagreb – December 24, 1936, Zagreb) was a Croatian geologist, paleontologist, and archeologist. Education Dragutin finished his elementary education in Zagreb, Croatia, as well as two ye ...

found over 800 fossil remains of

Neanderthals Neanderthals ( ; ''Homo neanderthalensis'' or sometimes ''H. sapiens neanderthalensis'') are an extinction, extinct group of archaic humans who inhabited Europe and Western and Central Asia during the Middle Pleistocene, Middle to Late Plei ...

. The half-cave in Krapina was soon listed among the world's science localities as a significant fossil finding site, where the largest and richest collection of the

Neanderthal Neanderthals ( ; ''Homo neanderthalensis'' or sometimes ''H. sapiens neanderthalensis'') are an extinction, extinct group of archaic humans who inhabited Europe and Western and Central Asia during the Middle Pleistocene, Middle to Late Plei ...

man had ever been found. At the site where the Neanderthal remains were discovered there is now a state-of-the-art Neanderthal museum which also includes an extensive section on evolution, making it one of the most interesting evolutionary museums in Europe. It is surrounded by a park with many statues of Neanderthals and the game they hunted, a bear, a moose and a beaver set in the actual locations.

Culture

Krapina is home to the yearly ''Festival kajkavske popevke'' (The festival of kajkavian song) sung in the local Kajkavian language. There is also a nearby municipality of

Krapinske Toplice Krapinske Toplice is a village and municipality in Krapina-Zagorje County in Croatia. According to the 2011 census, there are 5,367 inhabitants in the area, absolute majority of which are Croats. The settlements in the municipality are: * Čret, ...

(Krapina

spa A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa health treatments are known as balneotherapy. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters and hot springs goes back to pre ...

) with numerous thermal springs and spa tourist infrastructure. Krapina is also the birthplace of the linguist and language reformer

Ljudevit Gaj Ljudevit Gaj (; born Ludwig Gay; ; 8 August 1809 – 20 April 1872) was a Croatian linguist, politician, journalist and writer. He was one of the central figures of the pan-Slavist Illyrian movement. Biography Origin He was born in Krapina ( ...

. His home is now a museum where visitors can learn about his life and work. Since 1997, Franciscan monastery and St. Catherine's church in Krapina are hosts of the ''Krapinafest'', annual

contemporary Christian music Contemporary Christian music (CCM), also known as Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music, is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christianity, Chri ...

festival.

Sports

The local chapter of the HPS is ''HPD "Strahinjščica"'', which had 48 members in 1936 under the Josip Kompare presidency. Membership fell to 35 in 1937.

Notable person

* Mirko Dražen Grmek (1924–2000), Croatian and French historian of medicine, was born in Krapina. *

(born Ludwig Gay, 1809–1872), was a Croatian linguist, politician, journalist, and writer born in Krapina.

Transportation

Krapina is served by the A2 freeway and state road D1. It has a train station on the R106 corridor and a bus station which also serves as a hub for the bus company "Presečki d.o.o." - the company connects Krapina with numerous towns across the county and region.

References

External links

*
Kraneamus - Krapina Neanderthal Museum
{{Authority control Spa towns in Croatia Cities and towns in Croatia Populated places in Krapina-Zagorje County Varaždin County (former) 12th-century establishments in Croatia 1193 establishments in Europe