Samobor () is a town in

Zagreb County Zagreb County () is a county in Northern Croatia. It surrounds, but does not contain, the nation's capital Zagreb, which is a separate territorial unit. For that reason, the county is often nicknamed "Zagreb ring" (). According to the 2021 censu ...

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 ...

. It is part of the

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 ...

metropolitan area A metropolitan area or metro is a region consisting of a densely populated urban area, urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories which share Industry (economics), industries, commercial areas, Transport infrastructure, transport network ...

. Administratively it is a part of

Geography

Samobor is located west of

, between the eastern slopes of the Samobor hills (), the eastern part of

Žumberak Mountains The Žumberak Mountains (, , historic German name: ) is a range of hills and mountains in northwestern Croatia and southeastern Slovenia, extending from the southwest to the northeast between the Krka and the Kupa. It covers an area of . The g ...

, in the

Sava River The Sava, is a river in Central and Southeast Europe, a right-bank and the longest tributary of the Danube. From its source in Slovenia it flows through Croatia and along its border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and finally reaches Serbia, fee ...

valley. It is part of the historical region of

Croatia proper In contemporary geography, the terms Central Croatia () and Mountainous Croatia () are used to describe most of the area sometimes historically known as Croatia or Croatia proper (), one of the four historical regions of the Republic of Croa ...

Climate

Since records began in 1981, the highest temperature recorded at the local weather station was , on 24 August 2012. The coldest temperature was , on 12 January 1985.

Administration

The city government, court, police, health service, and a post office are part of the Samobor infrastructure.

History

Samobor has existed as a

free royal town A royal free city, or free royal city (Latin: ''libera regia civitas''), was the official term for the most important cities in the Kingdom of Hungary from the late 12th centuryBácskai Vera – Nagy Lajos: Piackörzetek, piacközpontok és város ...

since 1242, according to a document of endowment by King

Béla IV Béla may refer to: * Béla (crater), an elongated lunar crater * Béla (given name), a common Hungarian male given name See also * Bela (disambiguation) * Belá (disambiguation) * Bělá (disambiguation) Bělá may refer to: Places in the Cze ...

. Since the

Treaty of Karlowitz The Treaty of Karlowitz, concluding the Great Turkish War of 1683–1699, in which the Ottoman Empire was defeated by the Holy League at the Battle of Zenta, was signed in Karlowitz, in the Military Frontier of the Habsburg Monarchy (present-day ...

in 1699, ''Szamobor'' was part of the

Habsburg monarchy The Habsburg monarchy, also known as Habsburg Empire, or Habsburg Realm (), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities (composite monarchy) that were ruled by the House of Habsburg. From the 18th century it is ...

, (

Transleithania The Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen (), informally Transleithania (meaning the lands or region "beyond" the Leitha River), were the Hungarian territories of Austria-Hungary, throughout the latter's entire existence (30 March 1867 – 16 ...

after the

compromise of 1867 The Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 (, ) established the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary, which was a military and diplomatic alliance of two sovereign states. The Compromise only partially re-established the former pre-1848 sovereign ...

), and soon after in 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 ...

, created when the Kingdom of Slavonia and the Kingdom of Croatia were merged in 1868. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Samobor was a district capital in the

of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia. The

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...

"Chromos" was founded in 1954, under the ''VZ grada Samobora''.

Economy

One of the chief industries in Samobor is

crystal A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macros ...

cutting, acclaimed in Europe and all over the world.

Notable people

Many well-known people were born or lived in Samobor. Such notable personalities are: *

Mihalj Šilobod Bolšić Mihalj Šilobod Bolšić (1 November 1724 – 4 April 1787) was a Croatian Roman Catholic priest, mathematician, writer, and musical theorist primarily known for writing the first Croatian arithmetics textbook ''Arithmetika Horvatzka'' (published ...

(1724–1787),

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

priest, mathematician, writer, and musical theorist primarily known for writing the first Croatian arithmetic textbook ''Arithmatika Horvatzka'' (published in Zagreb, 1758) *

Tvrtko Kale Tvrtko Kale (now Dreshler Kale, ; born 5 June 1974) is a retired Croatian-Israeli footballer who played as of July 2015 for Maccabi Kiryat Gat. The newspaper ''Slobodna Dalmacija'' rated him the best player in the Croatian First League in 2004. ...

(born 1974), Croatian-Israeli footballer * Ferdo Livadić, a prominent member of the nationalist Illyrian movement in the 19th century, piano composer and writer of the most famous Croatian patriotic song () of the 19th century, '' Još Hrvatska ni propala'' () *

Antun Gustav Matoš Antun Gustav Matoš (; 13 June 1873 – 17 March 1914) was a Croatian poet, short story writer, journalist, essayist and travelogue writer. He is considered the champion of Croatian modernist literature, opening Croatia to the currents of E ...

, poet and writer, lived in Samobor for four years *

Antonio Šančić Antonio Šančić (born 23 November 1988) is a Slovenia-born former professional Croatian tennis player and coach.Radio Samob ...

, tennis player *

Dejan Jović Dejan Jović (; born 12 April 1968) is a political scientist from Croatia. He is a List of academic ranks, full-time professor at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Political Science at the University of Zagreb. Fr ...

, political scientist * Slađan Ašanin, football player * Vladimir Šujster, handball player,olympic gold medalist Atlanta 1996

Population

In the

2021 Croatian census The Census of population, households and apartments in the Republic of Croatia in 2021 (Croatian language, Croatian: Popis stanovništva, kućanstva i stanova u Republici Hrvatskoj 2021. godine; shortened: Census 2021, Popis 2021.) was the 4th dec ...

, the total population of the administrative territory of Samobor was 37,481, distributed in the following settlements:

Settlements

* Beder, population 68 * Bobovica, population 258 * Braslovje, population 303 * Bratelji, population 11 *

Bregana Bregana (; )Breganica, population 59 * Brezovac Žumberački, population 20 *

Budinjak Budinjak is a settlement (''naselje'') in the Samobor administrative territory of Zagreb County, Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adria ...

, population 10 * Bukovje Podvrško, population 25 * Celine Samoborske, population 327 * Cerje Samoborsko, population 339 * Cerovica, population 4 * Dane, population 7 * Dolec Podokićki, population 77 * Domaslovec, population 900 * Draganje Selo, population 77 * Dragonoš, population 13 * Drežnik Podokićki, population 246 * Dubrava Samoborska, population 248 *

Falašćak Falašćak is a settlement (''naselje'') in the Samobor administrative territory of Zagreb County, Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adria ...

, population 108 *

Farkaševec Samoborski Farkaševec Samoborski is a settlement (''naselje'') in the Samobor administrative territory of Zagreb County, Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast ...

, population 467 * Galgovo, population 699 * Golubići, population 6 * Gornja Vas, population 22 * Gradna, population 542 * Grdanjci, population 320 *

Gregurić Breg Gregurić Breg is a settlement (''naselje'') in the Samobor administrative territory of Zagreb County, Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the A ...

, population 106 * Hrastina Samoborska, population 852 * Jarušje, population 47 * Javorek, population 39 * Kladje, population 892 * Klake, population 230 * Klokočevec Samoborski, population 326 * Konšćica, population 267 * Kostanjevec Podvrški, population 69 * Kotari, population 74 * Kravljak, population 2 * Lug Samoborski, population 946 * Mala Jazbina, population 489 * Mala Rakovica, population 609 * Mali Lipovec, population 110 * Manja Vas, population 76 * Medsave, population 205 * Molvice, population 666 * Noršić Selo, population 90 * Novo Selo Žumberačko, population 18 * Osredek Žumberački, population 13 * Osunja, population 7 * Otruševec, population 295 * Pavučnjak, population 515 * Petkov Breg, population 256 * Podgrađe Podokićko, population 137 * Podvrh, population 520 * Poklek, population 20 * Prekrižje Plešivičko, population 16 *

Rakov Potok Rakov Potok is a village in Croatia. It is connected by the D1 highway. The area is known to have several mass graves from World War II. In 2011, it emerged that the area likely contained the remains of the last government of the Independent Sta ...

, population 1,093 *

Rude Rudeness (also called effrontery) is a display of actual or perceived disrespect by not complying with the social norms or etiquette expected within a relationship, social group, or culture. Social norms are established as the essential guidel ...

, population 1,085 * Samobor, population 16,914 * Samoborski Otok, population 612 *

Savršćak Savršćak is a settlement (''Settlement (Croatia), naselje'') in the Samobor administrative territory of Zagreb County, Croatia. 2011 Croatian census, As of 2011 it had a population of 199 people. References

Populated places in Zagreb Coun ...

, population 214 *

Selce Žumberačko Selce Žumberačko is a settlement (''naselje'') in the Samobor administrative territory of Zagreb County, Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of t ...

, population 3 *

Sječevac Sječevac is a settlement (''naselje'') in the Samobor administrative territory of Zagreb County, Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriat ...

, population 8 * Slani Dol, population 171 * Slapnica, population 11 * Slavagora, population 72 *

Smerovišće Smerovišće is a settlement (''naselje'') in the Samobor administrative territory of Zagreb County, Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adr ...

, population 108 * Stojdraga, population 48 * Sveti Martin pod Okićem, population 256 *

Šimraki Šimraki is a settlement (''naselje'') in the Samobor administrative territory of Zagreb County, Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriati ...

, population 5 * Šipački Breg, population 33 * Tisovac Žumberački, population 0 * Velika Jazbina, population 263 * Velika Rakovica, population 507 * Veliki Lipovec, population 73 * Višnjevec Podvrški, population 30 * Vratnik Samoborski, population 93 * Vrbovec Samoborski, population 262 *

Vrhovčak Vrhovčak is a settlement (''naselje'') in the Samobor administrative territory of Zagreb County, Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriat ...

, population 365

Governance

Representatives of Samobor at the

Croatian Parliament The Croatian Parliament () or the Sabor is the Unicameralism, unicameral legislature of Croatia. Under the terms of the Constitution of Croatia, Croatian Constitution, the Sabor represents the nation, people and is vested with legislative power. ...

: * Hinko Francisci (1872–1878)

Monuments and sightseeings

Povijesna postrojba Narodna garda Samobor

Samobor is one of the earliest tourist resorts in the region, with the first tourist facilities dating back to 1810, catering to anglers,

hunter Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, and killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to obtain the animal's body for meat and useful animal products ( fur/ hide, bone/tusks, ...

s and

hiker A hike is a long, vigorous walking, walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer tim ...

s. The town's beautiful surroundings and vicinity to the capital have supported this tourist tradition to the present day. In 1846, Samobor was paid a visit by the composer

Franz Liszt Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic music, Romantic period. With a diverse List of compositions by Franz Liszt, body of work spanning more than six ...

, who at that time was visiting Zagreb during one of his numerous concert tours. Liszt came to Samobor to see his friend Ferdo Livadić, in his lodgings at th
Livadić mansion
which is today the town museum. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Livadić mansion came under the ownership of a Jewish family named Daničić. They were forced to leave as a result of the Nazi invasion in 1941. Shortly after this, the mansion was confiscated by the newly formed Independent State of Croatia and never returned to the Daničić family. On Tepec hill, a 10-minute walk from the city centre, there are still-visible remains of the Samobor Castle fortress built in the 13th century.

Education

These elementary schools and high schools exist in Samobor: * Bogumil Toni Elementary School * Samobor Elementary School (formerly the Janko Mišić Elementary School) * Samobor High School, consisting of two academies teaching arts such as economy and trade * the Antun Gustav Matoš Gymnasium (comprehensive school) * Vocational High School Samobor, with technical studies, hairdressing, etc. * Ferdo Livadić Music School, a music academy with both elementary and high school programmes

Sport

The main local football club is NK Samobor, who play in the

Treća HNL The Croatian Second Football League (), commonly Druga NL or 2. NL, is the third tier of the Croatian football league system. The league was established in 1991, following the dissolution of the Yugoslav League. It is operated by the Croatian F ...

. Other football clubs are NK Bregana, NK Galgovo, NK Klokočevac, NK Rakov Potok, NK Samoborski Otok, NK Zrinski Farkaševac. The local woman's handball club is ŽRK Samobor, who play in the Prva HRL. The local men's handball clubs are RK Mladost 09, and

RK Rudar RK Rudar is a Bosnian rugby club based in Zenica Zenica ( ; ) is a city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and an administrative and economic center of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Zenica-Doboj Canton. It is located in the Bosna (river), ...

, who play in the Premijer liga. The local men's basketball club is KK Samobor, who play in the Prva muška liga. The local judo clubs are Judo Klub Samobor, and Judo Klub Profectus Samobor. The local karate clubs are Karate klub Samobor, Karate klub Mladost and Karate klub Bregana. The local athletics club is Atletski klub Samobor 2007. The local gymnastics club Gimnastički klub Samobor. The local volleyball club is Odbojkaški klub Samobor. The local tennis club is Tenis klub Samobor 1890. The local table tennis club is Stolnoteniski klub Samobor. The local taekwondo club is Taekwondo klub Koryo Samobor. The local mountain bike club is Brdsko-biciklistički klub Šišmiš. The local kickboxing klub is

TNT Samobor Troponin T (shortened TnT or TropT) is a part of the troponin complex, which are proteins integral to the contraction of skeletal and heart muscles. They are expressed in skeletal and cardiac myocytes. Troponin T binds to tropomyosin and helps ...

. The local motocross club is Moto Cross Klub TRP Marović. The main football ground is Gradski Stadion Samobor. The main indoor sports hall is Sportska dvorana Samobor with the seating capacity of 700. Other indoor sports halls are Sportska dvorana Bogumil Toni with seating capacity of 500, Sportska dvorana Rude with seating capacity of 300 and Sportska dvorana OŠ Samobor with no seating capacity. The local chapter of the HPS is ''HPD "Japetić"'', which had 253 members in 1936 under the Franjo Flašar presidency, being one of the largest within the society. At the time, it had a

ski Skis are runners, attached to the user's feet, designed to glide over snow. Typically employed in pairs, skis are attached to ski boots with ski bindings, with either a free, lockable, or partially secured heel. For climbing slopes, ski skins c ...

section. Membership fell to 245 in 1937. Membership rose to 246 in 1938.

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Samobor is twinned with: *

Wirges Wirges () is a town in the Westerwaldkreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Geography Wirges lies in a high hollow in the further Westerwald between Köppel and Malberg, roughly 5 km northwest of Montabaur and 20 km northeast of Koble ...

, Germany * Veles, North Macedonia * Stari Grad, Croatia *

Pécs Pécs ( , ; ; Slovak language, Slovak: ''Päťkostolie''; also known by #Name, alternative names) is List of cities and towns of Hungary#Largest cities in Hungary, the fifth largest city in Hungary, on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the c ...

, Hungary *

Chassieu Chassieu (; ) is a commune in the Metropolis of Lyon in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France. Population Twin town Chassieu has been twinned with Coleshill, England, near Birmingham since 1983. See also * Eurexpo Eurexpo ...

, France *

Parabiago Parabiago (Milanese: ; ) is a town located in the north-western part of the Metropolitan City of Milan, Lombardy, northern Italy. The town is crossed by the road to Sempione (S.S.33) and MilanGallarate Railway; nearby flow the Olona river and t ...

, Italy

Notes

References

External links

*
MyTravelStudio – Travel Blog
{{Authority control Cities and towns in Croatia Populated places in Zagreb County Zagreb County (former) Tourist attractions in Zagreb County