Sveti Martin na Muri (, "St-Martin-on-the- Mur") is a

village A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...

and municipality in

Međimurje County Međimurje County (; ; ) is a triangle-shaped Counties of Croatia, county in the northernmost part of Croatia, roughly corresponding to the historical and geographical region of Međimurje (region), Međimurje. It is the smallest Croatian count ...

, 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 ...

History

In Ancient time

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

settlement Halikan (''Halicanum'') stood on the site of today's village Sveti Martin na Muri. Settlement was located on the

Roman road Roman roads ( ; singular: ; meaning "Roman way") were physical infrastructure vital to the maintenance and development of the Roman state, built from about 300 BC through the expansion and consolidation of the Roman Republic and the Roman Em ...

that led from Poetovio to

Carnuntum Carnuntum ( according to Ptolemy) was a Roman legionary fortress () and headquarters of the Roman navy, Pannonian fleet from 50 AD. After the 1st century, it was capital of the Pannonia Superior province. It also became a large city of app ...

. In year 1334 Sveti Martin na Muri was recorded as Catholic parish named ''Sancti Martini'' in Census of parishes of Zagreb Diocese. In the late 16th century, the nobleman Nicolaus Malakoczy built a

castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...

in the village of Lapšina. The castle fell into disrepair during 19th century and by the 1930s it was completely demolished. In year 1911 in the hamlet of Vučkovec mineral water was found while drilling for oil. In 1936 first pool was built at Vučkovec spring which marked the beginning Spa Resort in village of Toplice Sveti Martin. Municipality of Sveti Martin na Muri was established in year 1992.

Geography

Sveti Martin na Muri is located in part of Međimurje called Gornje Međimurje at border with

Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...

. Village of Sveti Martin na Muri, municipality centre, is about 19 kilometres northwest from

Čakovec Čakovec (; ; ; ) is a city in Northern Croatia, located around north of Zagreb, the Croatian capital, and close to the borders with Slovenia and Hungary. Čakovec is both the county seat and the largest city of Međimurje County, the northernmo ...

, and some 110 kilometres north of

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 ...

. The municipality covers an area of 25.24 km². Geomorphologically, the municipality can be divided into two parts. The southern part consists of low hills called Međimurske Gorice, while the northern part consists of alluvial plain of the river Mur. River Mur divides municipality in two parts. All settlements of municipality are located on the right bank of the Mur, and the left bank consists of the wetlands and fields. Floodplain of River Mur is part of natural protected area called Regional park Mura-Drava. There is a border crossing with Slovenia in municipality. Border crossing connects municipality with village of Hotiza in Slovenian

Prekmurje Prekmurje (; Prekmurje Slovene: ''Prèkmürsko'' or ''Prèkmüre''; ) is a geographically, linguistically, culturally, and ethnically defined region of Slovenia, settled by Slovenes and a Hungarians in Slovenia, Hungarian minority, lying betwee ...

. Area on the left bank of river Mur is part of ongoing border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia.

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the municipality had a population of 2,605 in 14 villages. Sveti Martin na Muri is experiencing

population decline Population decline, also known as depopulation, is a reduction in a human population size. Throughout history, Earth's total world population, human population has estimates of historical world population, continued to grow but projections sugg ...

since the 1980s. The majority of inhabitants are

Croats The Croats (; , ) are a South Slavs, South Slavic ethnic group native to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other neighboring countries in Central Europe, Central and Southeastern Europe who share a common Croatian Cultural heritage, ancest ...

making up 97% of population.

Settlements

Culture

The Church of Saint Martin was built in the late Middle Ages time and later restyled in a baroque manner. There are references to the church from 1334 (''Sancti Martini'') and then in 1501 (''Sancti Martini superioris'') and 1650 (''Sancti Martini in Komory''). The sanctuary is polygonal, arched with late-gothic cross vault, which is carried with ten consoles which are engraved with angel figures and floral ornaments. One has the year 1468 engraved in and there are gothic fresco wall paintings. The present

sacristy A sacristy, also known as a vestry or preparation room, is a room in Christianity, Christian churches for the keeping of vestments (such as the alb and chasuble) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records. The sacristy is us ...

was built in 1777. The baroque chapel of Saint Margaret in village of Kapelščak was built in year 1775.

Tourism

The municipality of Sveti Martin na Muri has a highly developed rural tourism industry. It is considered one of the best

health Health has a variety of definitions, which have been used for different purposes over time. In general, it refers to physical and emotional well-being, especially that associated with normal functioning of the human body, absent of disease, p ...

and

wellness tourism Wellness tourism is voluntary travel to world-wide destinations for the purpose of promoting health and wellness (alternative medicine), well-being through physical, psychological, or spiritual activities. Wellness tourism aims to control Str ...

destinations in Croatia, and has received several regional, national and international tourism awards. In 2007, Sveti Martin na Muri was named one of the 10 Best Emerging European Rural Destinations of Excellence. Bathing tourism is based on the healing power of the Vučkovec

mineral spring Mineral springs are naturally occurring springs that produce hard water, water that contains dissolved minerals. Salts, sulfur compounds, and gases are among the substances that can be dissolved in the spring water during its passage un ...

Gallery

Sv.Martin na Muri (Croatia) - zapad.jpg, Main Street Dvorac Lapšina (Croatia).JPG, Ruined castle of Lapšina Sveti Martin na Muri Mlinarska koča.jpg, Mlinarska kuća Sveti Martin na Muri municipality location.GIF, Location within Međimurje County 56 Blick von Sveti Martin (4493436119).jpg, View of Sveti Martin na Muri Sveti Martin na Muri Mlin na Muri.jpg, A watermill on Mura Vučkovec (Croatia), toplice - južni dio.jpg, Vučkovec Tourist Resort Ergela međimurskog konja.jpg, Međimurje horse stud farm in the nearby village of Žabnik Most, Sveti Martin na Muri - nosači.jpg, Road bridge over the Mura river in Sveti Martin na Muri Crkva, Sv. Martin na Muri.jpg, Saint Martin Church in the village centre

References

Bibliography

External links

*
Awarded "EDEN - European Destinations of Excellence" non traditional tourist destination 2007
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sveti Martin Na Muri Municipalities of Croatia Populated places in Međimurje County Spa towns in Croatia