A steam locomotive and three railway carriages give the Lovrakov centar in Veliki Grđevac an unusual literary focus. As a cultural, educational and tourist centre, the Lovrakov centar is primarily aimed at school tourism; several hundred schoolchildren from all parts of Croatia visit each year. Here, you can explore Mato Lovrak’s work through tangible objects and literary references.
Lovrak’s Literary Legacy
The “Vlak u snijegu” installation consists of a steam locomotive and three railway carriages standing on tracks. It has protected cultural property status and is part of a museum collection of railway vehicles and railway components. This gives the name “Vlak u snijegu” a tangible form in the exhibition. Check the centre’s current displays and opening hours before your trip.
The “Družbe Pere Kvržice” mill also connects a place with a literary motif: it is a reconstruction of a wooden mill that once stood there and a symbol of the novel “Družba Pere Kvržice”. Visitors can see how flour was traditionally milled in the mill. The building’s literary significance and an insight into traditional milling come together here. Check the current opening hours of the centre and mill in advance.
Since 1987, the “Lovrakovi dani kulture” have been held in Veliki Grđevac in honour of the writer Mato Lovrak. They take place at the KUC Mato Lovrak. The annual programme includes educational, cultural, tourist and sporting activities; the activities may vary from one edition to another. If you want to attend a particular event, check the programme and dates for the relevant edition.
Churches and Local History
The Parish Church of the Holy Spirit was built in 1832/33, after the parish was re-established in 1789. Its architecture displays features of the late Baroque and Classicism. The dates give the building’s history a clear chronology: the church was built a little over four decades after the parish was re-established.
The Parish Church of the Holy Trinity was built in 1752 and renovated in 1832; it also requires conservation work. In Pavlovac, the Catholic Chapel of Saints Peter and Paul was built in 1912. Pavlovac also has a historic connection to sport: a motocross track was established there in 2011 and inaugurated with a race at its official opening.
Walks, Swimming and Fishing
The “Staza prijatelja prirode” is designed for walks, is about 600 metres long and includes information boards and a lookout point. It opened on 6 September 2022. If you plan to walk the trail, check its current condition before your visit.
The Veliki Grđevac Sports and Recreation Centre has a 25-metre swimming pool, a shallow children’s pool with two water mushrooms and a hydromassage pool with medicinal water. The swimming season opened on 17 June 2026. As the pools operate seasonally, check their current opening status before your visit.
Fishing days are held at the pond of the “Grđevica” sport fishing club near the Lovrakov centar. Anglers who are not club members can also take part. Check the dates in advance if you want to plan your visit around a fishing day. For orientation, the centre of Veliki Grđevac lies on the Bjelovar–Daruvar state road. Check road conditions separately when planning your journey.
Cycling and Equestrian Tourism in Bjelovar-Bilogora
In the wider destination of Bjelovar-Bilogora, the county offers more than 500 kilometres of cycling tourism routes. The international Lonjsko polje–Balaton cycling route runs for 69 kilometres through the county. The Bilogorska konjička turistička staza is Croatia’s first internationally certified equestrian tourism trail; it is 90 kilometres long and has around 20 “horses welcome” points. Along the marked cycling routes in Bjelovar-Bilogora, you will find attractions, restaurants serving traditional home cooking, covered rest areas, bicycle service stations and smart benches. Licensed cycling guides also offer tours of the county.
Discover More Destinations
Drazica, Pavlovac, Općina Čazma, Općina Berek, Općina Daruvar, Općina Bjelovar, Općina Kapela, Općina Grubišno Polje
See the main travel overview: Bjelovar-Bilogora.
