Sights · Our pick
Varaždin
Baroque former capital
A baroque town of palaces and churches, once Croatia’s capital, with a moated old castle.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Pudelek · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons1 / 3
About Varaždin
Varaždin is one of Croatia’s most beautiful baroque towns, full of palaces and churches, and was the seat of the Croatian government until a fire in 1776. Its jewel is the Stari grad, a feudal fortress built from the 14th to the 19th centuries and later ringed with earth ramparts, bastions and a double moat. It houses the town museum’s collections of furniture, portraits, arms, clocks and porcelain. Wander the streets and squares, stop for coffee, and come in summer for the town’s festivals.
Our take
- Baroque palaces and churches
- Moated old castle
- Summer festivals
- Address
- Šetalište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera 1
Varaždin, the Balkans - Our city guide
- On our Zagreb guide
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Varaždin before you go.
Last checked: October 2026 How we choose
Location
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