Varaždinske Toplice

On Saturday the 6th my friend Klara and I caught the 12:00 bus from Varaždin to Varaždinske Toplice for a short visit. Upon exiting the bus we discovered that there were no buses going back to Varaždin for the day. So we were kind of stuck in Varaždinske Toplice and in the rain. We decided that we would explore the town a bit then try and figure out a way to get home.


Here are the pictures from our rainy day adventure:

Map of town and surrounding area.

Varaždinske Toplice is surrounded by hills, meadows, vineyards, orchards and forests and is situated near the small river Bednja. The oldest thermal spa in Croatia is here in Varaždinske Toplice. In Roman times the area was called Aquae Iasae and was a spa for the elite. The town is well known for its hot springs as well as medical centers.

The first place we visited was a Church. Church of St. Martin

Sign outside the Church.

Front of the Church.

Front of Church.

The organ upstairs at the back of the church.

In 1765 the Church received this organ which was crafted by the renowned organ-builder Antonius Römer from Graz.

One of the alters on the side of the Church.

After 1880 two marble altars from the Zagreb Cathedral were added. These Baroque sculptures were the works of Francesco Robbe, a famous Baroque sculptor.

View down the road. The Church is on the hill on the left.

Autumn leaves in a puddle on a rainy day.

The Castle.

The Church of St. Martin is right behind it. Today the Castle houses the Local Heritage Museum of Varaždinske Toplice. Unfortunately it was closed for winter renovations. Allot of the town seemed to be "closed" for the winter. Not much was open which was too bad but we made the most of it.

In the inner court of the castle.

There is a Baroque colonnade, and several excavated stone monuments from the Roman times. In the middle of the court there is a bath tub full of flowers.

The inner courtyard of the castle. The white building on the left is the back of the Church.

We then went to Aquae Iasae, the ruins of an important Roman settlement that existed from the 1st to 4th Century.

The name “Toplice” came from the old inhabitants of the area called the Jasa who date back from the Third Century B.C..

Later, during Roman times the area was called Aqua Iasae. The spa's Roman name, Aquae lasae, was derived from the name of pre-Roman Pannonian tribe that made full use of its beneficial therapeutic spring.

Sign outside the archaeological site.

Gate to archaeological site of Roman ruins.

In 1865 this portal to the entrance to the park was erected. It adorns a nymph relief, a Roman inscription and two marble loins with fish tales.

Sign showing pictures of the excavation of the Roman Forum.

A sign depicting images of what the Roman Spa looked like.

The Archaeological excavations began in 1953. They were lead by the Department of Ancient History of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb. The Archaeological site. The Forum filled with water.

The investigated parts of the Roman architecture are in the city park. This Spa Park was laid out in 1820 and is divided into two parts. At the base of the hill there is a decorative garden with a pavilion, the springs, and a bandstand. (Today archaeological site) The other part of the park is the landscaped and forested area that stretches on the slopes of the hill around the Archaeological site.

We walked up the hill to get a look at the Roman Ruins Site.

View of Archaeological Site from the top of the hill.

Walking in the rain down the hill.

Roman Ruins.

Roman artifacts

Layout of the ancient spa area.

During Roman times, the spa was a significant therapeutic, ceremonial and cultural centre.

The following are pictures of the ruins of the spa.

Remains of the original tiling in the bathhouse.

Klara and I exploring the ruins.

Old Roman bench alongside the ruins.

The water springs from almost 1,800 metres below and surfaces at a temperature of 58 degrees. It has done this for thousands of years and continues to be used in more modern facilities throughout town.

In the late 1600's Dr. Ivan Krstitelj Lalangue started off the modern spa in Varaždinske Toplice. Spa-Tourism didn't begin until the introduction of medical supervision in 1819. At this time a full-time physician was appointed, and permanent facilities were built. Many of these buildings are still operating today.

The waters here have been considered for centuries to heal numerous conditions.

The Hotel Minerva is the largest health-care facility in town. It has outdoor (closed in winter) and indoor pools, recreational, rehabilitation, sporting and entertainment programs. We walked by to check it out.

Thermal water pools at Hotel Minerva.

Small water park. It's a bit outdated now.

Klara and I sent a message to my host mom telling her we were stuck in Varaždinske Toplice. She replied saying that she could come and get us as it was a ten minute drive away. She came and got us and took us back home. It was a good day but we were a little damp afterwards. I think it's a better place to visit in "tourist" season as more would be open.