Samobor: The Royal Medieval Town at the Gates of Zagreb
Samobor is a town in Zagreb County, Croatia, located 25 kilometres west of the capital on the eastern foothills of the Samobor Mountains. The municipality has 37,481 inhabitants (2021 census), of whom 16,914 live in the urban core. Declared a free royal borough in 1242 by King Béla IV, Samobor is known throughout Croatia for its centuries-old carnival, its gastronomic specialities, and as Zagreb residents's favourite excursion destination.
History The earliest evidence of settlement in the area dates from the Stone Age. In 1242, the Hungarian-Croatian King Béla IV, in recognition of the inhabitants' loyalty during the Mongol invasion, granted Samobor the status of "free royal market" with significant privileges. Samobor Castle, atop Tepec Hill, was built by King Ottokar II of Bohemia in 1268 and passed through several noble families. A great fire in 1797 destroyed more than half the houses, after which the city acquired its present Baroque appearance, with facades rebuilt throughout the 19th century. In that century, the estate of composer Ferdo Livadić (1799–1879) was the centre of the Croatian National Revival Movement, where the anthem "Nije nam još Hrvatska propala" was written in 1833.
Culture and gastronomy The King Tomislav Square (Trg Kralja Tomislava), flanked by Baroque buildings protected as monuments, is the heart of the city. The Samobor Carnival (fašnik) has been celebrated without interruption for more than 170 years and is one of Croatia's most popular. The kremšnita (vanilla custard and puff-pastry cake) is the quintessential local speciality, alongside muštarda (spiced fruit mustard). The Žumberak-Samoborsko gorje Nature Park offers more than 200 km of trails; Croatia's first organised mountain excursion took place in this area in 1875.
Points of interest: - Population: 37,481 (municipality, 2021); 16,914 (urban core). - Distances: 25 km from Zagreb, 5 km from the Slovenian border. - Getting there: Frequent bus from Zagreb (40–50 min). Via state road D1.