Explore the area

Donja Dubrava is located along the banks of the Drava River, near the place where the Mura River flows into it, and it was named after the dense forests that surround it.

The history of Donja Dubrava is intertwined with the Drava River and river-related crafts and skills: millers, fishermen, gold panners and water traders were key to the development of the place. The company “Ujlaki-Hirschler”, founded in 1828, had a special importance in the design of modern Donja Dubrava, which stimulated its economic development, as well as the appearance of the town center.

The center of Donja Dubrava is marked by classicist architecture – the old school building, the Zalan Palace and the luxurious garden are part of the heritage of the Hirschler family, and the history of the place is also reflected in the beautiful Church of St. Margaret.

Discover the rich history, diverse culture and active community of Donja Dubrava – a place that exudes history, but also vibrant modernity.

The green, tame and fertile Lower Međimurje is inextricably linked to the flows of two rivers that border it: the Mura on the north and the Drava on the south. Rivers have helped create this region, they have given rise to its valuable cultural identity, and they are also responsible for the rich history and present of many Međimurje villages and towns. One such town is Prelog. This beautiful town is the only urban center in Međimurje located along the banks of the Drava River, i.e. next to a large artificial lake that hid the former course of the river in its depths. The settlement of the area of today’s Prelog dates back several thousand years. Archaeological artifacts have been found here that confirm the continuity of civilization since the Bronze Age, and all European historical changes have left their mark in this area. In the vicinity of Prelog, the remains of Roman buildings were found, and since Roman roads also passed through this area, and there has always been a crossing over the Drava at the location of today’s Prelog, it is not surprising that in the Middle Ages a craftsman’s and merchant’s settlement emerged from which the present-day town rose. The fertile land, the presence of traders and craftsmen, and the Drava River, which connected Prelog with both the west and the east and brought new people and new goods, and with them new ideas, created the foundations for the rapid development of the city. In the 14th and 15th centuries, Prelog was the most important urban center of Međimurje, and the then importance of the town is also shown by its symbol – the Prelog tower, which is located on the coat of arms and the flag of the city, while today it is possible to see only its outlines in the center of the town. How did Prelog get its name? The name of today’s Prelog, and the former Prelak, Perlak or Perlok, comes from the Kajkavian word “vleči, vlačiti, prevlačiti” or “to pull, to drag”, which is also the root of the word “vlak” or “a train”. Unfortunately, there has never been a railway in Prelog, but in this significant market town there has always been a crossing over the Drava, presumably in the form of a scaffolding that was dragged, pulled or towed across the river. First mention of the town Although the area of the city has been inhabited for thousands of years, modern Prelog connects its origins with the arrival of settlers in the 13th century. At that time, this area was inhabited by craftsmen and traders from today’s Germany and the Czech Republic. This was the period of colonization of the Germans into Central and Eastern Europe, which rulers and nobles invited in order to help the development of desolate areas with their craftsmanship and skills. In the case of Prelog, the settlers arrived at the estates of the then Count Lankert, who resided in nearby Subotica, and the first mention of the town itself was recorded on December 6, 1264 in a court decision relating to the land proceedings, so the people of Prelog celebrate that date as the day of their town. Međimurje’s largest town? Historical changes and oscillations did not bypass Prelog either. At the end of the 17th century, after the collapse of theZrinski-Frankopan conspiracy, the city lost its importance. But in the 18th century, its recovery began. Thus, since the middle of the century, a public school has been operating in it, a large and important warehouse of stone salt was created, a significant resource of that time, a silk manufacture was opened, and at the end of the 18th century, Prelog, in terms of population, was the largest town in Međimurje. The second and long stagnation occurs when in the 19th century Prelog was bypassed by a railway, but even then it recovered, found itself again and is now among the most successful, most developed and most desirable small towns in Croatia! Prelog today Today’s Prelog is a dynamic, well-maintained and developed town that builds its future taking into account the balance of economic development and nature conservation that surrounds it and, increasingly, as an interesting excursion destination. The main tourist attractions of Prelog are its natural beauties and sights with special emphasis on the Marina Prelog Sports and Recreation Zone and the numerous cultural and historical attractions of the town itself, the immediate vicinity of Prelog, but also the entire Lower Međimurje region. In this part of Croatia, social and economic development has not diminished its authentic culture, which is manifested in Međimurje dialect, music, but also “domestic”, traditional tastes and smells that make every stay unforgettable. Cultural life in Prelog flourishes through the activities of the Town Library and Reading Room, the Cultural Center, the Croata Insulanus Museum and the Tourist Board. Events such as the Carnival, Flower Fair, Youth Sports Games, and others attract visitors from the region, while symbols of the city, such as the church of St. James the Great and Geothermal springs in Draškovec, delight visitors. The town of Prelog – a place with a rich history, a past that is reflected in the present and looks towards the future, thanks to its economic initiatives and cultural achievements, awaits you with a lot to explore and experience.