Mače

Gmina Mače (Općina Mače) is a small rural municipality in northern Croatia, in Krapina-Zagorje County, in the Zagorje region. It lies at roughly 46.09° N, 16.04° E, in hilly countryside north of Zagreb. It suits travellers who prefer to see Croatia away from the coast: hilltop churches, village landscapes and nearby thermal spas.

Where is Mače and how many people live there?

The municipality belongs to Krapina-Zagorje County. It had 2,534 residents in the 2011 census and 2,258 in 2021, so it remains a quiet, rural place. It is made up of nine settlements: Delkovec, Frkuljevec Peršaveški, Mače, Mali Bukovec, Mali Komor, Peršaves, Veliki Bukovec, Veliki Komor and Vukanci. The village of Mače itself is the centre of the municipality.

What is there to see in Mače?

The main landmark is the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in 1574. It is a single-nave building with a semicircular sanctuary, given a Baroque makeover in the 18th century. The church became the centre of the parish, while the village served as an administrative hub where regular, well-known annual fairs were held.

What is the history of Mače?

Mače was first recorded in written documents in 1444, as a parish. An older and better-known name for the area is Komor. In the 13th century Komor was an independent estate, exempt from the authority of the royal prefects. It belonged to one of the oldest families in Zagorje, the Bedeković family of Komor. The old name lives on today in two of the municipality's settlements, Veliki Komor and Mali Komor.

What is nearby?

The well-known thermal spa of Sutinske Toplice is close by, a natural addition to a visit if you want to relax in thermal waters. The wider Zagorje region offers more that can be combined with a trip to Mače: the Krapina Neanderthal Museum, the 15th-century Veliki Tabor Castle, and the Staro selo open-air museum in Kumrovec, which includes the birthplace of Josip Broz Tito. Trakošćan Castle, set beside a lake, is also in the region.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mače a town? No. It is a rural municipality of nine settlements, with about 2,300 residents according to the 2021 census.

What is the most important monument? The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, dating from 1574 and given a Baroque makeover in the 18th century.

Where does the old name Komor come from? In the 13th century Komor was an independent estate of the Bedeković family, one of the oldest families in Zagorje.

Is there a spa nearby? Yes, Sutinske Toplice, a thermal spa located close to the municipality.

Is it worth planning a full day here? Mače works best combined with other places in Zagorje: a short walk around the village and church, then castles, museums and thermal baths elsewhere in the region.