Sveti Martin na Muri

Sveti Martin na Muri is a village and municipality in Međimurje County, in northern Croatia. It counted 435 residents in 2011, so this is a small and quiet place, where the setting is the Mura river, vineyard hills and a long thermal-spa tradition.

Where is Sveti Martin na Muri?

The municipality lies in Međimurje, Croatia's northernmost region, on the Mura river. This corner of the country is green and mostly flat, broken up by wine-growing hills. The village sits at the northernmost point of Croatia, which gives travellers one more reason to stop here on a tour of Međimurje.

What is the history of the village?

People settled here in Roman times. A town called Halikan stood on the road linking Poetovio (modern Ptuj) with Carnuntum. In 1334 the village was listed in the census of parishes of the Zagreb Diocese as a Catholic parish named Sancti Martini, after St Martin, which is where the present name comes from. In the late 16th century a nobleman built a castle here. The Church of St Martin is counted among the significant churches of Međimurje County and is protected as tangible cultural and historical heritage.

What is the connection with thermal baths?

Many people link Sveti Martin with hot water. In 1911, during drilling for oil, thermal water was found. In 1936 the mineral-rich water was piped into a wooden pool with seven baths. From that modest start grew today's Spa & Sport Resort, with outdoor and indoor pools and wellness services. The spa became the driving force of local tourism and is the most common reason people visit.

What else is there to see?

• Mill on the Mura. In Žabnik stands a renovated wooden ship mill, the last reminder of the river's old milling tradition. It was rebuilt in 2005 and is a well-known attraction in the region. You can also see a floating mill and take a ferry trip on the Mura.
• Skelarska hiža. A reconstructed house that shows visitors what life by the river once looked like.
• Mađerka hill. A new cycling and information centre with a lookout point offers views over the vineyards.
• Vineyards and wineries. The area is known for wine, and nearby wineries welcome visitors for tastings.

How to plan a visit

Sveti Martin na Muri fits well into a cycling or driving loop through Međimurje. Half a day is enough for the mill and the lookout, while the spa deserves longer if relaxation is the goal. The nearby village of Vrhovljan, first mentioned in a charter from 1478, has a chapel built in the 1830s and makes a short addition to the route.

Frequently asked questions

Are there thermal baths in Sveti Martin na Muri? Yes. Thermal water was found here in 1911, and today the Spa & Sport Resort offers pools and wellness services.

How many people live in the village? There were 435 residents in 2011.

What is the mill in Žabnik known for? It is a renovated wooden ship mill on the Mura, the only remaining reminder of the river's old milling tradition.

Where does the name come from? From St Martin, the patron of the parish recorded in the 1334 census.