Daruvar
About this place
Daruvar is an unusual inland town where Roman spa heritage, the Baroque legacy of the Janković family and a living Czech tradition all fit into a compact walking itinerary. Count Antun Janković built the three-winged, sixty-room castle between 1771 and 1777; its name, associated with the Hungarian word for crane, eventually became the settlement’s name. A monumental male ginkgo, now protected as an individual tree, stands before its entrance and serves as a local emblem. A few minutes south, Julijev Park begins around the thermal complex, where the earliest plantings appeared beside Antun’s Bath around 1762. Its historic bathing buildings and roughly sixty plant species share the grounds with Antun Augustinčić’s bronze Bather from 1927. Thermal water still shapes daily life at Daruvarske Toplice, while Czech dishes, wines from the Daruvar vineyards and locally brewed Staročeško beer add a distinctly regional flavour. Daruvar rewards visitors who look beyond wellness: the castle, museum, landscaped parks, vineyards and traces of Roman Aquae Balissae form one coherent town story.
Daruvar developed around the warm springs of Roman Aquae Balissae, although its present centre owes much of its character to Count Antun Janković and the growth of spa tourism. The crane from the Janković coat of arms remains the town symbol, and its Hungarian name is also linked with the name Daruvar. A substantial Czech community added another distinctive layer, still visible in local language, cooking and brewing. The historic core works particularly well on foot because Janković Castle, King Tomislav Square, Julijev Park and Daruvarske Toplice form a close, connected ensemble.
Things to see
Janković Castle, built from 1771 to 1777, has a U-shaped plan and sixty rooms; it now houses the Daruvar Local History Museum. Outside stands Croatia’s oldest and largest ginkgo specimen, with a trunk circumference of about seven metres. Julijev Park preserves spa buildings from the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, while Antun’s Bath was erected directly above Roman foundations and a thermal spring. The park’s most recognisable artwork is the bronze Bather, created by Croatian sculptor Antun Augustinčić in 1927.
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Things to do
Begin at Janković Castle and the great ginkgo outside its southern façade, then explore the Daruvar Local History Museum collections installed in the former palace rooms. Continue through the centre into Julijev Park, where Antun’s Bath, Ivan’s Bath, the Swiss Villa, Arcadia, the Central Mud Bath and the 1927 Bather sculpture appear along one easy walk. Reserve the afternoon for the thermal pools at Daruvarske Toplice. Visitors arriving for Vinodar 2026 can join the 30 May Wine & Walk, a roughly ten-kilometre route linking the castle with tasting points in Daruvar’s wine country.
Food and drink
Daruvar’s food reflects the town’s Croatian-Czech heritage, making Czech specialities a fitting choice alongside continental Croatian dishes, Staročeško beer or wine from the surrounding vineyards. Restaurant Terasa occupies a setting beside historic Villa Arcadia in Julijev Park, while Taverna operates inside the Termal spa hotel; Daruvarske Toplice presents both as showcases for regional and Czech cooking. Elsewhere in the centre, the tourism board’s dining directory includes Kavana Queen on Svačićeva Street and Gostionica Srce on Kolodvorska Street.
Tours and activities
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Practical information
Practical information
Tourist information is available from the Daruvar–Papuk Tourist Board at Trg kralja Tomislava 12. Contact the Daruvar Local History Museum at Ivana Gundulića 1 before planning a castle visit, as access follows the museum’s programme. Daruvarske Toplice is at Julijev park 1, only a short walk from the main square. Rail passengers travelling in 2026 should check HŽPP notices immediately before departure because engineering works affecting the line through Daruvar have brought special operating arrangements and replacement transport.
Parking
Daruvar’s paid public parking is managed by Gradska tržnica Daruvar at Kolodvorska 2. Zones 0, I and II serve cars and delivery vehicles, while Zone III is reserved for coaches and lorries. Charging in the first three zones applies from 7am to 8pm on weekdays and 7am to 2pm on Saturdays; Sundays and public holidays are free. A ticket bought for a higher zone is also valid in lower zones, but the reverse does not apply. Touring coaches use designated areas at Holy Trinity Square or outside the Czech House in Masarykova Street, with parking arranged in advance through the municipal operator.
Getting there and around
Čazmatrans coaches connect Zagreb with Daruvar, with the official destination website giving a journey time of roughly 2 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours 5 minutes. The rail itinerary currently combines a train to Banova Jaruga with an onward replacement bus to Daruvar; HŽ lists Daruvar alongside Bijela, Sirač, Pakrac and Lipik on this corridor. Daruvar’s railway station is in Kolodvorska Street, close to the town’s bus terminal. Drivers arriving from Zagreb are directed off the motorway at Kutina, kilometre 64, before continuing through Garešnica, 20 kilometres beyond Kutina.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Daruvar’s famous ginkgo?
The male ginkgo stands outside the southern entrance to Janković Castle at Ivana Gundulića 1.
Who created the Bather in Julijev Park?
Croatian sculptor Antun Augustinčić created the bronze Bather in 1927.
Can visitors bathe in thermal water?
Thermal-water pools are available at Hotel Termal within the Daruvarske Toplice complex.
When is the 2026 Ginkgo Fair?
The sixth Ginkgo Fair takes place outside the Daruvar Local History Museum on 26 September 2026.
How long is the 2026 Wine & Walk?
The Daruvar food-and-wine walk on 30 May 2026 covers approximately ten kilometres.
Nearby
Daruvar
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Photo credits: Daruvar — SMESNJAKphotoZ (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Daruvarski Vinogradi — Fraxinus Croat (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Gornji Daruvar, Doljani — Malyvilibald (CC BY-SA 4.0) · St. Anna monastery — fototeka – Sveta Ana (Public domain) · Dobra kuća Fortress — UBos (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Pakra Monastery — Robert Ruff (CC BY 3.0) · Church of St George — Bastasic (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Book Me Apartman — Natalija Kirša (courtesy of the property owner) · Kuća za odmor Green Zen — IVICA ŠKRINJARIĆ (courtesy of the property owner) · Osijek — Rp031 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Vukovar — Bybbisch94, Christian Gebhardt (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Stubičke Toplice — MOs810 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Slavonski Brod — Petar Milošević (CC BY-SA 4.0)