Novi Marof
About this place
Novi Marof lies in the Bednja valley, roughly 18 kilometres south of Varaždin, at the eastern edge of the Hrvatsko Zagorje region. Its name and historical centre are tied to an aristocratic estate and Novi Marof Castle, probably built between 1666 and 1697 and later enlarged for the Erdődy family. In 1926, after the estate was sold, a public tuberculosis foundation purchased the castle and established a state lung sanatorium there; the complex now belongs to Novi Marof’s Special Hospital for Chronic Diseases. The wider town’s best-known excursion is Grebengrad, a medieval fortress reached on foot from Topličica or by a hiking route across Čevo. The county tourist board also highlights Pusta Bela, the Čanjevo complex, Remetinec’s church traditions and the Erdődy castle park. Novi Marof has a station on the railway running via Budinšćina and Zabok towards Zagreb and via Turčin towards Varaždin. The official 2026 HŽ Passenger Transport timetable also lists nearby Mađarevo, Podrute and Krušljevec.
Novi Marof occupies the Bednja valley between the outer slopes of Ivančica and the transport corridor leading to Varaždin. The town’s name is associated with Novi Marof Castle, whose earliest structure probably dates from 1666–1697, before the Erdődy family enlarged it in the 18th century. This square late-Baroque and Neoclassical building, arranged around an inner courtyard, has served healthcare purposes since 1926 and now forms part of the Special Hospital for Chronic Diseases. The wider municipal area also contains Grebengrad’s ruins, Pusta Bela and the medieval complex at Čanjevo, giving aristocratic estates and fortifications a defining role in the local identity.
Things to see
Čanjevo
Landmark · Čanjevo
Čanjevo is an archaeological site of a medieval fortress on a steep crag in the Kalnik mountains.
7 km from Novi Marof
Stari grad Veliki Kalnik
Landmark · Šopron
Old Town of Veliki Kalnik is a sprawling ruin complex on a steep rock of Mount Kalnik, known for its defence during the Mongol invasion of 1242.
11 km from Novi Marof
Church of Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary in Zajezda
Landmark · Zajezda
church in Zajezda, Croatia
11 km from Novi Marof
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Things to do
In central Novi Marof, begin with a walk through the Erdődy castle park while respecting the hospital use of the main complex. Reserve the principal outing for Grebengrad: the fortress is about a half-hour easy walk from Topličica, while stronger hikers can follow the Čevo–Grebengrad route. Its massive surviving walls overlook the Novi Marof countryside and the Bednja valley. For a broader historical circuit, continue by car to the ruins of Pusta Bela or the medieval site at Čanjevo, then visit Remetinec for the local story of the “old churchmen”, or Red Brothers, associated with the area’s medieval traditions.
Tours and activities
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Nearest destination: Zagreb (47 km)
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GetYourGuide · Varaždin
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Practical information
Getting there and around
Novi Marof has a station on the rail corridor running north through Turčin to Varaždin and south through Mađarevo, Podrute, Budinšćina and Zabok towards the Zagreb area. The HŽ Passenger Transport timetable valid from 13 April to 12 December 2026 lists Novi Marof on this route, although individual services carry calendar restrictions in the timetable notes. By road, the town is about 18 kilometres south of Varaždin on an important route between north-western Croatia and Zagreb. For Grebengrad, the practical approach is to drive to Topličica and complete the final ascent on foot.
Frequently asked questions
Can you walk to Grebengrad from Topličica?
Yes; local visitor information estimates an easy walk of about half an hour from Topličica to the fortress.
What is Novi Marof Castle used for today?
The castle forms part of the Special Hospital for Chronic Diseases and has served healthcare purposes since a state sanatorium opened there in 1926.
Does Novi Marof have a railway station?
Yes; the official 2026 HŽ Passenger Transport timetable lists Novi Marof on the line between the Zabok area and Varaždin.
Nearby
Novi Marof
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Photo credits: Novi Marof, Remetinec, Church of Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary in Zajezda — Suradnik13 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Ljubešćica — Sandor Bordas (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Presečno, Novi Marof — Ex13 (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Čanjevo — Mihaela Maček (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Stari grad Veliki Kalnik — SpeedyGonsales (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Milengrad — EmaBabić (CC BY-SA 4.0) · 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)