Petrijanec

Petrijanec is a village and municipal centre in Varaždin County, nine kilometres northwest of Varaždin on the road towards Ptuj. At 184 metres above sea level, it links the Drava plain with the Croatian-Slovenian border area. The centre is dominated by the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, dating from 1797, while the Saint George column from 1775 is an older local landmark. Petrijanec is associated with the Roman station Aqua Viva on the ancient Poetovio–Mursa and Poetovio–Siscia routes; remains of a Roman road, buildings, a sarcophagus and funerary monuments demonstrate the area’s importance. Particularly remarkable is a hoard discovered in 2005, containing 27,735 silvered bronze Roman coins and three silver plates. Modern exploration can follow the Drava Bike route through Družbinec and Petrijanec or continue to nearby Zelendvor, known for its estate, chapel and long hunting tradition. The result is an unusual combination of Roman archaeology, Baroque religious heritage, level Drava countryside and easy cycling within a short distance of Varaždin.

Petrijanec lies on the plain northwest of Varaždin beside the historic route towards Ptuj. It is associated with the presumed Roman station of Aqua Viva, while road and building remains, a sarcophagus and two major coin hoards demonstrate its ancient importance. The village centre is marked by the Church of Saints Peter and Paul from 1797 and the Saint George column from 1775. Towards the Drava, the landscape shifts into woodland, channels and the Ormož reservoir area, while Petrijanec’s visitor identity extends towards Družbinec and Zelendvor.