Sveti Ivan Žabno
About this place
Sveti Ivan Žabno is the municipal centre on the western slopes of Bilogora, 11 kilometres southeast of Križevci, at an elevation of 122 metres. Its name is tied to the parish church of St John the Baptist: documents mention the settlement as Xabiniza in 1201, while the name Sveti Ivan appears in 1323. The full name was removed in 1954 and reinstated on 21 June 1990. The parish church dates from the 15th century, while the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Nativity of St John is dated to around 1700. In Brezovljani, another settlement in the municipality, finds define the Brezovljani variant of the Sopot culture and point to occupation of the wider area since the Neolithic. An ethnographic collection at the municipal complex preserves objects from the local Bilogora heritage. Farming, livestock raising and animal-feed production remain part of the settlement’s profile, alongside a tennis centre noted in the Croatian Encyclopaedia. The municipality and parish mark their day on 24 June, the feast of St John the Baptist.
Sveti Ivan Žabno links the Križevci hinterland with the road towards Bjelovar and lies 11 kilometres from Križevci. The settlement stands at 122 metres above sea level on Bilogora’s western foothills. Its centre is defined by the parish church of St John the Baptist, whose present building dates from the 15th century. Žabno was recorded as Xabiniza in 1201, while Sveti Ivan first appears in documents in 1323. The local story also continues in the municipal ethnographic collection and in Roman-period finds discovered around the parish church.
Things to see
Crkva sv. Ivana Krstitelja u Sv. Ivanu Žabno
Landmark · Sveti Ivan Žabno
church building in Sveti Ivan Žabno, Croatia
Holy Trinity church in Rovišće
Landmark · Rovišće
The Church of the Holy Trinity is the historic parish church in the centre of Rovišće, beneath the Bilogora hills.
9 km from Sveti Ivan Žabno
Co-Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Križevci
Landmark · Križevci
church in Križevci, Croatia
10 km from Sveti Ivan Žabno
Pavlinski samostan i crkva sv. Ane u Križevcima
Landmark · Križevci
church building in Croatia
10 km from Sveti Ivan Žabno
Stays further afield
- Apartment
51 km from Sveti Ivan Žabno - Holiday home
88 km from Sveti Ivan Žabno Be the first to list here
Guests looking for this place only see stays nearby for now. No commission, and enquiries come straight to you.
List your accommodation
Tours and activities
Viator
Nearest destination: Zagreb (51 km)
Communism & Croatian Homeland War Tour (opens in a new tab)
Explore the turbulent 20th century in Croatia in a entertaining way combining historical facts and personal experiences. You will find out more about Croatia’s relations with neighbouring countries…
Rated 5 out of 5 · 1,561 reviews· 2 h
Free cancellation
from €39
Zagreb Highlights: Old Town, WWII tunnels, Funicular & Tastings (opens in a new tab)
Zagreb Highlights keeps groups small, up to 16 people, so you get a genuinely personal experience with your licensed local guide. In 2 hours, you'll cover the city's must-see landmarks, descend into…
Rated 5 out of 5 · 1,227 reviews· 2 h
Free cancellation
from €20
Zagreb Food Tour: Local Dishes & City Stories (opens in a new tab)
Join a small-group food tour of Zagreb, and spend 3 hours tasting authentic local dishes at some of the city's best food spots. From savoury street food to traditional pastries and local liquor…
Rated 5 out of 5 · 296 reviews· 3 h
Free cancellation
from €79
Plitvice Lakes Guided Day Tour from Zagreb (opens in a new tab)
Explore the beautiful Plitvice Lakes National Park on this day tour from Zagreb. Located at the top of Croatia’s Adriatic region, in the Dinaric Alps, this UNESCO-listed site is one of the must-see…
Rated 4.9 out of 5 · 526 reviews· 11 h
Free cancellation
from €65
Plitvice Lakes with Ticket & Rastoke Guided Tour from Zagreb (opens in a new tab)
Escape the city and immerse yourself in Croatia’s most stunning natural wonder—Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This full-day guided tour from Zagreb includes entry…
Rated 4.9 out of 5 · 1,045 reviews· 10 h
Free cancellation
from €75
Walking tour of Zagreb (opens in a new tab)
Get your walking shoes on and take a stroll with us as we show you the highlights of our wonderful city. We have the local insights and handy tips to leave you wanting to explore some more. We will…
Rated 4.9 out of 5 · 513 reviews· 2–3 h
Free cancellation
from €20
GetYourGuide · Bjelovar
We show GetYourGuide offers once you allow their cookies.
Practical information
Getting there and around
Sveti Ivan Žabno station lies on the railway between Bjelovar and Križevci. HŽ Passenger Transport’s timetable valid from 13 April to 12 December 2026 lists several daily services calling at the village. Some trains continue via Gradec towards Zagreb, while others link Sveti Ivan Žabno with Bjelovar, Kloštar and Virovitica; travellers should check the operating-day symbols beside each 2026 service. By road, the village is approached from Križevci, 11 kilometres away, or from the Bjelovar direction. A car or bicycle is more convenient for visiting the church at Sveti Petar Čvrstec and the municipality’s outlying villages.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Sveti Ivan Žabno from Križevci?
Sveti Ivan Žabno lies 11 kilometres southeast of Križevci.
Can Sveti Ivan Žabno be reached by train?
Yes. The 2026 HŽPP timetable includes Sveti Ivan Žabno station on the Bjelovar–Križevci route, with selected connections towards Zagreb.
When is Sveti Ivan Žabno’s Municipal Day?
The municipality and parish of St John the Baptist mark their day on 24 June.
What was Sveti Ivan Žabno called in 1201?
Documents from 1201 record the name Xabiniza.
Which archaeological culture is associated with Brezovljani?
Brezovljani is known for the Brezovljani variant of the Sopot culture.
Nearby
Sveti Ivan Žabno
Open in OpenStreetMap(opens in a new tab)Smaller places
straight-line distance
Related guides
Osijek
Tvrđa and the centre around the main square are distinct starting points for understanding Osijek. The former emphasises the fortified historic quarter and Baroque architecture; the latter…
Read the guide
Vukovar
A cultural visit to Vukovar has several separate centres of gravity. Eltz Palace and the City Museum address the city and its inhabitants across different periods. Vučedol reaches much…
Read the guide
Stubičke Toplice
Stubičke Toplice derives almost its entire identity from thermal water and the Zagorje landscape. There is no large urban historic core; green spaces, bathing facilities and traces of the…
Read the guide
Slavonski Brod
Slavonski Brod developed around one of the major crossings of the Sava, and that border and transport role left a strong mark on the city. Brod Fortress represents the eighteenth-century…
Read the guide
Know Sveti Ivan Žabno? Correct us
Tell us in your own words what is not accurate. We check right away.Do not enter personal data. Corrections are checked by the StayBravo AI assistant; changes to the description are approved by an editor. Use the form instead
Do you know Sveti Ivan Žabno?
Help the guests who come after you.
Help us complete
Nothing is published without an editor’s review.Report illegal content
Photo credits: Sveti Ivan Žabno, Cirkvena — Fraxinus (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Praščevac, Ladinec — Eranyo (CC BY 3.0) · Holy Trinity church in Rovišće — Fraxinus Croat (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Co-Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Križevci — SpeedyGonsales (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Pavlinski samostan i crkva sv. Ane u Križevcima — Andres rus (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)