Franciscan monastery and St. Nicholas church in Čakovec

The Franciscan monastery and Church of St Nicholas the Bishop are a defining feature of Franciscan Square in central Čakovec. Franciscans arrived in Međimurje in the mid-17th century at the invitation of Ban Nikola Zrinski; their earlier chapel and wooden monastery were lost at the end of that century. The foundation stone for the new monastery was laid in 1702, followed by that of the church in 1707. The monastery was built until 1724 and the church until 1725, with side chapels completed in 1728 and the bell tower constructed between 1753 and 1757. The complex is a fine example of restrained, functional Franciscan Baroque architecture.