Mt. Ivančica, at the foot of which Ivanec is located, quietly watches over it and calls you with its siren's voice to explore it. In addition to the enchanting panoramic view, every ascent to the top, along the marked paths, brings many interesting things.

Here you will find many springs, forest streams, rich animal life, legends, wooden sculptures of fauna in roadside tree stumps and old towns.

The highest mountain in Croatian Zagorje, Mt. Ivančica, offers a superb view from a height of 1060 meters.

At the top there are viewpoints such as Stričevo and Piramida, from which you can enjoy a wonderful view of Varaždin and its surroundings, and in good weather conditions even of the Alps in Slovenia and Hungary. You can round off your hiking trip with a rest at the mountain lodge, where you can enjoy homemade food and drink. After that, visit the renovated Chapel of St. John the Baptist.

You can get to Mt. Ivančica by different paths, from easy to more demanding

Depending on your hiking experience, Mt. Ivančica offers trails of varying difficulty. Four main hiking trails lead to the peak of Mt. Ivančica from Ivanec. These are: Mrzljak, Pionir, Prekrižje and Konj, and a macadam road is also available for the ascent.

The Mrzljak trail has a special charm, and at the gathering place of the witches (zletišće coprnic) „Černe mlake“ you can hear stories about witches. Here you will also find wooden sculptures of mountain fauna in the tree stumps along the trail, which is especially interesting for children.

Part of the Zagorje Hiking Trail and sources of drinking water

Mt. Ivančica is also part of the Zagorje Hiking Trail, one of the oldest hiking trails in Croatia. A perfect starting point if you want to explore other mountains and hills in Zagorje.

Mt. Ivančica abounds with sources of drinking water of exceptional quality and forest streams. There are many springs such as "Žgano vino", "Mrzljak", "Šumi", "Bistrica", "Beli zdenci" and others. The "Žgano vino" rest area on the way to the top or the "Mrzljak" trail offer wonderful places to rest.

The wealth of flora and fauna

What makes Mt. Ivančica special is its rich biological diversity. In this area you can find endemic and protected species such as alpine primrose, beautiful large pasque flower, Croatian carnation, and lily. As many as 36 different species of orchids grow on Mt. Ivančica, which fall under the category of endangered species and are therefore sensitive to changes in the habitat. Wildlife here includes roe deer, hares, wild boar and the occasional wild deer. Recently, chamois has also appeared. In addition, the streams are home to brown trout and crayfish, and there are also different types of birds, lizards, snakes, various insects and butterflies.

The empire of history in the area of Mt. Ivančica

In the wider area of Mt. Ivančica, there are still ruins of old forts, castles, and burgs such as Oštrc, Milengrad, Belecgrad, Pusti Lobor, Pusta Bela and Grebengrad. These historical places bear witness to the colorful past and the activities that took place over the centuries.

Ivanec, called the "Mountaineering Town", is proud of its mountaineering tradition and passion for the Ivančica mountain, which is deeply rooted in the identity of the town and its inhabitants. Ivančica has been watching over the town and its mountaineering heritage for centuries.