Five Senses in Zrinski Park in Čakovec

Zrinski Park is an integral part of the Old Town in Čakovec, protected as immovable cultural heritage. The park was initially formed in the 16th century when the Zrinski family came to own the Čakovec Fortress. At the beginning of the Renaissance, interest in botany and gardening boomed throughout Europe. During this exceptionally creative period, gardening started to be perceived as artistic craftsmanship, so numerous noble and wealthy urban families decorated the surroundings of their palaces, castles, and residences with impeccably embellished gardens, flower beds, lawns, artificial lakes, and the like. Over time, the trade and exchange of seedlings between European countries and the Ottoman Empire intensified, and thus exotic and rare plants such as tulips, daffodils, and carnations became available in Europe as well.
The person we need to thank the most for the formation of the Park around the Old Town in Čakovec is Nikola Zrinski IV, while his daughters, especially Doroteja Zrinski, resumed the tradition of maintaining the Park. Another passionate gardener was Nikola VII (Nikola Zrinski of Čakovec), who, already from a young age, took an intense interest in gardening and made his gardens in Čakovec objects of admiration.
The Park has been protected, pursuant to the Nature Protection Act, as the monument of park architecture since 1975. It spans over 13.5 hectares surrounding the Čakovec Fortress, and owing to more than 1400 trees and bushes growing there, it is referred to as “the lungs of the town“. When it comes to deciduous trees, hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) and field maple (Acer campestre) dominate, while green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) are less prevalent. As far as coniferous trees are concerned, Norway spruce (Picea abies), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), black pine (Pinus nigra) and Serbian spruce (Picea omorica) are the most numerous in numbers.
Zrinski Park abounds with sculptures, monuments and memorials so it can be perceived as a small open-air gallery.
Also, the Park houses a modern insect hotel, dens for hedgehogs, as well as houses for bats and birds, which in addition to providing shelter to the Park’s tiny inhabitants also raises awareness of the importance of the cohabitation of various plant and animal species with people.
Various trees, bushes and flowers create an enchanting environment pervaded by opulent colours, textures and smells in the Park neighbouring the Old Town, while the abundance of wildlife merges with the nature into an inextricably linked unit and thus gives the space an additional value.

The programme "Five Senses in Zrinski Park in Čakovec" will enable interested strollers to get familiarised with the natural and cultural heritage of Zrinski Park in Čakovec, while a special emphasis will be put on the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste) which can be activated during the visit to the park.