Koprivnica, located in the heart of Podravina, is the capital of Koprivnica-Križevci County with 32,018 inhabitants. Koprivnica is proud of the high quality of life of its citizens. Innovation, creativity and economic development are just some of the aspects thanks to which Koprivnica proudly bears the title of Smart City. Added value is reflected in environmental awareness, which is the main driver of the most significant urban projects. Interesting, attractive tourist and social events are held throughout the year in the city of Koprivnica and its surroundings. Exhibitions are continuously organized in the Mijo Kovačić Gallery and the Museum of the City of Koprivnica, theatre and other events in the hall “Domoljub” and the Koprivnica Youth Centre, exhibitions of flowers and handcrafts, ecological and similar exhibitions and events, folk ethnographic rituals. The most important events are the Podravina Motifs and the Renaissance Festival, which was declared the Tourist Event of the Year 2019/2020 in 2020.
The economic importance is reflected in the industrial development led by Podravka, one of the largest food companies in Croatia. Koprivnica is the city with the largest number of well-maintained bicycle paths in this part of Europe, in relation to the total length of city streets. The surroundings of Koprivnica abound in natural beauties and historical monuments, and it offers various opportunities for recreation.
The cultural life of Koprivnica, if we observe it on an annual basis, offers a rich offer and diversity. There is a large number of events that bring together various craftsmen, painters, cultural and artistic associations, music bands. Events that should certainly be mentioned include: Podravina Motifs, Summer in Koprivnica, Summer on Zrinski Square, Jazz Festival, Renaissance Festival, Koprivnica Christmas Fairy Tale, Galović Autumn, Grandma's Chest...
The city lives culturally all year round through classical music concerts, jazz concerts, concerts of famous musicians and bands, folklore evenings, concerts organized by the Art School "Fortunat Pintarić".
That Koprivnica is truly a city that has nurtured the musical tradition for years is best seen by famous musicians from Koprivnica: Ivana Vrdoljak (Vanna), Miroslav and Gordana Evačić, Vojkan Jocić, Dalibor Grubačević.
Koprivnica is also known for young musicians who, with their successes and awards, best testify that the Koprivnica music scene is continuously developing. The groups Ogenj, Overflow, Savant, Letarg, musician Anna Moor are just some of the names that are successfully building their musical story.
Music, in past and now, but in the future as well, is an inevitable part of human everyday life and an unavoidable social phenomenon. This project is a very important contribution for the City of Koprivnica because it encourages cross-border cooperation with Hungary in the area of music, brings music closer to young people. Children and young people, who are still forming their personalities, are a good foundation on which a bi-lingual connection can be built, which can later become an important cultural, social and economic connection that is crucial for future cooperation.
Behind Budapest, Hévíz is the second most popular tourist destination in Hungary. The natural endowments of the town - primarily Lake Hévíz - and the accommodation and catering units built on it make Hévíz a significant tourist centre.
Hévíz, as a prominent spa resort, has a colourful and rich cultural life all year round. In addition to the programmes organised by the town, the series of events of high-quality hotels also play a significant role in this. In the town, the programmes continuously take place in three locations, and they, in addition to traditional holidays and anniversaries, also provide space for joining national events.
A wide range of arts is represented, from smaller theatrical performances to operettas, ballet performances, classical music, chamber music concerts to the world of jazz, light music, folk dance, folk music.
The big stage performances, domestic and international festivals are held during the high season. In addition, several venues provide opportunities for cultural events, including the Chamber Hall of the Town Hall, the churches, the cinema, the museums, the school, and many outdoor event venues. Organ concerts are regularly held in the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit, while a series of classical music concerts called “Viva La Musica” can be heard in the Lutheran-Reformed church. Apart from film screenings, the cinema hosts operetta performances on Mondays.
The Angels and Vagabonds Festival has been making the cultural life of Hévíz more diverse for many years. An art camp takes place in the town during the festival and street musicians perform in the evenings.
Every year since 2011, a program called Happy Peacetimes’ Hévíz has been held, on the occasion of which the town returns to the past and recalls the period between 1860 and 1930. With the procession that opens the program, the atmosphere of the happy peacetimes enters the town, as the processors march in period costumes along the most visited parts of the settlement. The performers of the usually three-day event also successfully contribute to evoking the atmosphere of the era with their performances.
The art school of Hévíz also takes an active part in the cultural life of the town with its art groups. The Gyula Illyés Primary School and Elementary School of Art operates as a complex institution. In the Art Institution, students, who are receptive to it, have the opportunity to study acting and drama, folk dance or to learn to play an instrument during the afternoon classes.
The talented flutists can join the work of the Musica Antiqua Ensemble, which has a 43-year history. The Musica Antiqua Ensemble was founded in 1977 in Hévíz from the students of the Gyula Illyés Primary School, and its main goal was to perform old music. The characteristic, unique sound of the chamber orchestra is provided by the special harmony of the tones of the flutes and strings. The basic repertoire of their concerts is Renaissance and Baroque music, but they also interpret classical and 20th century music written for the band. The ensemble performs in Renaissance costumes, visually adapting to the atmosphere of the performed music.
