Location

The Town of Velika Gorica located 16 km south of Zagreb is the centre of the area of 552 square kilometers. Up until 1990 Velika Gorica had the status of a municipality and after that it became a part of Zagreb. Velika Gorica gained a town status in 1995. The area of the old Municipality of Velika Gorica split into three municipalities – Kravarsko, Orle and Pokupsko. 

Velika Gorica is the biggest and the main settlement of the traditional Turopolje region. One among the most common opinions is that the name Tur field, that is Turopolje, comes from an old Slavic word ‘’tur’’ which means cattle with long horns, and it was a symbol of ‘’fertility’’ and the ‘’God of sun’’. Those cattle died out in the 16th century. The cattle were closely related to agriculture.

Plowing had its symbolic meaning, as fertilization of the Mother Earth, so those cattle were often assumed to have some ‘’sacred’’ characteristics. Because of its importance in the life of ploughmen ‘’tur’’ became a basis for numerous toponyms. However, as long as the 16th century, Turopolje was called Campus Zagrebiensis, i.e. Zagreb field, or just Campus (field). At that time the name was replaced by Tur field, i.e. Turopolje. 

Velika Gorica was first mentioned in 1228 as a parish centre. The word Gorica means forest or vineyards. Archeological findings suggest there was life in this area even in prehistoric times. An example is the archaeological site of the Roman town of Andautonia. Let us also mention a stone axe discovered in Mraclin and an ancient graveyard with urns in the centre of Velika Gorica. 

Today the town of Velika Gorica has the population of around 35.000, or 70.000 broader surroundings included. It is the seventh largest town in Croatia.

Geographic characteristics and climate

The region of Velika Gorica stretches through the lowlands of Turopolje and it covers the northeastern hilly slopes of Vukomeričke gorice. 

Velika Gorica region is a part of a larger climate region of moderate, warm, rainy climate with the least rainfalls in winter while a rainfall maximum is reached at the turn of the spring and summer. Medium temperature of the warmest month (July) doesn’t pass over 22°C, and at least four months in the cooler part of the year have medium temperature above 10°C.

Orle Municipality

"…To reach Posavina region I’m setting out towards the east. Turning left toward Novo čiće I’m passing next to čiće lake, then through Novo čiće, Jagodno, Ribnica, ?elin. Then I’m passing over several small bridges under which brooks formed from various springs and little streams run all together forming the Odra River. Behind the right branch road for Čička Poljana there is a sign with Orle Municipality’s coat of arms …"

Today's administrative area of Orle Municipality encompasses 10 settlements with the population of 2.071 inhabitants. The biggest settlement is Veleševec with 493 inhabitants, than Bukevje with 398, Drnek 297, Ru?a 246, Vrbovo Posavsko 159, Suša 158, ?ret Posavski 98, Orle 89, Stružec Posavski 68 and Obed with 65 inhabitants.

Kravarsko Municipality

Kravarsko Municipality is situated half way between Velika Gorica and Pokupsko. Travelling southwest, the municipality starts at the spot where the roads for Velika Gorica and Buševac meet. On Buševec side it starts behind Novo Selo and encompasses a part of the forest and the village Barbarić. The first road on the left leads to Pustike, one of the villages in the Municipality.

It abounds in vineyards and beautiful landscapes. On the southwest there are Gorica dells and hills, and on the other side the Turopolje plain. People work a lot in vineyards: cultivation, protection of vineyards, and mowing and spraying. 

Kravarsko Municipality has 2.069 inhabitants. The centre of KravarskoMunicipality has 519 inhabitants, Donji Hruševec 389, Gornji Hruševec 261, Gladovec Kravarski 199, Barbarić Kravarski 151, Pustike 151, Novo Brdo 133, ?akanec 98, Podvornica 89 and Žitkov?ica 79 inhabitants. 

 

Pokupsko Municipality

The encounter with Pokupsko Municipality starts with the school in Hruševac Gornji, where the borderline with Kravarsko Municipality is. In front of you, there is an ascending, winding road, then several old apple trees with tiny apple fruits that nobody picks. Then there is a one-storey school building famous for the fact that Slavko Kolar, the author of well-known novels "Breza" and "Svoga tela gospodar" used to work there. Next to it there are remains of, what used to be obviously a rich farm, then a big two-storey wooden house and other farm buildings, everything in ruins – silent witnesses of bygone time.

Administrative area of Pokupsko Municipality ecompasses 14 settlements and has a population of 3.245 inhabitants. The most populated Lukinić Brdo has 482, Lijevi Štefanki 402, Roženica 388, Pokupsko 347, Hotnja 312, Auguštanovec 232, Opatija 229, Gladovec Pokupski 220, Strezojevo 188, Cerje Pokupsko 142, Šestak Brdo 113, Lijevi Degoj 107, Zgurić Brdo 53 and Cvetković Brdo 30 inhabitants.