Festival

Varaždin Baroque Evenings

Varaždin · Zagreb & Central Croatia

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CATEGORY: Festival
COUNTRY: Croatia
REGION: Varaždin · Zagreb & Central Croatia
DURATION: 2–3 days for the festival.
DIFFICULTY: Easy — all venues in the walkable centre.
BEST TIME: Late September.

ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE

The Varaždin Baroque Evenings have filled the city’s baroque churches and halls with period music every September since 1971 — concerts of Vivaldi, Bach and the Croatian baroque masters in the acoustics their music was written for. The festival is the cultural peak of the city’s year and the best possible time to see Varaždin, when the Purgari guard parades, the churches are lit and the whole town becomes a stage.

WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE

What you’ll experience

You hear evening concerts in the cathedral, the Franciscan church and the fortress hall, with performers from across Europe playing on period instruments. Between concerts the old town fills with festival crowds in the September mild, and the guard ceremonies run through the streets.

THE EXPERIENCE IN DETAIL

What it’s really like

More here soon — the road is still being mapped.

HIGHLIGHTS

Moments worth savouring

Baroque music in the baroque churches it was written for.

The Purgari town guard ceremonies.

The festival atmosphere in the September old town.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Good to know before you go

The festival runs late September into early October; book accommodation ahead. Concert tickets are inexpensive by European festival standards.

WHY IT MATTERS

Why it matters

It is Croatia’s oldest classical festival and the single best reason to plan a Varaždin visit for a specific week.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Before you go

Where

Concert venues across the old town — cathedral, Franciscan church, fortress.

When

Late September – early October, annually since 1971.

Duration

A weekend covers the main concerts.

THROUGH THE LENS

From the road

MAP & LOCATION