The Town of Velika Gorica located 16 km south of Zagreb is the centre of the area of 552 square kilometres; it is the biggest and the main settlement of the traditional Turopolje region. Velika Gorica was first mentioned in 1228 as a parish centre, but archaeological findings suggest there was life in this area even in prehistoric times.
Velika Gorica gained the town status in 1995. Then the area of the old Municipality of Velika Gorica was split into three municipalities; Kravarsko, Orle and Pokupsko. Today the town of Velika Gorica has the population of around 35.000, or 70.000 broader surroundings included. It is the sixth largest town in Croatia.
Velika Gorica holds numerous honours and awards:
The Silver Flower of Europe
Competing among 5300 European cities, Velika Gorica gained award The Silver flower of Europe – an award of the European Association for Flowers and Landscape Entente Florale. It was received on 9 September 2004, in French city Aix-les-Bains.
At the European ceremony, being witnessed by 500 guests from all European countries, Croatia was awarded two silver medals. Velika Gorica received the silver medal Entente Florale (silver flower) for preservation of its forests de Turopolje, Roman thermae in Ščitarjevo (archaeological site of Andautonia), and the restoration of the traditional architecture of Turopolje and finally because as a young legislative city it has magnificently planned all its parks, grass areas. It has also organized for all its citizens a competition in the beauty of private gardens and house lots.
Green Flower
At the 2011 Croatian Tourism Days, the town received the prestigious Croatian Tourist Board Green Flower with golden symbol for the best kept town in continental Croatia. The condition of the town as a whole, but also a rich offer of cultural, historical and tourist attractions are the criteria that put Velika Gorica to the first place among continental Croatian cities in the category of cities over 30 000 inhabitants. For the first time in 15 years that this evaluation of the condition of the towns has been carried out, Green Flower Award has been given to a town in Zagreb County.
Map of Velika Gorica