Koprivnica, located in the heart of Podravina, is proud of the high quality of life of its citizens. Innovation, creativity and economic development are just some of the aspects that make Koprivnica one of the most developed cities in Croatia.
It was first mentioned as a settlement in 1272 in the charter of Prince Ladislaus IV the Cuman, and owes its name to the eponymous river, which flows through the southeastern part of the city. In 1292, the Franciscans came to Koprivnica and built a parish church and monastery here, and Koprivnica became an increasingly important social, economic and transport hub of upper and central Podravina. With the charter of Louis I of Hungary, Koprivnica became a free royal city on 4 November 1356, and this date is still celebrated today as the Day of the City of Koprivnica.
With its policies, the city does the utmost to encourage economic growth and education, both as the basic foundations of development. Its economic significance is reflected in the industrial development, led by one of the largest food companies, Podravka. In parallel, the construction of suitable infrastructure has launched a trend of establishing small companies whose basic motto is sustainable development.
With a series of measures, the City is attempting to provide young families and young people in general with the best possible living conditions, which is why in 2021 it was awarded the "City for Youth" certificate, while it has had the status of a Child Friendly City for many years now. Some of the more significant measures are certainly the affordable kindergarten prices, affordable land plots for young families, scholarships for all students as well as the provision of free textbooks, workbooks and notebooks providing equal educational opportunities for all students.
The added value of the city life is reflected in environmental awareness. Koprivnica is one of only three Croatian cities that has already met and exceeded the EU standard of 50 percent of separate waste collection.
Many important projects have been funded by the European Union programs and funds. Among the first cities in Croatia, Koprivnica launched electromobility in public transport by providing public transport using electric buses. The city also has excellent cooperation with numerous cities in neighboring countries and cooperates with some of them on several European cross-border projects.
The cultural facilities of the city include museums, galleries and monuments through which one can get to know the history and artistic component of the city. Numerous events are organized throughout the year, the most important being the Renaissance Festival, which was included in the TOP events.
Office of the Mayor
