Koprivnica is a city in central Croatia with a population of 30,994 (2001), the capital of the Koprivnica-Križevci county.
Koprivnica has a history similar to nearby Varaždin: it was first mentioned in 1272 in a document by prince Ladislav IV and declared a free royal town by king Ludovic I in 1356, and flourished as a trading place and a military fortress since.
The military aspect set it back some when it was included in the Military Frontier in the 16th century during the wars with the Ottoman Turks, but after Maria Theresia's decree of 1765 it resumed life as a peaceful little merchant town that it really was.
Koprivnica developed significantly in the 20th century with the advent of the Podravka food industry, known worldwide for its Vegeta spice. They even have an alimentary museum of Podravka.
Worth mentioning is the annual "motifs of Podravina" event when the whole town becomes a gallery of naïve art. Many of the Croatian greatest naive artists come from the villages along the Drava in this county, notably Ivan Generalić.
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Last updated: 08-02-2005 05:32:32
