RioVida Travel

Martinac, Croatia

Visit Vlado Franjevic's birthplace Martinac is a small European Village that was largely untouched by the ravages of war and epidemics. Therefore even today you can truly experience the feeling of a village of the middle ages. Martinac is an untouched town that has preserved its pastoral history very well.

The area known as Croatia today has been inhabited throughout the prehistoric period, since the Stone Age. In the middle Paleolithic, Neanderthals lived in Krapina. In the early Neolithic period, the Starčevo, Vučedol and Hvar cultures were scattered around the region. The Iron Age left traces of the Hallstatt culture (early Illyrians) and the La Tène culture (Celts). In recorded history, the area was inhabited by the Illyrians, and since the 4th century BC also colonized in the north by the Celts and along the coast by the Greeks. The Southern Illyrian kingdom, Illyris, was a sovereign state in modern day Montenegro and Albania until the Romans conquered it in 168 BC. The Western Empire organized the provinces of Pannonia and Dalmatia, which after its downfall passed to the Huns, the Ostrogoths and then to the Byzantine Empire. The forebearers of Croatia's current Slav population settled there in the early 7th century.

The village lies in the country of Croatia. Croatia first appeared as a duchy in the 7th century and then as a kingdom in the 10th century. For the next ten centuries, it remained a distinct state with its ruler (ban) and parliament, but it obeyed the kings and emperors of various neighboring powers, primarily Hungary and Austria. The period from the 15th to the 17th centuries was marked by bitter struggles with the Ottoman Empire. After being incorporated into Yugoslavia for most of the 20th century, Croatia regained independence in 1991.

The village of Martinac was first mentioned in history in 1091 when its church Santa Martin was first mentioned in the history books. That was in the time of the rule of the king Almos.Martinac at that time was called Sanctus Martinus In 1517 it was renamed Zenth Marthon. The village was the home of Akaci Garazda and the knight Ladislav.

The Croats settled gradually in the neighborhood and founded the neighboring village of today's municipality Cazma between the years 1687 and 1692. Martinac was always a very small town. The census of 1850 shows that Martinac was a village with 20 houses and 258 inhabitants. 1900 were there 42 houses and 341 inhabitants. In the year 1918 there was the epidemic disease in the whole region - the Spanish flu. Thus 35 humans died only in Martinac. In the village was a primary school since 1st September 1929.In the year 1931 544 inhabitants lived in 118 houses. It gave also a branch of the farmer community in Martinac from 1936-1941 which worked as a culture educative association. The fire station was built 1936 and was proudly named the "Croatian Fire-brigade Home". After the 2nd World war, in 1948 lived 518 inhabitants into 114 houses in Martinac. During the First World War four people from Martinac had died, and during the second 24 persons.

In the time between 1957 and 1972 was built a bitumen route (in the length of 13 km) from Cazma to Martinac. The village received electricity in the year 1958. The school was temporarily closed in the year 1981 due to a lack of pupils

The inhabitants of Martinac in the year 1994 shows a stark decline in population since there are are only 48 houses with 129 inhabitants.And in the aggressive war of Serbs against Croatia 1990-1994 was there only one died person

Vlado Franjevic is working with the towns people to convert the old school house into a site for one of the first Croatian Artist in Residency programs. Marinac is a perfect place for artists from all around the world to practice their art and get in touch with their deeper soul. The towns people are friendly and are opening up their homes to travelers who wish to spend some quiet time in the country. Martinac is now one of the most peaceful places on earth, safe and relaxing. Just recently it has been discovered by travellers who enjoy unspoiled neighborhoods that still have their own pastoral culture intact.

Summer visit at Grandmother's House

Martinac Memories

Little House in Martinac.

Martinac Village

Martinac Village

Martinac (in front of art museum)

Martinac Chapel

Martinac – Chapel

Happiness by Vlado Franjevic

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All photos made and composed by
Vlado Franjevic