Flour, water, salt, a little oil — and skilful hands. This is how strudel dough is made. Add eggs, fresh cheese, and cream, and it becomes štrukli. Few dishes have spread so widely or achieved such enduring popularity as štrukli — a delicacy so cherished it is even celebrated in song (“Mamica su štrukle pekli”). The connection between štrukli and strudel is evident, and their origins can be traced to the long tradition of filled, hand-stretched pastry found across Central Europe. Yet štrukli, as we know them today, are truly unique. Their recipe was born in the modest rural households of the wider Zagreb area, where cows provided milk for cheese and cream, and hens supplied eggs — ingredients that were always close at hand. Over generations, diligent homemakers perfected the demanding art of stretching dough, a skill that today seems complex but was once an everyday household craft, passed down from one generation to the next. Soft, juicy, and irresistibly delicious, štrukli have earned their status as a gastronomic icon thanks to their versatility — savoury or sweet, served as an appetiser or dessert.
Traditional dishes such as štrukli and strudel are best experienced at their place of origin, prepared and presented by the locals themselves. Following a well-established October tradition, a warm gathering centred around homemade dishes and authentic local products offers the perfect invitation for a Saturday getaway to Marija Gorica. Visitors will have the opportunity to sample numerous local variations of these simple yet beloved dishes and learn more about their preparation. Early autumn is also the season of chestnuts, which naturally join the seasonal culinary offer. This full-day gastronomic event will be further enriched by a variety of exhibitors presenting authentic products from the Marija Gorica area.
The 13th Štrukli, Strudel and Chestnut Festival in Marija Gorica will take place on 22 October. The Municipality of Marija Gorica, the Marijagorička Zipka Association, and the Savsko–Sutlanska Valley and Hills Tourist Board organise the increasingly popular event. Beyond showcasing local culinary heritage, the festival aims to highlight the tourism potential of this picturesque and tranquil corner of north-western Zagreb County, while promoting a return to tradition and local values — and what is more relevant than ever today: a sustainable, healthy way of life in harmony with nature.
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