Terezijana
Terezijana is the most famous event in Bjelovar and a symbol of the city. It was held for the first time in 1996, and since then it has been held regularly every year, on the second weekend in June. The event was created as a tribute to the Austrian empress Maria Theresa, who founded Bjelovar in 1756, and is held in the very center of the city, on Eugen Kvaternik Square and the main city streets.
The history of the creation of Bjelovar is the main inspiration for all events at the event, so Terezijana begins every year with a costumed stage representation of the arrival of Empress Maria Theresa’s carriage in the city, despite the fact that, according to legend, she was never in the city. Various local cultural and artistic associations participate in the entire event, as well as the Historical Troop of the Bjelovar Border Guards Hussars, who guard the chardak placed at the entrance to Eugen Kvaternik Square, modelled after the Bjelovar chardaks from the time of the Military Frontier.
In addition to costumed historical reenactments, the event is accompanied year after year by a rich musical program that includes local and foreign musicians from various genres. In that period, appropriate exhibitions are prepared in the city museum, a photography salon “The forest through the eyes of a forester” is held, where forestry engineers and technicians exhibit their works, and exhibitions of famous Bjelovar artists such as Edo Murtić, Nasta Rojc, Ivo Friščić and others can be viewed. .
Today, Terezijana is already synonymous with Bjelovar, it is visited by guests from all over Croatia, often foreigners too, and it really offers a rich program for all ages, so don’t miss it if you find yourself in Bjelovar on the second weekend in June.