Editing Čakovec

{{refimprove|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Čakovec
| official_name      = ''Grad Čakovec''<br /> City of Čakovec
| native_name        = 
| other_name         = 
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities and towns in Croatia|City]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| perrow = 1/3/2
| total_width = 300
| align = center
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Stari grad Zrinskih, Čakovec (2021).JPG
| caption1 = [[Čakovec Castle]]
| image2 = HR-MM-Čakovec034.jpg
| caption2 = [[Miklós Zrínyi|Nikola Zrinski]] column
| image3 = Perivoj Zrinskih, Čakovec - Stara akacija.jpg
| caption3 = Old [[Robinia pseudoacacia|acacia]] tree in the city park
| image4 = Saint Nicholas church in Cakovec (10).jpg
| caption4 = Church of [[Saint Nicholas]]
| image5 = Športska dvorana Graditeljske škole, Čakovec (2023) - zapad.jpg
| caption5 = Sports Hall
| image6 = Čakovec, Ulica Stjepana Radića.3.jpg
| caption6 = Residential district
}}
| image_flag         = Flag of Cakovec.svg
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = 
| seal_size          = 
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Cakovec.svg
| shield_size        = 
| nicknames          = Grad Zrinskih<br>''City of [[Zrinski]]s''
| motto              = 
| pushpin_map        = Croatia
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Čakovec in Croatia
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
| mapframe-stroke-width = 1
| mapframe-shape-fill-opacity = 0.25
| mapframe-zoom = 9
| coordinates        = {{coord|46|23|10.58|N|16|26|08.57|E|region:HR|display=inline}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Croatia}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Counties of Croatia|County]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Međimurje County|Međimurje]]
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| established_title2 = 
| established_date2  = 
| established_title3 = 
| established_date3  = 
| named_for          = [[Csák I Hahót]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Ljerka Cividini ([[Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats|HNS]])
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Cite Q|Q119585703|mode=cs1}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 76.9
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_urban_km2     = 16.8
| area_metro_km2     = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 164
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2021">{{Croatian Census 2021|S}}</ref>
| population_as_of   = 2021
| population_total   = 27122
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = 15078
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_note    = 
| timezone           = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| timezone_DST       = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset         = +1
| utc_offset_DST     = +2
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = HR-40 000
| area_code          = +385 40
| registration_plate = [[Croatian vehicle registration plates|ČK]]
| blank2_name        = Highest elevation
| blank2_info        = 146 m
| website            = {{URL|cakovec.hr}}
}}

'''Čakovec''' ({{IPA|hr|tʃâkoʋets}}; {{langx|hu|Csáktornya}}; {{langx|la|Aquama}}; {{langx|de|Tschakathurn}}) is a city in [[Northern Croatia]], located around {{convert|90|km|0|abbr=off}} north of [[Zagreb]], the Croatian capital, and close to the borders with [[Slovenia]] and [[Hungary]]. Čakovec is both the [[county seat]] and the largest city of [[Međimurje County]], the northernmost, smallest and most densely populated [[Counties of Croatia|Croatian county]]. It is situated centrally in the lowland part of the [[Međimurje (region)|region]], along the [[Trnava (Međimurje)|Trnava]] river.

== History ==
[[File:Perivoj Zrinskih, Čakovec - Obelisk poginulima u I. svjetskom ratu.JPG|thumb|left|[[World War I]] [[cenotaph]]]]
[[File:Stari grad Zrinskih, Čakovec, 1640. godine.JPG|thumb|left|Zrinski Castle in 1640]]
According to the geographer [[Strabo]]'s reports in the 1st century, today's location of the city of Čakovec was the site of '''Aquama''' (''wet town'') in [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] times and at the time a marshland, a military post and a legionnaire camp.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

One popular legend describes a green [[Slavic dragon#Pozoj|pozoj]] (dragon) once dwelling beneath the city and causing natural disasters such as [[hail]] and [[earthquakes]], with its head under the castle and its tail under the church, or vice versa. It could only be gotten rid of by a ''grabancijaš'' ([[black magic|dark magic]] student) who would use a golden [[bridle]] to control the dragon and ride it out of the city.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=2010|first=Suzana|last=Marjanić|title=Dragon and Hero or How to Kill a Dragon on the Example of the Legends of Međimurje about the Grabancijaš and the Dragon|page=127-150|magazine=Studia Mythologica Slavica|volume=13|issue=270|url=http://sms.zrc-sazu.si/pdf/13/SMS_13_09_Marjanic.pdf|doi=10.3986/sms.v13i0.1644|doi-access=free|language=English|access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref>

The name ''Čakovec'' ({{langx|hu|Csáktornya}}, {{langx|de|Csakathurn}} or {{lang|de|Tschakathurn}}) comes from the first name of the [[ispán]] [[Csák I Hahót|Csák Hahót]]. With the beginning of the 13th century he erected the timber fortification which was later named Csák's tower ({{langx|hr|Čakov toranj}}). It was mentioned for the first time in 1328 and the place appeared in the official books in 1333. From 1350 to 1397, it was in the possession of the [[House of Lacković|House of Laczkfy]], from 1405 to 1461 of the [[Counts of Celje]] and from 1473 to 1540 of the [[House of Ernušt]]. The town as well as [[Međimurje (region)|Međimurje region]] was at the time part of the [[Varaždin County (former)|Varaždin county]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enciklopedija.hr/clanak/cakovec |title=Čakovec |publisher=Croatian Encyclopedia of the Miroslav Krleža Lexicographical Institute, Zagreb |access-date=2023-06-10}}</ref>

The period of more significant economic and cultural growth of Čakovec is considered to have started on 15 March 1546, when [[Nikola IV Zrinski]] of [[Szigetvár]] became the owner of the area.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Klaić |first=Vjekoslav |title=Povjest Hrvata: Od Najstarijih vremena do Svršetka XIX Stoljeća. svezak treći, dio prvi |year=1911 |location=Zagreb |pages=168 |language=hr}}</ref>  At that time the castle was lavishly decorated, surrounded by a park and sculptures of famous army leaders and monarchs. Duke [[Juraj IV Zrinski]] granted privileges to the inhabitants of the Čakovec fortress and its suburbs on 29 May 1579. This was the starting point for Čakovec to become a free market town and the date is celebrated today as "City Day". The [[Čakovec Castle]] which was owned by the [[House of Zrinski]] between the 16th and the 18th century is known today as the "Zrinski Old Town" ({{lang|hr|Stari grad Zrinskih}}) and is considered the main landmark of the city. It is located in the [[Zrinski Park]] ({{lang|hr|Perivoj Zrinskih}}) only a few steps from the central square.

When count Johann Michael von [[House of Althan|Althan]] became the owner of Međimurje in 1719, the next year Čakovec and the whole region was detached from Croatia and included into [[Zala (former county)|Zala county]] (i.e. into the main part of the [[Kingdom of Hungary (1526–1867)|Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary]]).<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/en/127707 |title=Međimurje - history, identity and migrations |journal=Migracijske I Etničke Teme |date=28 December 1990 |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=569–591 |publisher=HRČAK - Portal of Croatian scientific and professional journals, Zagreb |accessdate=2023-06-10 |last1=Heršak |first1=Emil |last2=Šimunko |first2=Joža }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enciklopedija.hr/clanak/medjimurje |title=Međimurje |publisher=Croatian Encyclopedia of the Miroslav Krleža Lexicographical Institute, Zagreb |access-date=2023-06-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://povijest.net/2018/?p=2964 |title=Chronology of Međimurje from the 13th to the end of the 19th century |publisher=Croatian historical portal - Electronic Journal of History and Related Sciences, Zagreb |accessdate=2023-06-10 |archive-date=2020-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717235458/http://povijest.net/2018/?p=2964 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1738, the town was devastated by an earthquake, in 1741 by a large fire.{{cn|date=July 2024}} At the end of the 18th century, the owners of the town became counts from the [[Festetics family]], and the town was turned into a big estate where industry, crafts and trade developed. In 1848, the [[ban (title)|ban]] [[Josip Jelačić]] captured Čakovec from the Hungarians and annexed it with Croatia.{{cn|date=July 2024}} The first railroad track was built here in 1860 to help connect [[Budapest]] with the ports of [[Rijeka|Fiume]] and [[Trieste]]. Another earthquake hit the town in 1880. The town was connected by railroad with [[Mursko Središće]] and [[Lendava]] in 1889 and in 1893 electricity was introduced.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

The [[volunteer fire department|DVD]] "Čakovečki mlinovi" was founded in 1924, and the DVD "Čateks" in 1946.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022 |first1=Nikola |last1=Jagodin |first2=Vedran |last2=Runjić |title=Popis vatrogasnih organizacija s datumima osnivanja |url=https://mhv.hr/popis-vatrogasnih-organizacija-s-datumima-osnivanja |website=Muzej hrvatskog vatrogastva |archive-date=2023-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130104803/https://mhv.hr/popis-vatrogasnih-organizacija-s-datumima-osnivanja |language=hr |trans-title=List of Firefighting Organisations with Date of Founding}}</ref>

Čakovec was the seat of a district ({{langx|hu|járás}}) in [[Zala (former county)|Zala county]] of the [[Kingdom of Hungary]] until 1918 when it was [[1918 occupation of Međimurje|captured by an armed force]] on behalf of the [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]]. It again became part of Hungary between 1941-45 during World War II, until it was returned on 6 April 1945 by the Soviet Red Army with Marshal [[Fyodor Tolbukhin]] in command.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

During the [[breakup of Yugoslavia]] in the 1990s, Čakovec experienced limited military activity. At the beginning of the [[Ten-Day War]] in Slovenia in June 1991, a tank column of the [[Yugoslav People's Army|JNA]] advancing from the barracks in [[Varaždin]] towards [[Gornja Radgona]] was met with resistance from the local population.<ref>{{cite web|author=Međimurske novine|title=Tenk usred Čakovca, nije vojna vježba već spomen obilježje|url=https://www.mnovine.hr/medimurje/gradovi-i-opcine/grad-cakovec/foto-tenk-usred-cakovca-nije-vojna-vjezba-vec-spomen-obiljezje/|language=Croatian|access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref> With the onset of the [[Croatian War of Independence]] in September 1991, the JNA barracks in the city were captured by [[Croatian Army|Croatian forces]] during the [[Battle of the Barracks]].<ref>{{cite magazine|date=2009|first=Đuro|last=Škvorc|title=Zapadna Slavonija uoči i u Domovinskom ratu do studenoga 1991. godine|page=123|magazine=Časopis Povijesnog društva Križevci|volume=11|issue=1|url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/79740|language=Croatian|access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref> In retaliation, the [[Yugoslav Air Force]] launched missile attacks on the nearby [[Pribislavec]] airfield on several occasions later that year.<ref>{{cite web|author=Općina Pribislavec|title=Pribislavec u Domovinskom ratu|url=https://pribislavec.hr/o-pribislavcu/povijest/pribislavec-u-domovinskom-ratu/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319215230/https://pribislavec.hr/o-pribislavcu/povijest/pribislavec-u-domovinskom-ratu/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 19, 2022|language=Croatian|access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref>

=== Recent years ===
{{unreferencedsect|date=July 2024}}
[[File:Čakovec, Ulica grada Vukovara.2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Vukovar Street]] in Čakovec]]
In the late 1990s and throughout the 2000s, several modern buildings were built and opened to the public. In 1999, a brand new fitness complex including four indoor [[swimming pool]]s was opened as part of "Mladost", the city's sports and recreation complex. In 2003 a renovated sports hall, originally built in the 1970s and belonging to the construction industry high school, was also opened as a part of the center for sports and recreation and hosted several group matches of the [[2003 World Women's Handball Championship]]. Beginning in the late 1990s and early 2000s several large shopping centers and car showrooms emerged in the city, mostly in its northwestern part. Čakovec was rewarded The Green Flower award for the tidiest continental city in Croatia several times.<ref>{{cite web|author=List Međimurje|title=Čakovec najuređeniji grad kontinentalne Hrvatske|url=https://medjimurje.hr/aktualno/arhiva/cakovec-najuredeniji-grad-kontinentalne-hrvatske-2904/|language=Croatian|access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref>
Čakovec is the first city of the former Yugoslavia to have installed completely electronic information spots, located at the Republic Square and the Franciscan Square in the Center and at the Square of Saint Anthony of Padua in the Jug district. Čakovec is known as the city of [[traffic circles]], because, during the late 1990s and early 2000s, all of its traffic lights in the inner part of the city were removed and replaced with traffic circles or rotaries, virtually eliminating traffic jams. Although Čakovec is a small city by global parameters, its large working force which comes from all over the county, its location and importance in the region caused many traffic jams on the crossroads. Čakovec is the home of prominent Croatian punk bands, including Bakterije and Motorno Ulje. 
{{-}}

==Population==
{{Historical populations|1857|5790|1869|7002|1880|8580|1890|9375|1900|10815|1910|11425|1921|13034|1931|15108|1948|17034|1953|18119|1961|20676|1971|23775|1981|27356|1991|29996|2001|30455|2011|27104|2021|27122|source=Naselja i stanovništvo Republike Hrvatske 1857–2021, [[Croatian Bureau of Statistics|DZS]]}}The city administrative area of Čakovec includes the following [[naselje|settlements]]:<ref name="census2011">{{Croatian Census 2011|S|20|0604}}</ref>
{{Div col}}
* '''Čakovec''', population 15,147
* [[Ivanovec]], population 2,093
* [[Krištanovec]], population 626
* [[Kuršanec]], population 1,584
* [[Mačkovec, Croatia|Mačkovec]], population 1,326
* [[Mihovljan, Međimurje County|Mihovljan]], population 1,380
* [[Novo Selo na Dravi]], population 634
* [[Novo Selo Rok]], population 1,441
* [[Savska Ves]], population 1,217
* [[Slemenice]], population 244
* [[Šandorovec]], population 335
* [[Totovec]], population 534
* [[Žiškovec]], population 543
{{div col end}}

The adjacent villages of [[Belica, Međimurje County|Belica]], [[Nedelišće]], [[Pribislavec]], [[Strahoninec]] and [[Šenkovec]] are seats of separate municipalities, although they are all located within {{convert|5|km|0|abbr=on}} of the city's centre.

At the 2001 census, the city of Čakovec had a population of 15,790 within its limits, which was a slight decrease from the 1991 census, when it was 15,999. With its surrounding suburbs included it had a population of 30,455 at the 2001 census.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

The city's present day population primarily consists of ethnic [[Croats]] at 93.8%, with the largest minority being [[Romani people|Romani]] at 3.8% of the municipality. Other ethnic groups are [[Serbs]], [[Hungarians]], [[Slovenes]] and [[Albanians]].<ref>{{Croatian Census 2011|E|20}}</ref>

{{Croatian population data graph |popisi=HRV |upisano=2022-06-04 |područje=City of Čakovec |p1857=5790 |p1869=7002 |p1880=8580 |p1890=9375 |p1900=10815 |p1910=11425 |p1921=13034 |p1931=15108 |p1948=17034 |p1953=18119 |p1961=20676 |p1971=23775 |p1981=27356 |p1991=29996 |p2001=30455 |p2011=27104 |p2021=27122}}

==Climate==
Between 1981 and 2019, the highest temperature recorded at the local weather station was {{convert|39.0|C|F}}, on 20 July 2007.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-07-19 |author=DHMZ |title=Najviše izmjerene temperature zraka u Hrvatskoj za razdoblje od kada postoje mjerenja |url=https://meteo.hr/objave_najave_natjecaji.php?section=onn&param=objave&el=priopcenja&daj=najvise_temperature_zraka |website=Državni hidrometeorološki zavod}}</ref> The coldest temperature was {{convert|-26.7|C|F}}, on 13 February 1985.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-01-21 |author=DHMZ |title=Najniže izmjerene temperature zraka u Hrvatskoj za razdoblje od kada postoje mjerenja |url=https://meteo.hr/objave_najave_natjecaji.php?section=onn&param=objave&el=priopcenja&daj=najnize_temperature_zraka |website=Državni hidrometeorološki zavod}}</ref>

== Education ==
[[File:Pedagoška akademija, Čakovec - zgrada.jpg|thumb|left|Teachers' Training College]]
The city of Čakovec currently has three elementary schools and several secondary schools including a [[Gymnasium (school)|Gymnasium]] and three high schools that offer education in the fields of technology, crafts, [[economics]] and [[construction]]. The Teachers' Training College ({{langx|hr|Visoka učiteljska škola}}) is the city's only institution for higher education that lasts more than 3 years. In recent years, the city opened its own institution of higher education called MEV — Međimursko veleučilište u Čakovcu (Polytechnic of Međimurje in Čakovec), offering 3-year studies (180 ECTS points) in Computer Science and Management of Tourism and Sport. The city is also known for its School of [[Animated Film]] (ŠAF - Škola Animiranog Filma), which has been hosting an annual international [[animated film]] summer workshop for several decades, bringing world-renowned animators to Čakovec.

== Economy ==
{{unreferencedsect|date=July 2024}}
[[File:Čateks, Čakovec - upravna zgrada.JPG|thumb|left|Čateks, a textile company]]
[[File:Industrijska zona Čakovec-istok.jpg|thumb|Čakovec-East industrial zone]]
The city of Čakovec has a highly developed [[Industrial sector|industry]] and it is the focal point for [[communication]], [[business]], [[trade]] and [[education]] in the Međimurje County. The economy of the city is based on textile, footwear, [[food processing]] and metal plants — in 2023, the total profit of entrepreneurs based in the city accounted to €1.36 billion.<ref>{{cite web|author=Medjimurski.hr|title=Prema ostvarenoj dobiti poduzetnika Čakovec se nalazi na 14. mjestu!|url=https://medjimurski.hr/prema-rezultatima-poslovanja-cakovec-je-na-visokom-12-mjestu/|language=Croatian|access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref> The Čakovec-based company TIZ [[Zrinski]] is the largest printing and [[publishing company]] in the county as well as one of the major such companies in northern Croatia. Many books published in the country are printed in this factory. The city is also a base for several companies engaged in construction, production of building materials, and [[plastics]]. Some of the largest companies based in the city include the [[textile]] and clothing manufacturers [[Čateks]] and [[Međimurska trikotaža Čakovec]] (MTČ) as well as the footwear manufacturer Jelen, while the companies [[Čakovečki mlinovi]] (milling) and Vajda (meat products) are major fresh food producers in the city. Promming is also one of the biggest factories in Čakovec, it produces metal shelves designed specially for supermarkets.

== Sights, facilities and events ==
Most of the historical buildings in Čakovec are located in the town center or in the centrally located [[Zrinski Park]], and the town's historical core has been well preserved. The [[Čakovec Castle]] near the park houses a museum with some 17,000 exhibits. Other landmark buildings in the town centre are a palace built in the [[Vienna Secession]] style ({{lang|hr|Secesijska palača}}), and [[St. Nicholas' Church, Čakovec|Saint Nicholas' Church]] ({{lang|hr|Crkva Svetog Nikole}}). The Southern Čakovec ({{lang|hr|Čakovečki jug}}) is a relatively new neighborhood, with modern houses and buildings including the Church of [[Saint Anthony of Padua]] ({{lang|hr|Crkva Svetog Antuna Padovanskog}}) and a new elementary school with a sports hall, outdoor [[basketball]] and [[team handball|handball]] grounds and a running track.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

The city has a casino, designed by architect [[Henrik Böhm]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ge3xvKmWe74C&pg=PT310 |page=310 |title=The Rough Guide to Croatia |first=Jonathan |last=Bousfield |publisher=Rough Guides |year=2007 |isbn=9781848367920}}</ref>

At the central square there is a library, a theater, a cinema, a large [[Shopping mall|shopping center]] and a few confectioners' shops and restaurants. Other businesses in the town center are mostly clothing stores, bookshops, electronics stores and finance companies. A hospital and the central bus station are located only a few steps from town centre. The largest hotel in Čakovec is located across the park, about 300–400 meters from the central square, and there is also a smaller one in close proximity of the main square.<ref>{{cite web|author=eMedjimurje|title=CASTELLUM — Ministar otvorio prvi visokokategorizirani čakovečki hotel|url=https://emedjimurje.net.hr/vijesti/gospodarstvo/163135/castellum-ministar-cappelli-otvorio-prvi-visokokategorizirani-cakovecki-hotel/|language=Croatian|access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
Orao na spomeniku Nikoli Zrinskom Čakovečkom.jpg|[[Eagle (heraldry)|Eagle]] on the memorial column
Perivoj Zrinskih, Čakovec - Palača Zrinskih u pozadini.jpg|Greenery in the city park
Ulica kralja Tomislava in Cakovec.jpg|[[King Tomislav]] Street, a central promenade
Stari grad Zrinskih, Čakovec - pogled iz zraka.JPG|Čakovec Castle of the Zrinski family - bird's eye view
Porcijunkulovo, Čakovec, 2018. - kišobrani u Ulici kralja Tomislava.jpg|Porcijunkulovo manifestation
Gradski bazeni 'Marija Ružić' u Čakovcu.jpg|Outdoor swimming pools
Crkva sv. Antuna Padovanskog, Čakovec - jugoistok.jpg|Church of [[Saint Anthony of Padua]]
</gallery>

== Transportation ==
[[File:Željeznički kolodvor Čakovec - jug.jpg|thumb|right|Railway station]]
The city of Čakovec is easily accessible by road or a railroad track. The road infrastructure is good and includes a new expressway connecting the Hungary border-crossing point in [[Goričan]] with [[Zagreb]], [[Karlovac]] and the [[Adriatic Sea]] coast. There is also a southern bypass which was built in the beginning of the second half of the first decade in the 21st century. The city is connected to local municipalities with an efficient public transportation system. It has two train stations: Čakovec main train station and Čakovec-Buzovec, as well as a central bus station with a taxi rank, located near the central square. In the adjacent village of [[Pribislavec]] there's a small sports airport, where an annual aero-meeting takes place, as well as panoramic flights over the city and county in the summer. The airport is located approximately three kilometers east from the downtown.

== City districts and neighborhoods ==
The city districts/neighborhoods ({{langx|hr|gradske četvrti/kvartovi}}) of Čakovec are:
<br>''I. Centar''
<br>''II. Jug''
<br>''III. Martane''
<br>''IV. Buzovec''
<br>''V. Sajmište''
<br>''VI. Globetka''
<br>''VII. Špice''

== Sports ==
[[File:Cakovec10.jpg|left|thumb|220px|[[Stadion SRC Mladost, Čakovec|SRC Mladost]] is a [[multi-purpose stadium]]]]
The sports-related activities in the city of Čakovec are mostly centered in its northwestern part, where the center for sports and recreation is located. The center includes a [[football (soccer)|football]] and [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]] stadium with 7,000 places, an indoor hall mostly used for handball, basketball and [[volleyball]] matches and a swimming pool complex, where several [[human swimming|swimming]] schools are organized throughout the year.

The local chapter of the [[Croatian Mountaineering Society|HPS]] is ''HPD "Železna Gora"'', which had 36 members in 1936 under the Blaž Ilijanić presidency. At the time, it had a [[skiing|ski]] section.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=1936 |orig-date=1936-05-15 |first=Josip |last=Plaček |title="Željezna Gora" — Čakovac |page=234 |magazine=Hrvatski planinar |issn=0354-0650 |volume=32 |issue=7–8 |url=https://www.hps.hr/hp-arhiva/193607.pdf |language=hr}}</ref> Membership fell to 27 in 1937.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=1937 |orig-date=1937-05-05 |first=Josip |last=Plaček |title=Izvještaj tajnika |pages=221–252 |magazine=Hrvatski planinar |issn=0354-0650 |volume=33 |issue=7–8 |url=https://www.hps.hr/hp-arhiva/193707.pdf |language=hr}}</ref>{{rp|241}} Membership rose to 30 in 1938.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=1938 |orig-date=1938-05-05 |first=Josip |last=Plaček |title=Izvještaj tajnika |pages=222–254 |magazine=Hrvatski planinar |issn=0354-0650 |volume=34 |issue=7–8 |url=https://www.hps.hr/hp-arhiva/193807.pdf |language=hr}}</ref>{{rp|241}}

=== Sports clubs ===
* [[IHK Pozoji]], inline hockey club
* KK Željezničar Čakovec  - ninepin bowling club
* [[KK Međimurje]], basketball club
* [[NK Međimurje]], football club in the [[Druga HNL|Croatian Second League]]
* [[ŽRK Zrinski]], women's handball club in the [[Croatian First League (women's handball)|Croatian First League]]
* [[MRK Čakovec]], handball club in the [[Croatian First League of Handball]]
* [[TK Franjo Punčec]], [[tennis]] club
* Disc Golf club Zrinski

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Croatia}}
[[File:Gradovi prijatelji Čakovca.3.jpg|thumb|right|[[Twin towns]] columns]]

===Twin towns — Sister cities===
Čakovec is currently [[Town twinning|twinned]] with these cities or municipalities:
{|class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Schramberg]], [[Germany]]
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Płońsk]], [[Poland]]
*{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Nagykanizsa]], [[Hungary]]
*{{flagicon|ISR}} [[Kiryat Tiv'on]], [[Israel]]
*{{flagicon|BUL}} [[Blagoevgrad]], [[Bulgaria]]
*{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Szigetvár]], [[Hungary]]
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Yancheng]], [[China]]
|}

== Notable people ==
[[File:Barabas-zrinyi.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Nikola IV Zrinski]]]]
[[File:Vinko Žganec.JPG|thumb|140px|bust of [[Vinko Žganec]] in Čakovec]]
[[File:Filip Ude 2022.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Filip Ude]]]]
This list contains some of the notable people who were either born in Čakovec, lived in the city for a longer time or were in some significant way related to it.

* [[Lidija Bajuk]] (born 1965) a Croatian singer-songwriter and poet.
* [[Lujo Bezeredi]] (1898–1979) a Croatian-Hungarian sculptor and painter.
* [[Stanka Gjurić]] (born 1956) a Croatian poet, essayist, actress and filmmaker.
* [[Sunčana Glavak]] (born 1968) a Croatian politician and [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]]
* [[Barbara Kolar]] (born 1970) a Croatian actress and TV presenter
* [[Ladislav Kralj|Ladislav Kralj-Međimurec]] (1891–1976) a Croatian painter and engraver.
* [[Josip Horvat Međimurec]] (1904–1945), a Croatian painter.
* [[Josip Movčan]] (1924–2016) a Croatian forester with the [[Plitvice Lakes National Park]].
* [[Rudolf Steiner]] (1861–1925) an Austrian occultist, social reformer, architect and claimed clairvoyant.
* [[Josip Štolcer-Slavenski]] (1896– 1955) a Croatian composer and Music professor
* [[Sandor Teszler]] (1903–2000), industrialist and philanthropist in the US
* [[Vinko Žganec]] (1890-1976) a Croatian [[ethnomusicologist]] and [[folklorist]]
* [[Juraj IV Zrinski]] (1549–1603), soldier, politician and patron
* [[Juraj V Zrinski]] (1599–1626), soldier and politician
* [[Nikola IV Zrinski]] ({{Circa|1508}}–1566), soldier and politician.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Zrinyi, Miklós, Count (elder) | volume= 28 |last= Bain |first= Robert Nisbet |author-link= Robert Nisbet Bain| page = 1045 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Miklós Zrínyi|Nikola VII Zrinski]] (1620–1664), soldier, poet and [[philosophy|philosopher]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Zrinyi, Miklós, Count (younger)|volume=28|last= Bain |first= Robert Nisbet |author-link= Robert Nisbet Bain|pages=1045-1046|short=x}}</ref>
* [[Petar Zrinski]] (1621–1671), soldier, politician and poet

=== Sport ===
* [[Srećko Bogdan]] (born 1957), Croatian former footballer with 507 club caps
* [[Branko Ivanković]] (born 1954), footballer with 269 club caps and manager in [[Iranian Pro League]] 
* [[Robert Jarni]] (born 1968), footballer with 391 club caps and manager
* [[Dino Kresinger]] (born 1982), footballer with over 320 club caps
* [[Dražen Ladić]] (born 1963), football goalkeeper with 420 club caps and 59 for [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]]
* [[Ladislav Legenstein]] (born 1926) an Austrian tennis player and a [[1959 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]] doubles semifinalist
* [[Ivana Lisjak]] (born 1987), retired tennis player
* [[Nikola Pokrivač]] (1985–2025), footballer
* [[Franjo Punčec]] (1913–1985), Yugoslav tennis player
* [[Filip Ude]] (born 1986), [[Gymnastics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's pommel horse|pommel horse]] gymnast; silver medallist at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Dario Vizinger]] (born 1998), footballer with almost 200 club caps

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
*{{Official website}} {{in lang|hr}}
*[http://www.cakoveconline.com/ Čakovec Online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319031055/http://www.cakoveconline.com/ |date=2021-03-19 }} news portal {{in lang|hr}}
*[http://www.tourism-cakovec.hr/ Čakovec Tourist Board] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040421032830/http://www.tourism-cakovec.hr/ |date=2004-04-21 }} {{in lang|hr}}

{{County seats of Croatia}}
{{Medimurje}}
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cakovec}}
[[Category:Čakovec| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Međimurje County]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Croatia]]
[[Category:13th-century establishments in Croatia]]