Wellovar: The biggest geothermal thermal complex in Croatia opens

(Photo: Marina Brestovečki Mrkoci/Grad Bjelovar)

Croatia’s newest major thermal destination has officially opened. The €42 million Wellovar complex in Bjelovar combines geothermal water, 10 pools and an Olympic-standard swimming facility and is one of the largest recent investments in continental Croatian tourism.

Wellovar, located in Veliko Korenovo, officially opened on Tuesday as part of Bjelovar’s city celebrations.

The complex includes five indoor and five outdoor pools, including a 50-metre Olympic swimming pool certified for international competitions.

It also features wellness and recreational facilities and is designed to attract both local visitors and tourists.

Construction took 23 months and involved the development of an extensive energy system based around geothermal resources.

The facility is designed to use geothermal water from the Bilogora area as part of its energy concept, with the project presented as an example of using local renewable resources in a large tourism and leisure development.

(Photo: Marina Brestovečki Mrkoci/Grad Bjelovar)

The opening is significant for Bjelovar because the city is inland and has traditionally had a smaller role in Croatia’s tourism industry than the coastal destinations.

Local authorities see the complex as a potential driver of tourism in continental Croatia and as a way to encourage visitors to stay outside the main coastal season.

A hotel project is also being prepared near the complex, while local accommodation providers are expected to benefit from increased visitor numbers.

The facility’s Olympic pool is intended not only for recreational use but also for international sporting events.

The complex has been developed as a combination of sport, wellness, recreation and tourism rather than solely as a traditional thermal spa.

(Photo: Marina Brestovečki Mrkoci/Grad Bjelovar)

It is expected to provide a new year-round attraction for the region, while its outdoor facilities are planned to operate seasonally.

The Bjelovar project is also notable for the scale of investment involved. At €42 million, it represents one of the largest individual tourism-related developments in the city.

The complex is currently expected to have 47 employees, with further economic activity anticipated from accommodation, hospitality and other services around the site.

The project is now moving from construction into its operational phase, with visitor demand and future hotel development likely to determine its wider economic impact.

The project was partly financed through Croatia’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan.