Geothermal expected to boost thermal spa tourism in Bjelovar, Croatia
Construction work at Terme Bjelovar in Croatia as of November 2024 (source: Terme Bjelovar)
Carlo Cariaga
3 Jul 2025
Geothermal resources in Bjelovar, Croatia are expected to help boost the local and regional economy through thermal spa tourism.
With a geothermal resource in the city of Bjelovar, Croatia now confirmed, the city is investing on a thermal spa facility that is expected to boost spa and wellness tourism in the region. Through the use of geothermal water and heat, as well as a photovoltaic power plant, the future Terme Bjelovar facility will be the first energy-independent thermal facility in Croatia.
In March 2024, drilling and well testing of the first geothermal well in Bjelovar was completed. The Koronevo GT-1 well was drilled to a depth of 1260 meters, and discharged fluids at 83 °C at a flowrate of 30 L/s.
During a recent conference, “Thermal Water Under the Magnifying Glass: Quality, Opportunities, Tourism and Health,” representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Health, and the local Bjelovar government provided more information on the planned Bjelavor spa project to the general public.
The thermal spa complex will have a gross area of 13,000 square meters. It will have seven pools, including an Olympic-sized pool. The spa will draw water from a shallow geothermal spring, and will use heating and cooling from the deeper geothermal source. Terme Bjelovar is expected to be completed by March 2026 and will open by June of the same year.
Dario Hrebak, the Mayor of Bjelovar, expressed how lucky the city was to find an exceptionally high-quality geothermal resource, and gave assurance that the Bjelovar water will not cause any health problems. Dr. Magdalena Ujevic Bošnjak of the Croatian Institute of Public Health also explained that the health parameters of the waters will be tested twice a month.
Terme Bjelovar Director Zvonimir Žarec highlighted the economic impact of the project, saying that 85% of the companies working on the project are from Bjelovar. Thus, a large part of the payments made for work on the project will remain in the local economy.
Advisor to the Minister of Tourism Igor Radic pointed out that tourists who go to spa and wellness destinations typically have better purchasing power and stay longer, thus generating more value. Through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Ministry is funding 13 spa projects in Croatia worth EUR 1.3 billion. Bjelovar, which received EUR 7 million from the fund, is the only greenfield project.
Source: City of Bjelovar
