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Since 1985, thanks to Mr. Ivan Burić Ivša, then a music teacher at the elementary school in Rude and the conductor of the mixed choir of KUD Oštrc, Rude has proudly hosted its own festival on the first weekend of July. The festival, named the Days of Rudarska Greblica, is dedicated to the eponymous miner’s pastry.
Thanks to the diligent efforts of the Rudar Association, the preparation of Rudarska Greblica has been protected at the European Union level with a geographical indication, and the pastry itself is known beyond the borders of our country. From folklore gatherings, which have been synonymous with the Days of Rudarska Greblica since 1985, the popular “Greblica” has been enriched with numerous new contents for all age groups.
Since 2024, KUD Oštrc and BBK Šišmiš from Samobor have organized a cycling event called “Cycling to Greblica.”
Children’s plays, treasure hunts, and the indispensable workshop on making Rudarska Greblica are just some of the events intended for young visitors during the Children’s Greblica.
In the evening program, “Greblica at the Mine” is held—a concert featuring ethno, rock, and other performers in the natural amphitheater in front of the entrance to the Saint Barbara Mine.
The Sunday program is enriched with performances by several international folklore ensembles participating in the International Folklore Festival “Rudarska Luč.” In the morning, the folklore groups perform in Samobor, and in the afternoon, they showcase part of their cultural heritage on the handball court in Rude. This festival is organized by KUD Oštrc in collaboration with the Folklore Society Senovo and is unique in that it takes place in both Croatia and Slovenia.
The official program concludes with the selection of the best Greblica, followed by an entertainment program. Around 10 PM, the grand finale of the miner’s raffle begins, featuring valuable prizes from our sponsors.
Don’t be surprised if you return home richer with a trip, bicycle, lawnmower, grill, or perhaps a trailer of manure for your (or your neighbor’s) garden!
KUD Oštrc from Rude and the Workers’ Cultural Society Svoboda Senovo have maintained intensive cultural cooperation for two decades, which led to the renovation of the Saint Barbara Mine back in 2012 and the preservation of part of the mining heritage of the Slovenian town of Senovo. Their shared mining history has strongly connected these two societies and motivated them to work on new projects.
With the Republic of Croatia joining the Eurozone and the Schengen area, and the removal of the border between Croatia and Slovenia, conditions were created for the joint organization of an international folklore festival held simultaneously in both countries.
To our knowledge, this is one of the rare examples of such projects in the world, if not the only one. The festival is held under the auspices and according to the rules of CIOFF, the world’s largest organization of folklore festivals.
This year’s second edition of the festival will feature folklore groups from, Poland, Kosovo, Slovenia, and Croatia.
The Saturday program will take place in Slovenia, and the Sunday program in Samobor and Rude.
From the Samobor Museum to the Saint Barbara Mine is only 6 kilometers—ideal for cycling to the Children’s Greblica on Saturday! The route will take you past the Church of Saint Michael and the former crystal factory, where generations of miners were employed. Halfway to Rude, you’ll pass the Chapel of Saint Nicholas, built in 1824 by the Mine owner Franjo Reizer on a rock that had broken off from a nearby hill, in gratitude that it didn’t roll onto his carriage.
If you’re lucky, you’ll see the legendary sign “Stranger, you’ve entered Rude” (unless someone decides to “borrow” it again before the Days of Rudarska Greblica).
Prepare for an uphill stretch in the last 500 meters from the center of Rude to the mine. Don’t worry; no one will mind if you reach the goal by pushing your bike. As a reward, the return to Samobor will be much easier!
Departure by bicycle is at 2 PM in front of the Samobor Museum. The participation fee is €10, which includes a T-shirt, a slice of Greblica, and an entrance ticket to the Mine.
Register on the Facebook pages of BBK Šišmiš and the Saint Barbara Mine.
“Greblica at the Mine” has been held since 2009. So far, the natural stage in front of the mine has hosted prominent names from the domestic ethno scene – Lidija Bajuk, Tamara Obrovac, Singrlice, Cinkuši, Kries, Ogenj.
This year, the audience will be energized by the well-known Zagreb rock band Bosak & The Second Hand Band, followed by Samobor’s rock legends Adrenalica and Fired Guns!
Admission to the concert is free, as is for all other events.
We can’t imagine the Rudarska Greblica Days without children. The area in front of the mine becomes even more beautiful and cheerful with the sound of children’s laughter and joy. The Children’s Greblica has been held since 2010, and the great interest shown by our youngest visitors is the highest compliment to the organizers.
If you’re still undecided, let us present this year’s program!
Start with the greblica-making workshop, open to the youngest participants. Each child will make, bake, and finally enjoy their very own piece of greblica. In the meantime, create a cheerful wooden board for your greblica, a small miner’s necklace, or your very first clay plate.
For the tireless ones, we recommend the blacksmithing workshop in our forge, while those in need of rest can relax on hay bales and enjoy the children’s play Grga Čvarak, performed by Scena Gorica.
As for the participation fee — once again, we’ve rounded it down to 0.00 EUR.
We are convinced that the best greblica in the world is made by the local women from Rude village! But sometimes there are surprises — at the Best Greblica competition, which has been held since 2005, contestants from neighboring villages have occasionally taken the win. Admittedly, it has only happened once, but don’t let that discourage you!
As a rule, every participant receives a prize. Even if your greblica doesn’t win, you won’t be going home empty-handed!
The rules are simple. On Sunday, between 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM, bring your greblica (this year’s theme: cheese and greens) — whole, in a baking tray — to the handball club located at the sports field in the center of Rude. From there, everything is up to the jury! The announcement of the winners and the prize-giving ceremony will take place around 8 PM.