# Veliki Grđevac

Veliki Grđevac (pronounced, Hungarian: Nagygordonya) is a municipality in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Croatia.

## Demographics

According to the 2021 census, the population of the municipality was 2,316 with 1,054 living in the town proper.
According to the 2001 census, there are 3,248 inhabitants, 80.41% of which are Croats, in 1,157 of family households.

## Geography

The present municipality Veliki Grđevac arose during the Croatian War of Independence, separated from the former municipality Grubišno Polje. Municipality area extends from the southwestern slopes of Bilogora hills, across the Česma river towards the northernmost slopes of the Moslavačka gora. Area around the Veliki Grđevac is characterized by wet meadows under Bilogora hills.

## Municipality

The following villages comprise the Veliki Grđevac municipality:
* Cremušina – population 3
* Donja Kovačica – 342
* Dražica – 182
* Gornja Kovačica – 309
* Mala Pisanica – 222
* Mali Grđevac – 13
* Pavlovac – 679
* Sibenik – 38
* Topolovica – 14
* Veliki Grđevac – 1,358
* Zrinska – 153

## Politics
### Minority councils and representatives

Directly elected minority councils and representatives are tasked with consulting tasks for the local or regional authorities in which they are advocating for minority rights and interests, integration into public life and participation in the management of local affairs. At the 2023 Croatian national minorities councils and representatives elections Czechs, Hungarians and Serbs of Croatia all fulfilled legal requirements to each elect 10 members minority councils of the Municipality of Severin but the elections for Czech council were not organized due to the lack of candidates and only 8 members were elected in Serb one.

## History

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Veliki Grđevac was part of the Bjelovar-Križevci County of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia.

## Notable people

* Mato Lovrak (1899–1974), Croatian writer
* Károly Knezić (1808–1849), honvéd general in the Hungarian Army
* Dušan Kašić (1914–1990), historian and Orthodox Christian theologian

## Monuments and sightseeings

* Mato Lovrak center — consisting of compositional museum train and a mill with pond that represented the most famous symbols of the Mato Lovrak’s novels: "Train in the Snow" and "Družba Pere Kvržice" (translated as "Pero Lump gang").
* Friend of Nature Trail — the nature friends path is located nearby Lovrak center, and viewing is accompanied by the guides. The pathis intended for students, for their nature classes, organised groups, and for all friends of nature. Things to see:
** Biology interests of forest vegetations
** The natural regeneration of forest
** Forest animals

## Education

* Osnovna škola Mate Lovraka (English: Mato Lovrak Elementary School)

## Culture

Lovrak days of culture are traditional cultural and educational events dedicated to the national significance Mato Lovrak, one of the most successful children's writer in Croatia.

## Sport

* Football club "Gordowa" Veliki Grđevac
* Karate Klub "Gordowa" Veliki Grđevac
* Sports-Fishing Association "Grđevica" Veliki Grđevac
* Hunting association "Jelen" (Deer) Veliki Grđevac