What has been opened
Wellovar, the largest geothermal spa in Croatia, has been officially opened by the city of Bjelovar. The opening coincided with the Day of the City of Bjelovar. The facility lies 45 minutes from Zagreb and is to support the city's economy.
Water source and parameters
Thermal water reaches Wellovar from the Koronevo GT-1 geothermal well, drilled to a depth of 1260 m and tested in 2023-2024. Based on the tests, the well can supply thermal water at 83 degrees C with a flow rate of 30 L/s. A shallower well supplies water at 33 degrees C from 500 m depth.
Scope of the facility
Wellovar's swimming area consists of ten pools, five in the open air and five under a roof; one of the covered ones holds an Olympic certificate and can host international competitions. In addition it has four saunas, a gym, sports and recreation facilities, and a restaurant. Mayor Dario Hrebak said that the facility expects roughly 250,000 visitors and guests each year.
Zvonimir Zarec, director of Terme Bjelovar Wellovar, pointed out that one of the facility's distinguishing features is its self-sufficiency and energy independence, meaning all its energy demand is covered from its own sources. Beyond geothermal heat, the facility has a photovoltaic installation, and a 500 kW battery system is also planned.
Outlays
About EUR 42 million was allocated to the Wellovar project. EU support amounted to EUR 17 million under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The remaining part of the cost was provided by Terme Bjelovar under a loan agreement.