Great Days Out: Medvednica
“Horvat’s 500 Steps” is another popular place to check out. It’s where Vladimir Horvat (1891-1962), a journalist, publicist, photographer and nature lover, who wished to make this part of the mountain accessible for everyone to enjoy, carved out 500 steps. At the bottom of the steps is a valley with a stream where the spirited Mr. Horvat built benches and a shelter that you can still use today.
Medvednica Nature Park Archive
Mount Medvednica is a beautiful nature park that merges with the capital city lying at its base. It is an area in which natural, cultural and historic values intertwine, a popular weekend spot for the city dwellers all year round. Zagreb and its mountain have had a long history together. The mountain once used to be the source of life and protection. Today, hiking on Medvednica is one of the favourite pastimes for Zagreb locals. They flock to the mountain to enjoy the fresh air, hang out with friends and admire fantastic views of Zagreb. Sljeme’s summit is at an altitude of 1035 m, so it makes for a good 2-hour hike. Numerous calories will be burnt on the way up. Hiking, mountain biking, skiing, trekking, sledding: these are just some of the activities that Medvednica offers. Even if you are not the sporty type, it is worth a trip to the top to soak up the views, breathe in fresh air and to enjoy the simple but unbeatable home-cooked food at the numerous mountain lodges. THE NAME The name of the mountain is derived from a Slavic word medved meaning the bear. The discoveries of numerous bear bones suggest that this once used to be a bears’ habitat. ACCESSIBILITY The summit of of the mountain, Sljeme, can be reached on foot, by bike, by car or by public bus. If you decide to facebook.com/ZagrebInYourPocket
drive to the top, you can approach Medvednica from the south (Mihaljevac-Gračanska road and along Bliznec street to the top) or from the northern, Zagorje side (via Stubičke Toplice, along Strmečka cesta and Pila to the top). The new cable car is expected to be in operation in the near future. WONDERFUL VISTAS Medvednica has recently celebrated its 40th birthday as a Nature Park. This green oasis provides not only peace and tranquility, but also breathtaking views on both sides. The highest peak, Sljeme (Summit), is dominated by the TV tower and right next to it is a viewing point overlooking the picturesque region of Croatian Zagorje. NATURE Walking on Medvednica is a proper forest immersion experience. Wherever you go, trees soar high above you, majestically rustling. Within the Park, there are 8 protected forest reservations. You will come across many common species such as oak, chestnut, beech, but also the rare ones like linden and yew. There is a belief that the yew tree has great powers, which is reflected in some modern fiction. The evil wizard, Voldemort, from the Harry Potter series of books has a magic wand made of this tree. HIKING TRAILS Medvednica stretches 42 km and offers 70 hiking blazed trails of various length and degree of difficulty. You may Winter / Spring 2022
37
