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 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

The ruins of the old medieval town of Susedgrad have been preserved to this day. The hill on which the medieval town is located rises steeply above a main railway line and road, which follows the River Sava. Near Susedgrad, towards Zaprešić, the river Krapina flows into the Sava. The old town of Susedgrad can be reached from Zagreb via Aleja Bologna. From there, in Podsused,turn right into Aleja Seljačke bune. At the beginning, on the left, is the start of a promenade through a landscaped park to the ruins of Susedgrad. It offers a beautiful view of the Sava River and the lakes near Samobor. also choose among several interpretative walks and educational trails. Of special note is the Bliznec forest trail which is completely adapted for visitors with disabilities. Through the educational boards set up along the trail you will learn about the colourful history of Medvednica, its flora and fauna. Other educational trails include the Miro‑ slavec trail and the Bikčević trail, one of the most visited trails in Park.

MOuNTAiN HuTS Hikers usually head to one of the numerous mountain huts for a warm and tasty local meal. On the menu you will find a wide range of inexpensive traditional dishes. The nearest mountain lodge is Glavica, which can be reached from the west side of town. It is only a half an hour walk, therefore easy and convenient both for adults, and for children. One of the most popular Medvednica lodges is Puntijarka, mostly because of its deliciously tempting homemade cuisine. Other mountain lodges where you can try simple and delicious home-cooked food are Grafičar, Lugareva kućica, Vidikovac, Runolist, Mala Hunjka, and Lipa Rog.

CHAPEL Of OuR LADy Of SLjEME, QuEEN Of CROATS A short walk from the hilltop, down the wide grassy slope (Činovnička livada), you will come across a charming chapel, named the Chapel of Our Lady of Sljeme, Queen of Croats. “Wearing” a vest of local Medvednica stone and wood, this chapel completely blends with the surroundings.

SNOW QuEEN TROPHy Snow ball fights, sledding, snowboarding, and skiing on the mountain are popular winter pastimes. Ski slopes (White, Green, Blue and Red) and lifts are situated on the north slopes with the total length being 4.000 meters. The most famous skiing competition held on the mountain is the FIS World Ski Cup competition, known as the Snow Queen Trophy. It is a slalom race with separate events for men and for women. The winners of these two races are crowned as Snow King and Snow Queen.

MEDvEDNiCA CASTLES Throughout the Middle Ages, people sought protection on hilltops, behind the stone walls of fortified strongholds. That period saw the construction of the castles of Med‑ vedgrad on the central, Susedgrad on the western side and Zelingrad on the easternmost part of the mountain. You can travel back to Mediaeval times by visiting the Medvedgrad Castle and its recently opened Visitors’ Center. In this castle, throughout the summer, a diverse and entertaining program of film and music events is offered for all to enjoy.

In this area, the main food found on the dining tables of all homes during winter is sauerkraut, kiseli kupus, also called the doctor of the poor as it thrives well, there is plenty of it, and for this very reason it is inexpensive and available to everyone. Sauerkraut holds a large amount of nutrients which is why it is an extremely healthy and nutritious food. The most popular dish made of sauerkraut is sarma or stuffed minced meat wrapped in cabbage leaves. Sauerkraut is usually served with either grilled sausages or buncek ham - dried pork forearm, or with blood sausages and hash-browns. Winter is simply not the same without these hotly prepared tender foods that keep us resistant to the outside cold and prepared in traditional ways to be enjoyed by all! We can’t remember ever having a single bad meal in a mountain lodge. The smell of sauerkraut, sausages, cottage cheese with cream, strudel, turkey with mlinci, mulled wine...and the list sumptuously goes on! Mountain lodges are places where you can still eat ‘old school style cuisines’ just as our ancestors used to in old Zagreb pubs - and still do in many homes today. Without a doubt, you will often see families of all generations, friends and people who still have that one thing in common – a love of hiking and good food that awaits them at the end of the road... CAvES AND BATS With more than seven kilometres of branching passages, Veternica is the sixth largest cave in Croatia by size. With the professional guidance, it is possible to visit the first 380 meters of the cave see its attractions: cave decorations, traces of early men’s residence dating to some 42.000 years ago, and bats. There are 18 bat species recorded in the Veternica cave, 12 of which hibernate here during the whole of winter. You can take part in the “Adopt a Bat” program which was developed to raise awareness about this endangered animal.

ZRiNSKi MiNE Medvednica’s geological origins are extensive. Zrinski Mine opened here in the 16th century when the noble family of Zrinski started extracting silver. Mining was an extremely hard and hazardous occupation at that time: some thirty miners were taking shifts of 10 to 12 hours digging out the precious ore using only hammers, wedges, pickaxes and shovels. In 2004 the reconstructed Mine opened for visitors and was later registered as part of the protected cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia.

If you have smaller children, Vukov dol is a real adventure for them. You can reach it by road towards Planina donja, i.e. in the direction of the Lipa Rog lodge. There is a short path on the road that you can visit even with the youngest children. A team of volunteers from Planina Donja arranged an educational, interactive, ingenious path for children. From forest theatre to countless great games, learning in nature, here you can have a great trip.

Biser Zagorja Archives

zagorJe eden destinations

Just north of Zagreb, on the other side of the Medvednica mountain, lies a pristine green region with rich cultural and historical heritage. It is crisscrossed with rivers and streams, crowned by picturesque hills, and has many traditional wine cellars and beautiful vistas. Here you can experience the authentic country life undisturbed by the usual city chaos, hustle and bustle. Zagorje region is the traditional part of Croatia where many of the customs are preserved; where the food is of superb quality and completely organic. It is a magical place that alleviates tension and stress, a place where one can relax and recharge batteries.

So, what is it that attracts us to Zagorje? Besides the highest concentration of castles in Croatia and a number of great wine cellars, Zagorje abounds in Thermal Spas and Wellness. Some of these thermal springs have been in use since the Roman times. The healing powers of the spas are believed to cure or ameliorate the symptoms of many ailments, thanks to their unique mineral content. The three top ones listed below are proud owners of the European Destination of Exellance title and are recognized as EDEN destinations.

Terme Tuhelj, Krapinske Toplice or Stubičke Toplice all provide wellness retreats with healing properties of their own springs. There are numerous accommodation options in the area, ranging from modern apartments or houses near the tourist centers, to households in secluded areas amidst the beautiful natural surroundings, serving as a perfect escape from the city hustle and bustle. You may also look up the exclusive Terme Tuhelj Glamping Village.

TuHELjSKE TOPLiCE (THERMAL SPAS) The Water Planet of Terme Tuhelj is the largest swimming pool complex in Croatia with many water attractions. Accommodation is offered in a 4-star Hotel Well that comprises spacious rooms, a sauna & jacuzzi and an amazing Aqua Park surrounded by a lush landscape of rolling hills.

KRAPiNSKE TOPLiCE (THERMAL SPAS) Krapinske Toplice with its wellknown thermal spas is nestled in a beautiful valley, close to the Slovenian border. It is popular because of its numerous health care facilities with water rich in calcium and magnesium content, that treats everything from spine conditions to diabetes and heart disease. It has a new Aquae Vivae water park, a spa centre with saunas, and a restaurant. You can stay at the Hotel Villa Magdalena, the first exclusive, small four-star hotel boasting luxury units in Zagorje.

STuBičKE TOPLiCE (THERMAL SPAS) The first spa resort dates back to 1811 when the Bishop of Zagreb, Maksimilian Vrhovac, financed the construction of the building in Stubičke Toplice with an indoor swimming pool which was later named after him, “Maksimilianeum”. Today it is a prominent spa and rehabilitation centre, equipped with modern medical equipment for providing quality physiotherapy services and medical rehabilitation. The accommodation facilities include the Special Hospital with three interconnected facilities and a capacity of 267 beds and the hotel Matija Gubec 2* with an indoor pool and a restaurant serving local specialties.