Destinations and adventures
Travič mill
Travič mill is one of those things that is not known for itself, but for something completely different. The mill has probably the longest table you've ever seen and that's what people recognize it by. Therefore, the Travič mill has the biggest one in the area.
Source Kuduzovac
Like Wisdom source, Kuduzovac, which is advertised as a "source of health and wisdom", is the most common fraud. My kids have been drinking from it for years, and they're getting sillier and sillier. I hit my head once while getting into the car two meters from the source.
Restaurant Cvituša
Cvituša brought liveliness to Lovinac area more than anything else. You can eat, hang out, hang out on the wi-fi, play human football, or go zipline. However, Cvituša is the best when it is whitened by snow and then plowed by hundreds of big and small sledders.
Roman road
Precisely because they are not easy to find and recognize, the remains of the Roman road are one of my favorite little things that I discovered in Lovinac. For kids and those who feel that way, it will be a real little archeological adventure. Be Indiana Jones for 15 minutes.
Lake Opsenica
Lake Opsenica, better known as Lake Sveti Rok, is nothing special, but still a nice enough lake for a short visit. When the water level is not too low, it is convenient for swimming, especially if you like to do it in the company of frogs.
Zdunić Tower
On the road sign for Zdunić Tower, next to the name, something resembling a church tower is drawn. Damn whoever came up with it! I blame him for finding the tower only on the second attempt, because it doesn't look like any tower, but an ordinary house.
T-Nest
T-Nest is here, not to visit it, but to stop asking me every ten days what it is, who is doing it and why it is not finished. I can answer some of your questions first-hand, because I was involved in the project as an urban planner.
Bridge on Suvaja
There are some places that simply cannot be skipped. The bridge on Suvaja, unfortunately, is not one of them, but I visit it often, regardless. I do it in all seasons, and most often when I want to do running training.
The source of Banica
The people of Karlovac are proud of their four rivers. What amateurs! Lovinac has: Banica, Jadova, Jadičevac, Krušnica, Suvaja, Opsenica, Ričica and Ričina. The source of Banica used to be an uninteresting puddle, but now it has been renovated as a wonderful place for a picnic.
Hostel Sveti Rok
Hostel Sveti Rok is a pioneer of tourism in the municipality of Lovinac. I remember that I was very skeptical about its future, but the hostel is working cheerfully and happily to this day. It is also the only place in the vicinity where you can bring a large number of people to stay.
Master's Road
I have traveled the Master's Road (Majstorska cesta) several times by car, bicycle, and parts of it on foot, and for me it is, without any doubt, the most beautiful macadam road in Croatia. Given that it is protected as a cultural asset, it will remain so, beautiful and unpaved.
Wisdom Source
What the telephone did to letters, what plumbing did to sources. They became less important. However, it was not only a question of water, but also a question of social life. People came there for water and hang out. Because of the cows, but also because of the girls.
Source Ledenac
Finally an honestly named source (Cold). It doesn't promise anything it can't deliver, which is cold water. The place around the spring itself is not particularly inspiring, but I'm sure that one day it will be refined with a bench, so that by Ledenac you can rest and not just refresh yourself.
Church of Saint Petka
I saw the Church of Saint Petka countless times from the highway and it took me several years before I finally visited it. I can't wait for a beautiful sunset in which the church and Zir will get a beautiful yellow-red background. A very beautiful place that I rarely see in photos.
Educational trail Ričica
The Educational trail Ričica passes through one of the most beautiful and at the same time the most hidden locations in Lovinac. The place is so mystical that if you saw a creature from a fairy tale along the river bank, it would be quite natural. You would just wave the unicorn and move on.
Lake Štikada
Even though this is a really big lake, I always have the feeling that something is missing from it. I'm not particularly attracted to walking, swimming or any other activity, except maybe for photography. Maybe it's too big? If it were smaller, it would certainly be more cute.
Cvituša
"Let's go to Cvituša!" in Lovinac, it is not perceived as an invitation to a short hike, as a naive guest might think, but rather an invitation to a drink. Everyone thinks of Cvituša as a catering facility at the foot of the Cvituša hill, and it's high time we give some love to the hill itself.
Bakovac Source
I saw the Bakovac spring for the first time in late autumn, which is not the time when it shines in full glory. The first thing that came to my mind is that it is the source of Cetina for the poor. Well, that thought is in my head now and I can't get rid of it. To find it, you will need some adventurous spirit.
Štulić tower
Although it can be seen quite nicely from the road and the surrounding meadows, views mostly bypass the Štulić tower (Štulića kula), because few people drive through Gornja ploča. Of course, you know I'm talking about a settlement, not a freeway exit.
Rorschach's stone
I see a girl with a nice ass leaning on the back of a bull, but no one agrees with me. Everyone sees something else: a man hugging a dog, a big ass rabbit, a lion with a backpack, a monkey with a cub, and so on.
The ruins of the fort in Udbina
This fort was built in the Middle Ages on the northern part of the slope where the Udbina settlement was built. The settlement is still there, and the remains of the fort remain, as the name suggests. A little, but enough for us to recognize the outline of the tower in the center, and the archaeologists to have a plenty of fun.
Ranch Vel’ki mlin
I'm still strong enough for my 40kg kid to literally ride me when we're at home. There are much better options in Lika than my back. Here you can ride all year round, and in the summer, when it's warmer, you can also ride through the Lika river itself.
Otuča
The people of Lika love to swim in the sea, but we Dalmatians hate crowds and swim in the rivers and lakes in Lika. Upside down, right? Now read this! Gacka flows through Otočac, and Otuča flows through Gračac! So, is there an end to this upside-down circus? God help me!
Mystic Mountain Ranch
If you had to describe this ranch in one word, that word would be cute. Horses are, of course, the main stars here, but in addition to riding, you can also celebrate a child's birthday here or bring the kids to one of the creative workshops.
Vrban's cave
Vrban's cave (Vrbanova špilja) is a place that I managed to find only on the third attempt. I was thinking of giving up, because the photos I saw were not particularly interesting. It's a good thing that I persevered, because as a reward for the first time in my life I got the opportunity to take a look from the inside of the cave into which the river plunges.
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Madonna
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Madonna in Deringaj was destroyed in the Second World War and I hope that it will soon see the day of restoration. Maybe then I will remove it from the guide because it will be just one of many similar churches. Like this, with a bare stone skeleton, it is special.
Bent
Josip says that on Bent, guys used to throw themselves off a cliff like crazy just for a kiss from a girl from Zagreb. The braver ones jumped from the metal structure of the old railway bridge, about a hundred meters away. For me, this creates a picture of a perfect childhood.
Cave of St. Stephen the First Martyr
When we talk about the stay of people in caves, we mostly mention millennia, so I will also say about this one that people took shelter in it and held holy masses at the end of the last millennium. Yes, it was during the Homeland War.
Jadran
Did you know that in Lika you can swim in the Adriatic? You can, because the locals call this place the Adriatic (Jadran). One of the most beautiful river landscapes that I discovered in my Lika adventure. It's beautiful, isn't it?
Cerovac Caves
When the renovation project of the Cerovac Caves for visitors started, it was said that it would be the second most attractive destination in Lika after the Plitvice Lakes. Considering the competition, it was a safe bet.
The ruins of the fort in Bilaj
Like that character from the meme, who when he sees breasts immediately presses likewhen I see a fort, I immediately press hikeWith the river Lika to the south and west, this 638-meter-high hill in the 15th century was suitable for the construction of a fort, and today for a lookout point.
Cow Cave
If you climbed Zir, you passed by the Cow Cave. Speleologists will advise you not to enter caves that are not intended to be visited. However, I think this one is small and safe enough that you can explore it without fear, even with kids.
Jasikovac Forest Park
Forests and parks are the lungs of the city, but for the lungs you also need a heart. Gospić's heart is not big enough for such a large park. Jasikovac with its 80 hectares needs a lot of love and attention, and from what I've seen, both are chronically lacking.
Educational trail Derale - Lika
This is an educational trail that differs from many others in several details. Actually, these are not details but some pretty big things. Let's say, at one end of it, several gazebos were built under which about fifty people can be accommodated, which is not often found.
Pool - old clay pit
This location attracted me with its name and I thought it might be a nice place to swim. True, here and there someone bathes, but it is still a place for fishermen and those who fill cisterns with water for livestock.
Memorial Center "Nikola Tesla"
It would really be a shame to spend a day in Lika without visiting the Memorial Center "Nikola Tesla" in Smiljan. You can easily spend (or rather earn) an hour or two, and it will be interesting for the kids as well.
The works of Kristian Kreković
This is very interesting! First, Kristian Kreković's motives are very, in fact, completely atypical for Lika. Secondly, his works are not in the museum, but in the National Library and the Town Hall of the Perušić Municipality.
Klis educational trail
This is an example of what an educational trail should look like. There is nothing sensational, but the trail is accessible (in the very center of town), easy to follow, not too long, and you will learn something you didn't know.
The old town Perušić
I remember the fort from the time when it didn't have a roof and it will take me some time to get used to it, but the conservators say that this is exactly how the tower looked when it was built.
NOB monument
Monuments to the National Liberation Struggle (NOB) in the Second World War, although they have very similar aesthetics, are often very original and sometimes masterpieces of monumental plastic. This monument is one of them but what won me over were the wonderful verses that adorn it.
Dr. Ante Starčević Memorial Home
The memorial home is managed by the State Archives in Gospić and in this case, that is perfectly enough to correctly conclude what awaits you there. I've convinced myself many times that knowledge doesn't have to be boring at all, but here it is, so high school boring.
Viewpoint Megdan
It's always better to eat a travel meal on a bench at a viewpoint than to crumble in the passenger seat. This also applies to Megdan, but only if the sun is not shining or it is raining, because there is no shelter in sight, even though the view is 360°.
Rizvan City
Although there are other exciting places, the synonym for adrenaline experience in Lika is, without any doubt, Rizvan City. The title is fully deserved, not only because they were pioneers in their work, but also because they are not living on their old glory.
Cave Park Grabovača
Grabovača Cave Park is located within the significant landscape of Risovac - Grabovača, which is one of the most geologically diverse parts of Croatia. The main attraction is the wonderful Samograd cave, and every time I come I discover new interesting things and attractions that spring up in the park like mushrooms after the rain.
River Lika (Perušić)
Na rijeci Lici nema baš puno mjesta za kupanje, pogotovo onih koja nude još nešto osim samo vode. Ovo mjesto u Perušiću je najbolje uređeno i s najviše pratećih sadržaja. Možete igrati paintball, gađati lukom i strijelom, iznajmiti kajake, kupiti piće i to je više-manje to.
Krupa Monastery
Monastery should definitely be included in the package of visits to Zrmanja and Krupa. Because of the thick shade that surrounds it and the cold water that mourns it, this place always reminds me of a desert oasis on hot summer days.
Pueblo
This is a mandatory influencer position for taking photos. You don't have to take more than a hundred steps, so you can leave the car in sandals and a colorful dress. And, just so you know, Pueblo's real name is Pariževačka glavica.
Berberov buk
When I'm in Lovinac, I prefer to take the kids swimming at Berberov buk. I'm chubby and the cold immediately penetrates to the bone, so it's mostly cold for me to swim here, but my kids have never been bothered by the cold.
The longest straight road in Croatia
Do you know where the longest piece of straight road in Croatia is? Unfortunately, I can't find that information anywhere, but I have one candidate that I'm pretty sure is the winner - the route from Pridraga to the Tromilje junction in Zemunik Gornji.
Archaeological site "Pećina"
I only really got to know Lapydes while researching Lika. Since then, I enjoy visiting the places where they lived. It's one thing to read about history, and another to stand where it really happened.
Kosinj bridge
It is immediately clear even to the uneducated eye that this bridge has an unusual detail. These are openings that should reduce lateral impacts on the bridge structure in case of high water. And that detail is what makes this bridge special.
Sanctuary of the god Mithras
If Mithrae were in a museum, I probably wouldn't look at it for more than a few seconds, but it's quite another thing to see it in a natural environment, in a small grove next to Ličko Lešće. I know it won't be something special for many, but for me, it was nice to see it there.
Buy me a coffee
I have put a lot of effort and money into making this guide and will continue to do so. Unfortunately, I cannot translate it myself, and with a donation of as little as €5 you can help the guide speak in one of the foreign languages.
Planet Kruščica
Mars approaches Earth every two years and that is the best time to visit this planetary neighbor. Time to visit planetu Kruščici is every year, in the summer, when the lake almost dries up.
Kuda's Bridge
You must have heard of Zrmanja, of Krupa probably yes, of Krnjeza maybe, of Orovača probably not. All of them are beautiful from the source to the mouth, but the most beautiful part of all, the Kuda's bridge (Kudin most), was not built by nature, but by the arms of a love-struck Kuda in just two months at the beginning of the 19th century.
Plitvice Lakes
I think there is really no point in describing the beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park. The fact that it is always at the top of the list of the most beautiful national parks in Europe, without exception, clearly shows what kind of place it is.
Museum of Gacka
The Gacka museum is about as you would expect from a museum of a city the size of Otočac. However, the audio guide, which I don't usually find often enough in museums, and the very helpful young lady who took me through the exhibit, made the visit a little better than expected.
Lake Kruščica
Ne znam da li se isplati potegnuti na jezero radi kupanja, pogotovo ako je vodostaj nizak, a to je uglavnom usred ljeta, onda kada nam kupanje najviše i treba. Naravno, kupanje nije jedina stvar zbog koje bi mogli doći. Uostalom, voda je vizualni balzam i sam pogled na nju smiruje.
Majerovo Vrilo
The Gacka River made an effort to show all its splendor in its ten kilometers of above-ground flow, once the third-longest abyssal river in the world. Its springs were not declared a natural monument by chance. Majerovo vrilo (Majer's source) is the most famous.
Benkovac fair
Bez obzira da li vam se ovakva seoska događanja sviđala ili vam bila krajnje odbojna, predlažem da ih posjetite jer svakim danom gube na izvornosti i više nisu ono što su nekad bili. Ta tradicija jednom će nepovratno izgubiti duh. Sajam u Benkovcu održava se svakog desetog u mjesecu.
Kosinj viewpoint
I meant to paraphrase the French writer Guy de Maupassant who allegedly had lunch every day for ten years at the restaurant on the Eiffel Tower, not because he liked it, but because it was the only place in Paris from which the tower itself could not be seen.
Medvidovača
I climbed Medvidovača so you don't have to and I'm not kidding. I'm dead serious! The peak, although bare, is surrounded by forest and apart from the sun, nothing can be seen from it. So to speak, a great view if you are a solar panel.
Viewpoint on the Educational Path Man and Karst
A viewpoint that does not have an unobstructed view of all sides of the world cannot get a perfect five. However, I'm going to make an exception for this one and put it at the very top because, in addition to having an easy approach, it also has a great foreground. Let me explain.
Zir
I wouldn't be surprised if Zir (850 m.a.s.l.) is near the top of the world ranking of mountains based on the ratio of those who said it should be climbed to those who actually did. Don't be part of the statistics! This recognizable hill directly next to the A1 highway is the most beautiful and accessible viewpoint near Lovinac.
Velebit House
House Velebit is a wonderful example of how, with a lot of creativity, the use of modern technologies and various forms of presentation, you can create a place where you can learn a lot while having fun and activating all your senses. I have been here three times already.
Interpretation Center Krasno
If you pass through Krasno and don't visit the Interpretation Center, you don't know what you're missing. I'm not saying you'll regret missing out, just that you don't know what you're missing. This is a place that got tangled in time, somewhere a hundred years ago.
Zlatan's pit
Zlatan's pit (Zlatanova jama) is, in fact, a source of water. Besides, it's one of those places that I went to so you wouldn't have to. However, there is one "however". In fact, there will be a total of three in this introduction. However, the pit is located next to a place where something is not there.
Ferrata Krupa
Ovo, vjerojatno nije pravi naziv ferrate/staze jer sam ga upravo sad izmislio. Baš mi je tužno kad vidim kolike stotine pređu preko Kudinog mosta, a da gotovo nitko od njih ne zna da se samo par minuta od mosta nalazi ovakav bombončić od staze.
Via ferrata Bat
It was high time that this part of Croatia finally got a real beautiful via ferrata. It is of medium difficulty and excellently equipped (safe), but you should keep in mind that it is about a kilometer long, overcomes a 370-meter height difference, and the return is over extremely demanding terrain and will take about two and a half hours.
Kosinj printing house
Only 27 years after the Bible published by Mr. Gutenberg came out of the press, the family of Anž Frankopan founded the first printing house in Croatia in this locality. Moreover, it was probably the first printing house among the southern Slavs.
Vrelo Une
Just as even a coin means a lot to a poor person, so to water that has no color of its own, the color of the sky and the forest mean everything. Green and blue are what you will take with you as a memory from the source of Una. Isn't it strange that something that has no color is remembered precisely by its color?
Zipline “Pazi medo”
This is one of the fastest and longest ziplines in Europe. So, if you are a fan of speeding down the wire, Pazi medo (Beware of the bear) is an unmissable destination. The only thing more fun than running down is running down in pairs, so bring the kids or your better half.
Military base "Željava"
Not all of us have the opportunity to walk around military bases, which is why abandoned ones are an excellent opportunity for a new experience. Although the base also has a barracks complex, Željava is the most interesting because of its runways and tunnels, and the top influencer spot is the old Douglas C47 plane.
Lake Kruščica viewpoint
This is, without a doubt, the best viewpoint with a view of Lake Kruščica. Every season has its charms, but my favorite is the summer view when the water recedes and reveals the bare coast. In addition to the lake, you can also see the dam of the Sklope hydroelectric plant.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Krasno
At the beginning of the thirteenth century, the Mother of God appeared in a flower on a tree stump. The shepherds noticed it and, of course, immediately tore off the flower and took it to the chapel in Krasno polje, because why should it grow when they can kill it. But the flower had other plans and returned to the forest.
Peak Ozeblin
As soon as you see that the car ride to the starting point of the mountain climb takes three times as long as the climb itself, you know there is a catch. The hiking trail actually starts much further, but I don't see any point in walking for two and a half hours on gravel road.
Bijela River Canyon
I love small, not too well-known, secret pearls, and one of them is the Bijela river canyon. Although you have to drive for about an hour, from the parking lot to the source is only ten to fifteen minutes of easy walking, and there is really no excuse not to go treasure hunting if you are already on the other side of Velebit.
Inscribed stone
We are currently in the 21st century, and the Republics of Croatia and Slovenia still have not signed an arbitration agreement on the border. The Japod tribes Ortoplini and Parentini, with the help of the Romans as mediators, signed their agreement sometime between the first and fourth centuries.
Fir Empress
Fir Empress (Jela Car) is deservedly the real empress among the trees and the pride of our forests. It is the largest tree on Velebit and at the same time the largest common fir in all of Europe. Oh, how inappropriate that "common" sounds with her stature. She can be many things, but by no means common.
Kremen peak
Do you know which is the highest peak in Zadar County? I think the question is appropriate, but this is not the right place for the question because the answer is, obviously, Kremen. I am ashamed that I only found out from the guests of Zir Zen that this peak even exists, and it is 1576 meters high.
Resnik
The search for the perfect vantage point near Lovinac, from which one could enjoy sunrises and sunsets, led me to Resnik. The top, unfortunately, does not have a view to the east. Despite this, I witnessed there one of the most beautiful sunrises in my life.
Tulove grede
If you have ever passed through the Sveti Rok tunnel, especially from the sea side towards the interior, you know what Tulove grede (grede are rock pillars) look like. As wild as they look, they are actually quite accessible and with just a little bit of caution and dexterity you can switch roles and finally look at the highway from Tulove grede.
Kiza peak
Vrh Kiza is just one of the many interesting peaks on Dabarski kukov and I chose it as an example because it seems to me to be ideal for getting to know the area. The approach is short and challenging but not too difficult. It is not high, but it has a wonderful view.
Babića lake
This is an undiscovered pearl of Lika. The reason is probably that at first glance it seems that it is difficult to reach, but that is not true. You can enjoy this wonderful place without major problems and, as things stand for now, you can do it in peace and without crowds.
The "Little Prince" trail
The area around Crnopac is one of the wildest parts of Velebit, and if you have decided to stay in Zir Zen, then the wilderness is what attracts you. Here is the longest cave system in the Dinarides, but it is for the lucky ones who walk underground. For everyone else, there's the Little Prince trail.
Vaganski peak
The view from the highest peak of Velebit, in my opinion, is not as attractive as the one from only a few meters lower Sveto Brdo or about 150 meters lower Visočica, but the view towards Lika is well worth the climb. I have slept here several times, which is a special experience.
Poštak
Can a drop be more famous than a waterfall? Can a stone be more famous than a mountain? The first no, but the second yes, at least in the case of Poštak. The stone head of the Martian is far more famous than the peak beneath it. But the head is not alone. There is a whole gallery of boulders.
Visočica
I am one of the lucky ones who flew 500 meters above Visočica with a paraglider, and I don't believe that something will so easily push that view off my top list. You don't need wings to enjoy the view. Only the legs are enough, because after Sveto Brdo, Visočica offers the most beautiful view on South Velebit.
Sveto Brdo
My father told me that he heard on television when the famous Croatian alpinist Stipe Božić said that the view from Sveto Brdo (Saint Hill) is one of the most beautiful views that the mountains of the world offer. I don't think either of them are lying.
Buy me a coffee
I have put a lot of effort and money into making this guide and will continue to do so. Unfortunately, I cannot translate it myself, and with a donation of as little as €5 you can help the guide speak in one of the foreign languages.