Pedala:

This route is a part of Zagreb County Cycling Network project run by Tourist Board of Zagreb County. We are recommending that together with this description you are using published/paper map (scale 1:30000) which can be obtain from office of Tourist Board of Zagreb County, Preradovićeva 42, Zagreb, Croatia, www.tzzz.hr. Please contact office for map delivery.

Through picturesque hills to the confluence of the Sutla and Sava Rivers

With its beauty and viewpoints, as well as its location along the border and proximity to the neighbouring Republic of Slovenia, the hilly landscape of the Marija Gorica region is truly worth getting to know, and as such, we have designated it as the starting point of this especially beautiful landscape route. Marija Gorica is renowned for its Church of the Appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the 16th century. Before the coming of the Franciscans, the place was known as Sveta Gorica (Holy Hill), and became Marija Gorica when the Franciscans, fleeing from the Turks, brought with them the miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary. In the 18th century, Matija Leonhart, the most esteemed Zagreb builder of the time, constructed the Baroque church with its rich Baroque inventory. The well preserved Križni Put (Stations of the Cross) is also historically interesting, and is otherwise a rarity, since the Franciscans were the only order allowed to display and bless it. The colossal Rococo housing of the pipe organ in the church is also of great value. The district’s day is celebrated on 29 June, the Church holiday of St. Peter and Paul, when it is particularly lively here, along with the celebration of Ante Kovačić Day, after the Croatian writer born in nearby Oplaznik. In the centre of the town, refreshments and accommodation are available at the Ladanjski Raj Inn, on the rise not far from the parish church selected as the starting point of the blue route. 1 Enjoy the ride along Grebenska Road during each season, since the well maintained plots, as well as the traditional architecture, add to the natural beauty and the atmosphere of this region. 2 After a 500 m ride, the viewpoint will come into sight, as if made for taking of photos of the Sutla Valley and the Samobor mountains. Take a look to the right towards Slovenia, your view will stop on two towers and all of Kapela. Stop and indulge, even though you are only at the beginning of your ride. The Kapela district was founded by father Erdavik from Manja Gorica in 1786, and it was consecrated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. From that point forward till today, the residents’ pilgrim tradition of these two border districts has been nurtured on the Church holiday of Velika Gospa (the Assumption) on 15 August. 3 Abide by the notice on the complex fence, do not go around the chapel and its cemetery on a bicycle or any other vehicle.

From Sveti Križ, the route's highest point at 310 m, the view on a clear day truly extends from Medvednica, across Okić to Žumberak and neighbouring Slovenia. In the continuation of the downhill ride, along the winding Bregovita street, watch out for the left turn and the alley diverging from the road by the house at point 4 , since if you ride further downhill along the winding road, you will arrive at Harmica. Follow the downhill and the shortcut across the gravel trail in order to avoid the main roads, and the trail will re-emerge onto the paved road. 5 From here onward to point 6 , there will be four turnoffs, but just continue to hold straight on the right main road toward Šenkovec. On the left side, next to the sign marking the entry into Šenkovec, a new resort is under construction. 6 From one of the hills that follow, enjoy the view of Mokrice Castle in Slovenia. In order to avoid the main, more congested road, turn at point 7 . Point 8 Caution! Continue the ride through Ključ Brdovečki. Next to the Shrine of the Heart of Jesus (Srce Isusovo), turn right and then immediately left next to the crucifix, where at the 7.6 km mark from the start of the route, the gravel trail through the valley of the Sutla River begins, all the way to point 9 . At 9.4 km mark, there is a right turn D from the route, via which you will arrive at the confluence of the Sutla and Sava Rivers about 400 m further on. The sand swallows nest in the holes of the steep sandy banks of the Sutla River. From here onward, ride along the Sava River, much wider and quicker but less romantic than its tributary, the Sutla River. At the 10.3 km mark of the route, cross over the embankment for the second time, and at the Y intersection 400 m on and still on the field trail, continue along the left fork to point 10. We will soon arrive to the place where the blue and the red routes meet, all the way to Savski Marof. 11 At the Savski Marof railway station, turn right towards Zdenci Brdovečki and Javorje. Cross the railroad that leads to the "Pliva" factory. Continue riding straight along the main road along the shrines to the Church of St. Vid in Javorje, Brdovec.

Brdovec is mentioned in the parish documents as far back as 1334, around the parish Church of St. Vid, the patron saint of the district, such that the district’s day is also celebrated on 15 June. 12 The route continues along the street to the main road. Cross the road and continue uphill, along the Chapel of the Three Kings (Sv. Tri Kralja), toward the cemetery to point 13. When you start on the road from the castle towards the Šibice suburb, take note of point 14 Turn from the main road that the route only passes along for some 50 m at point 15. You are now in the centre of Zaprešić, passing near to the Inter football stadium, across Dr. Franjo Tuđman square, along the Church of Mary Queen Apostolate (Marija Kraljica Apostolska) to the Kalmiri restaurant, and turn right toward the main road and point 16. Pass by the restaurant and the equestrian club Trajbar team, suitable for a short stop and rest, while there is a nice view of the horse tracks from the terrace. Ride carefully along the somewhat busier road to points 17 and 18. A downhill follows, then a steeper uphill, but before the climb, there is a fresh water spring to the right. The 27.4 km point of the route marks the end of the uphill, after Zaprešić, you are once again at the crest in Dubrava Pušćanska, with a beautiful view of the Samobor mountains to the left and the Pušća region to the right. Continue riding along Dubravačka Street. At the Y intesection with Vinogradska Street, continue along the right fork of the street. This is the highest point of the cresting road, with beautiful landscape and viewpoints on all sides that have brought numerous weekenders here. Pass by a settlement of nice holiday houses and timber vineyard huts, with vineyards and orchards on both sides of the road. 19 At the 29.3 km mark on the route, there is the Chapel of St. Catharine, a beautiful viewpoint, the second highest point on the blue route. Stop and breathe in the splendours of this region! 300 m from the chapel the paved road ends and the gravel trail begins, and you enter into the forest from the crest. 20 After less than 1 km, you are through the forest and back on the paved road. To the right in the distance, notice the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene at the top of the hill on the red route. Caution near point 21. From here on, you have 1.5 km to go to return to the route's start and the centre of Marija Gorica. If not required at the beginning, stopping for refreshments here at the end at Ladanjski Raj will surely be welcome.

Tehnical description

Beginning of the blue route, parking next to the parish church of the Appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Marija Gorica. Start along the cemetery in the direction of Sveti Križ and Šenkovec. At the intersection, 50 m from the cemetery, continue straight uphill.
At the DVD Sveti Križ (fire brigade) building, continue straight via Bregovita Street, toward the Chapel of the Holy Cross (Sveti Križ).
Chapel of the Holy Cross (Sveti Križ) – viewpoint (the route’s highest point – 310 m).
At the T intersection of Vatrogasna Street and a gravel road (3.2 km from the start of the route), turn left from the paved road onto the gravel trail. After 50 m, at the intersection of two gravel trails, turn left and downhill again. Caution!
At the intersection, the route continues to the left and downhill along the asphalt road in the direction of Šenkovec.
At the entrance to Šenkovec, at the T intersection, continue straight along Ivana Turka Street.
Around 50 m before the entrance onto the main road, make a sharp left turn onto Školska Street, continue along to the end and turn right onto point 8.
Intersection with the Zaprešić – Harmica main road, cross the road carefully and continue straight along Mokrička Street. A beautiful view of the Mokrice castle in neighbouring Slovenia.
Following the field trail, climb and cross the embankment to its other, western side and continue to ride along the Sutla River’s eastern bank. Note the turn from route D to where the Sutla River drains into the Sava River.
End of the gravel and field trail part of the route, beginning of the paved road, turn right toward Prudnice.
At the Shrine of St. Antun Pustinjak in Prudnice, turn right.
Railroad crossing – caution!
At the intersection, turn right onto Brdovita Street, towards Lužnica Castle.
After Lužnica Castle, turn left from the road onto a field trail leading along the Croatia Messer Plin plant.
From Pavla Lončara Street, the Zaprešić – Harmica main road, turn left onto Mokrička Street. The intersection of the blue and red routes (detailed description on the cut-out part of the Zaprešić map).
On the main road, turn left towards Dubrava Pušćanska. Caution, increased traffic!
At the intersection of the main roads leading to Pušća and Pojatno, turn left towards Pušća along the right-of-way road.
Around 150 m after point 17, turn left onto Dubravačka Road, and ride in the direction of Dubrava Pušćanska.
Chapel of St. Catharine – viewpoint (elevation 271 m).
At the intersection of the three gravel roads, turn left toward Celine and Marija Gorica.
Intersection with the main road with poor visibility, caution! Turn left in the direction of Marija Gorica.

Cultural and historical values along the route

The church of the Appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Marija Gorica (see the red route)
Chapel of the Holy Cross (St. Križa)
Church of St. Vid, Javorje, Brdovec – mentioned in 1334 as the parish church, it was given a Baroque style in the 18th century; preserved inventory includes the Baroque altar from 1776 and paintings from that period. The bell tower with gun holes and the southern, particularly thick walls built as an annex, which suggests that this church is certainly one from a series of churches – a fortress for the protection of the local populace during the time of the Turkish raids. The circular Chapel of St. Barbara was built as an annex to the church, a very rare example of a circular building in our country. The construction of this chapel is tied to the tale of galena mines of the French count Carion, beneath the western hills of Medvednica in Bistra, and St. Barbara, the patron saint of the miners, to whom they paid homage here.
Lužnica Castle from the second half of 18th century, renovated and enlarged in 1971, and the residence of the Rauch family, today a retirement village of the sestara Milosrdnica (Sisters of Mercy) of St. Vinko Paulski and a spiritual centre, www.luznica.com
Novi dvori Jelačićevi, Zaprešić and Matija Skurjeni Museum (see the red route)
Chapel of St. Catharine, Hrebine

Accommodation and hospitality facilities

"Ladanjski raj" Inn with rooms, Rajski put 3, Marija Gorica, tel. 3395-806, www.ladanjskiraj.com
Restaurant KK Trajbar team, Bana J.Jelačića 199 street, Zaprešić,tel. 3310-838, www.kk-trajbar-team.hr

Service information

Zaprešić Tourist Office, Trg žrtava fašizma 9, tel. 3310-309
Zaprešić medical centre, Pavla Lončara 1, tel. 3310-061
Zaprešić police station, Drage Švajcera bb, tel. 3310-550
Vajt Prom bicycle shop, Pavla Lončara 1/B, Zaprešić, tel. 3313-649, not open Sundays.
Zagrebačka Bank ATM machines in Zaprešiću: Bana J.Jelačića 1, Trg mladosti bb, Trg žrtava fašizma 17

Autors: Lidija Mišćin, Robert Rigo, Bernardica Kauf
Published: October 2004.

If you notice any changes on route, which are not introduce in route description, please inform us about changes on email: rigo@pedala.hr