Through the villages with preserved traditional architecture to the Sutla River Valley
Zagreb County

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 1:35000) 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.

Introduction

The Zaprešić region and its surrounding municipalities, in terms of its position north of the Sava River, with the Medvednica Nature Park to the east and the Sutla River and state border with Slovenia to the west, has been called the northwest "gate" to the County and Croatia. This region is increasingly interesting to visitors, not only for its beauty, but also for the three different natural geographical entities in a small area: mountains, foothills and lowlands. However, the main features of this region are the castles dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries which complete with their appearance, gardens and tales, attract many visitors. Also interesting is the sacral architecture, with a large number of churches, chapels and crucifixes positioned along the ridges, peaks of the green hills and at many intersections of roads and trails. The villages of this area still contain well preserved rural homes, monuments to traditional architecture which still today testify to the skill of the self-trained masters who build in wood and occasionally in stone. All together, this wealth of cultural and historical heritage, natural beauty, diversity of landscapes, looking points, events and the people who live here will offer the complete picture of the life and beauty of this area to all passing through.

Route description

From the centre of Kupljenovo  1  near the 4M buffet, pharmacy and post office, take the road Zaprešić – Luka - Veliko Trgovišće in the direction of Luka. The road leads straight through the Kupljenovo lowlands. On the left side of the road is the village of Hruševec Kupljenski.  2  Luka is situated at the far end of the foothills of the Zaprešić region. The centre is dominated by the neo-Gothic Church of St. Roch (141 m), completed in 1864, which stands out due to its elegant simplicity. Of particular value is the organ from 1745, the work of the renowned Viennese master Anton Weiner. The town centre has a shop, post office, school and inn. At the 3.5 km mark of the route, turn left at point  3  and continue the gentle climb. Turning off the main road after the short climb will provide you with a pleasant ride in the peace and unforgettable vistas over the entire region.  4  After 200 m turn left at the intersection at the sign for A. Majdaka Street. The route will quickly pass by the house 'Vila Joop' on the left hand side of the road.  5  In Krajska Ves pay attention to the significant number of small preserved traditional wooden homes called hiža. After passing by the local graveyard on the left side of the road, you will arrive at the Chapel of St. Florian (205 m). Here turn on the steep lane to the right, for the plateau above the chapel is an excellent looking point. From the chapel, continue riding straight downhill along the paved road, and pay attention to point  6  which is coming immediately after the downhill section on the right.

Continue riding straight and then downhill to point  7  and the 7.9 km mark from the route starting point. At the 8.9 km mark of the route, you can turn left off the main road and head across the bridge and uphill for Merenje and another looking point – the Chapel of St. Vitus and across the hill to Bobovac Rozganski or Gornja Pušća. At the 10.4 km mark, find rest and refreshment at the Dva potoka restaurant and picnic area to the left of the road, just before the border between the Zagreb and Krapina-Zagorje Counties. Continue straight along the main road.  8  Strmec Sutlanski is one in a series of settlements in the municipality of Kraljevec na Sutli which, thanks to the word Sutla and its valley with numerous settlements, received the name of the river in its name.  9  Caution, the traffic on this section of the road can be quite heavy. 10 Ride along the windy road through the villages of Movrač and Donji Čemehovec towards the Sutla River and the Slovenian border. On the right side, the view stretches across the field to the main settlement of the Kraljevec na Sutli municipality and the interesting tower of the parish Church of the Most Holy Trinity, built in 1836. Pay attention while crossing the railroad tracks. 11 From here, continue riding straight through the green Sutla River Valley, and pay attention as you will again cross the railroad tracks. 12 Keep riding straight along Sutlanske doline Street all the way to the main road. The view to the right stretches to the tower of the graveyard chapel and parish Church of St. Anne in Rozga. At the 21.5 km mark of the main road, turn right near the post office and the Horvat bistro-pizzeria, and at the intersection, continue straight the right road in the direction of Harmica.

You are now in the centre of the Dubravica (155 m) municipality, which received its name from the Dubrava Forest, which once grew throughout most of this region. Even today, the oak and beech forests are dense, and the Gmanja Forest at Lugarski breg is a unique habitat for the carnivorous plants – the dew plant, which was discovered here by well known Croatian botanist, Dr. Ivica Horvat. Today, this plant is the trademark of the municipality. Cultural and historical points of interest include the parish Church of St. Anne in Rozga from 1842; the chapel at the local graveyard from 1609, which was known as the Chapel of the Mother of God of Lušačke, and the 300 year old parish court which was built as a rare example of wooden parish manors. In the neighbouring villages, even today there are well preserved old fashioned, blue, village houses called hiža. In 1806, one of Croatia's most distinguished reformers, the poet Pavao Štoos, was born in Dubravica. 300 m from the intersection, the road takes you through the settlement of Rozga and the chapel with graveyard on the right hand side of the road. At the 22.7 km mark, pass by the Church of St. Anne in Rozga on the right. Continue straight through the village of Kraj Gornji. At the 24.7 km mark from the route starting point is point 13. The climb is steep and constant, to the left is a view of the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene, and on the right is the view of the Church of the March of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Marija Gorica and the tower of the Chapel of the Holy Cross. At the 26.6 km mark, at the left of the intersection is a wooden house with a plaque – this is the birth house of the well known writer of Croatian realism, Ante Kovačić, born in 1854. The route continues to the left and heads steeply uphill. 14 Marija Gorica (243 m) is well known for its Church of the March of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the 16th century. Prior to the arrival of the Franciscans, this place was known as Sveta Gorica (Holy Hill), and it became Marija Gorica when the Franciscans arrived in the flight from the Turks, and they brought with them the miraculous statue of the Mother of God. In the 18th century, the most distinguished Zagreb builder of the time, Matija Leonhart, constructed the Baroque church with its rich Baroque inventory. Historically interesting is the preserved Stations of the Cross, which is otherwise a rarity, as only the Franciscans had the right to install and bless it. Also of great value is the colossal Rococo organ in the church. In the town centre, find rest and refreshment in the Ladanjski raj Restaurant and Inn.

At the 27.7 km mark of the route, near the Chapel of the Unwavering Mother of God (Majka Božja Stalna) on the left side of the road, continue straight through the intersection through Žlebec Gorički, and then downhill to the left of the crucifix to Pušća. At the 29.4 km mark from the route starting is point 15. You can go to the looking point on the left near the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene. Near the bistro Tri Platane at the intersection with the main road Dubravica – Donja Pušća, turn left in the direction of Gornja Pušća. At the 33 km mark from the route starting point is point 16. Continue straight to the small bridge on the road. 17 Here it is necessary to overcome two steep but short climbs. 18 From the ridge, you will descend down to the plains. 19 Ride straight along the road which winds gently through the Hruševec Kupljenski lowlands. Along the road are several turnoffs which are not on the route 20.

Technical description of the route

Cultural-historical points of interest

Accomodation and hospitality facilities

Service information

Authors: Lidija Mišćin, Robert Rigo, Bernardica Kauf
Published: November 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