The looking points of the Krašić-Vivodina region
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 1:40000) 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.

Route description

The route begins in the centre of municipality of Krašić from the parking lot near the Church of the Most Holy Trinity (a suitable place to leave your vehicle).  1  Take the road about 400 m in the direction of Jastrebarsko and immediately after the bridge, turn uphill to the right off the main road. After a steep but short uphill section, you will arrive at a lovely looking point over Krašić with a bench perfect for a short break. 200 m from the intersection, a side road to the right leads through a pine wood to the Chapel of St. John the Baptist. The route continues along the ridge, along the slightly windy road through Hrženik and Škaljevica with lovely looking points of the vineyards and vineyard huts (klijeti).  2  At the 5.7 km from the route starting point, turn right at the crucifix in the direction of Ferenci. Take caution, as there is a steep downhill section, followed by a small bridge over Bukovica Creek and a steep, constant uphill alongside the village of Ferenci to the Chapel of the Holy Spirit and point  3 , where you will turn left at the intersection towards Gorniki Vivodinski. After a demanding uphill climb follows a relaxing ride along the picturesque road which passes over the steep slopes under Donji and Gornji Lović. At Obrež Vivodinski, pay attention to the right hand side of the road and the Chapel of St. Nicholas, surrounded by the graveyard, which received its Baroque appearance in the 18th century.

The relaxing downhill ride will lead you almost to the banks of the Kupa River. The unexpected change and diversity of the landscape will delight, sometimes even surprise, nature lovers while riding through this area. After the gentle hills with their vineyards and the steep grassy southeast slopes under Lović, you will enter into the somewhat darker and forested valley of the Kupa River. Here you can see vacation homes on the river banks. The Kupa River is just to the left of the road, behind the forest canopy. You feel its nearness with the freshness in the air and hear the roar of the river as it falls over the numerous cascades and waterfalls.  4  You are now at the boundary of the nature park, as well as the state border with Slovenia and the European Union. Continue the ride to the right along Kamenica Creek towards Vivodina. If you prefer to stay near the river for a while longer, especially if you love the underworld and the caves, then turnoff from the route  C  towards Kamanje is a must. Take caution, as you will have to cross the railroad tracks twice, once on your bicycle and the second time on foot. Follow the signs to the cave and the hiking signs. The cave, known to the inhabitants of this area even in prehistoric times, was opened for tourists back on 2 September 1928 after one year of preparatory works. The Vrlovka Cave, 380 m in length, can be visited year round, by appointment with the guide. The tour lasts about half an hour. The entrance to the cave is particularly interesting due to its vicinity to the Kupa River, while in the cave you can view the stalactites, stalagmites and underground lake.

Before continuing on to Kamanje, take a small break and refreshment, and visit the lovely parish Church of St. Mary. The ride to Vivodina from the bridge on the Kupa is a pleasant 5 km ride through the shady valley along the state border. Currently, it is only possible for the local population to cross over the border here. On the final 1.5 km towards Vivodina, you will ride up a slight climb up the serpentines until you see the parish Church of St. Lawrence, one of the most valuable monuments of Baroque architecture in the Ozalj region. The views over deep valleys, scattered villages, the hills with their vineyards will all delight you while you take a rest in the Vivodina region, well known for lamb and high quality wines. From Vivodina, continue straight along the main road.  5  At the 22.8 km mark of this circular route, you will pass through the settlement of Dvorište Vivodinsko, and 1 km further, you will arrive at point  6 . Turnoff  D  from the route leads to the Chapel of the Holy Cross and one of the most beautiful looking points of the bicycle routes of the Žumberak – Samoborsko gorje Nature Park. This path is well marked with wooden signs reading "Vidikovac" (view point) all the way to the top. The climb is demanding and constant, and heads up a narrow, windy, paved road. At the looking point there is a sign dating back to 1878 which reads: "He who has not been at Lović, has not viewed the Croatian homeland!" These are the words of the great Croatian writer Davorin Trstenjak, whose experience of nature at the unique looking point over the mountain peaks and the broad Kupa plains remained written for all future generations who come here. The table and benches in the shade next to the Chapel of the Holy Cross (view point) are perfect for a rest and true enjoyment of the bird's eye view.

Take the same road down through the village of Maljani, to the main road Vivodina - Krašić and continue to the right towards Jezerine. Before Jezerine is a downhill section with two steep turns, therefore, adjust your riding speed. The crossing point of the blue and brown routes is in Jezerine. Take a break in the bistro with shop at Jezerine 13. From the centre of Jezerine, there is another steep uphill climb to point  7 . Here, caution is required again for the downhill section that follows before the entrance to Kućer, and then into Krašić. Before the entrance to Krašić at the 32.1 km of the route, pay attention to the wooden Ethno house – the Old Mrzljak House to the right of the road. A visit to this ethnographic collection is possible by appointment only - contact the family of Božidar Ćuk . We also recommend a visit to the Memorial Room of the Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac in the parish hall of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity.

Technical description of the route

Cultural-historical values along the route

Accommodation and hospitality facilities

Service information

Authors: Lidija Mišćin, Robert Rigo
Published: June 2005.

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