Pedala: Through the Slapnica Canyon to the necropolii at Budinjcako polje and Gornja Vas

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 1:55000) 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

This difficult but beautiful bicycle route begins at the furthest point of the Žumberak – Samobor Mountains Nature Park. It will take you through the protected landscapes of the canyon valley cut through dolomite rock all the way to the scattered Žumberak villages situated on the broad, grassy plateaus characteristic of this unique and highest mountain region in northern Croatia. Here you will become acquainted with the numerous traces of history and culture preserved in this region, which was inhabited in prehistoric times, evident in the archaeological finds, the ruins of ancient structures and the ethnology collections.

The route begins at Kostanjevac, a small settlement which is the administrative centre of the Žumberak municipality. You can park your vehicle near the municipal building and the bistro Mateo. From Kostanjevac, take the main road back south about 4 km in order to arrive at Medvenova Draga, the Medven family manor and the Nature Park Info Centre on the left hand side of the road. 1 About one kilometre from the main road, cross the bridge and enter into the stone quarry. Here the paved road turns into a gravel road and the constant climb all the way to Budinjak begins. The route will lead you into the canyon of the Slapnica River, one of the largest tributaries of the Kupčina River. At the 7.8 km mark from the route starting point, turn right into the forest for Vranjački waterfall. Cross over one of the many bridges over the windy course of the Slapnica River that you will cross while riding through the canyon. If you leave your bicycle, you can hike up the marked hiking trails to Vranjački waterfall only ten minutes away, and further, to the village of Vranjak if you wish. The bicycle route continues along the main gravel road, pushing deeper into the canyon cut through dolomite rock. At approximately the 10.5 km mark, there is another marked hiking trail to the right which leads to the Brisalo waterfall, 10 minutes away.

This fifteen metre high waterfall is particularly charming due to the thin stream of water which falls from the very top of the waterfall directly to the bottom and due to its lake, making it very similar to tropical waterfalls. At the 12.3 mark from the route starting point, the gravel road will reach the place where the Slapnica River Valley is at its broadest, stretching into a wide, grassy valley. The rumble of the river, as it falls over numerous small falls and cascades formed by travertine barriers ends, and the Slapnica River begins to quietly meander through the wide valleys embanked by forests. The Draganov mlin (mill) on the left hand side of the road completes this idyllic picture in the wide section of the canyon. Continue riding another 1 km along the course of the Slapnica River. Following the sharp right turn, you will leave the canyon and continue climbing up the steep gravel road with unforgettable views over the canyon. The entire length you have covered in the Slapnica Canyon is 10 km. Before you now is a constant and difficult climb along the poor gravel road through the forest. At the intersection, follow the bicycle trails of the Žumberak – Samobor Mountains Nature Park which lead towards the Budinjak Eco Centre. From the end of the Slapnica Canyon, the total climb to Jelenići is 7.5 km. 2 From Jelenići, there is another 3 km to the intersection and paved road in the village of Vidovići. 3 At the 23.6 km mark from the route starting point, you will be in the village of Vidovići. Turnoff A leads straight uphill and continues along the gravel road through the forest to Budinjak and the Nature Park Eco Centre, with its valuable archaeological sites, educational trail and the Chapel of St. Petronius (772 m), which offers a lovely view.

The blue bicycle route continues to the left at the intersection in Vidovići along the paved road through Mrzlo Polje to Gornja Vas. 4 Gornja Vas is one of the larger Žumberak villages, on the border of the City of Samobor and the municipality of Žumberak. It is situated in a prominent location with an excellent view over most of Žumberak, a portion of the Samobor Mountains and Pokuplje, and the whole of Gorski kotar with Mala and Velika Kapela and the cliff Klek above Ogulin. At the shop in Gornja Vas, the road to the left heads for Kalje, and it is possible to take the marking hiking trails down the steep trail to descend back into the Slapnica Canyon. From Gornja Vas, the paved road continues downhill towards Petričko Selo. In Petričko Selo, it is possible to turn right off the main road onto the gravel road 5 . Turnoff B is recommended only for those with stamina, and who wish to become better acquainted with the beauty of Žumberak. The turnoff from the route on the section Petričko Selo – Tomaševci – Kekić Draga offers beautiful views over the archaeological finds of Stari Grad Žumberački to the left of the road. As you continue, you will also pass by the Sopotski waterfall and the Jazovka Pit, and arrive at Sošice. The section from the turnoff Petričko Selo - Sošice is 9.5 km in length along a gravel road, while the section Sošice – Kostanjevac is 11.5 km along a paved road. This turnoff extends the route by 10 km, but it remains circular and ends in Kostanjevac.

If you decide not to turnoff the main road, continue riding straight along down the steep downhill section towards Kostanjevac. The steep descent contains several sharp turns, and therefore it is necessary to adjust your riding speed. You will pass through the villages of Hartje, Drašći Vrh and Željezno Žumberačko, all situated along the ridge and offering splendid views of the Žumberak region. At the 38.7 km mark of the route is turnoff C at point 6 . Turnoff C takes you to the valuable Church of St. Nicholas with the ruins of Novi Grad Žumberački. You can find rest and relaxation in the rural tourism home Podžumberak on the same road. The small road through the valley of the Kupčina River and the Vorbašica Creek is so lovely that the turnoff is well worthwhile. This turnoff extends the route by about 8 km. In Jurkovo Selo is the birth house of Petar Skok (1881-1956), Croatian linguist and Romanist. From here, you arrive at point 7 , where another 800 m along the main road to Kostanjevac will bring you back to the route starting point.

Technical description of the route

Turn left at Medvenova Draga off the main road Kostanjevac – Krašić towards the Slapnica River Canyon.
At the village of Jelenići is an intersection which is also the crossing point of the blue and red routes. The route continues straight alongside the houses on the right hand side of the road towards Budinjak.
At Vidovići, where the gravel road ends, the route heads left onto the pavement towards Mrzlo Polje and Gornja Vas. Turnoff A from the route in the village of Vidovići continues uphill along the gravel road all the way to the village Budinjak and the Eco Centre of the Nature Park.
Caution at the intersection, for you are now entering onto the main state road Samobor – Bregana – Stojdraga - Kostanjevac in the village of Gornja Vas. Continue straight on towards Petričko Selo.
At the intersection following Petričko Selo is turnoff B off the main road to the right onto a gravel road, which extends the blue route and take the roundabout route to Sošice.
Turnoff C to the right at Žamarije will take you off the main road near the Ribnjaci inn for Kupčina Žumberačka and Žumberak, follow the road signs.
Caution, you are approaching the main road Krašić – Kostanjevac – Sošice, continue left towards Kostanjevac another 700 m back to the route starting point.

Cultural-historical values along the route

Medven family manor with water-mill, Medvenova and Čunkova Draga. Engraved above the front door of the house is the year 1868. The home was constructed in the tradition fashion, with the ground floor in stone and the upper floor in wood.
Slapnica Canyon – a protected landscape. The 10 km long valley stretches from the foothills of the main Žumberak ridge under Gornja Vas to Medven Draga, where the Slapnica River drains into the Kupčina River. The Vranjački waterfall and Brisalo waterfall, Vranjačka Cave (Zidane caves) give this canyon a special ambient and the Draganov mill is the only inhabited house in Slapnica Canyon. Travertines are formed along the entire length of the Slapnica River, especially at the cascades.
Vranjački waterfall, Slapnica Canyon– less known and therefore less visited. The waterfall is just above the Vranjačka Cave, and is rich in water only in the wetter times of the year and following a large rainfall. The path to the waterfall leads from the gravel road through the canyon and forests to the creek, and ends under the vertical cliff over which the magnificent waterfall drops.
Brisalo waterfall, Slapnica Canyon – this waterfall falls fifteen metres over a travertine cliff. A special atmosphere is created by the lake below the falls, in the shape of a large amphitheatre, wet rocks overgrown with algae, mosses and ferns, as well as many hydrophilic plant species. The falls are approached over a small wooden bridge, and the trail continues along the creek, following the hiking trail markers. The trail leads right to the falls. Above the falls, the trail continues on towards the village of Pećno, which together with a few other similar villages, comprise the precious ethnographic entity of the idyllic old Žumberak.
Budinjak archeological site – at Budinjačko polje there is a large necropolis consisting of grave mounds with ruins of a city-fortress just above the graveyard. A total of 141 grave mounds have been discovered. Current research methods have estimated the age of certain necropolii to be from the period between the 9th and 6th centuries B.C.
Chapel of St. Petronius, Budinjak – erected in 1827 in the classical style. Situated above the settlement.
Church of St. Peter and Paul, Mrzlo Polje – recent archaeological studies on the plateau under the parish church have revealed the foundations of a Romantic church. The new church was erected in 1666, expanded and adapted and completely restored in 1907. Preserved of the old church are a section of the sanctuary and an iconostas dating back to the period of restoration in 1907 and bearing art nouveau paintings and motif architecture.
Roman necropolis at Gornja Vas – situated on a plateau just under the settlement at an altitude of about 600 m. Archaeological digs have studied 54 graves which were pyres. It is thought that the Roman settlement at Gornja Vas arose due to the wealth of ores in the area, and functioned in the second half of the 1st century and early 2nd century AD.
Church of St. Michael, Kalje – medieval structure. The small semi-circular window in the sanctuary may be of Romantic origin. The Church received its Baroque appearance in 1672, and was renovated and consecrated in 1821, following the establishment of the parish in 1789.
Stari Grad Žumberački, near Kekić Draga – situated at the top of a conical hill east of the village of Kekić Draga. It was mentioned back in the 9th century, and in the 12th century was under possession by the Sichelberg nobles, from whom it received its name, and later the name likely spread over the entire region. In the 14th century, it was owned by the Habsburg dukes. It changed hands several time, until the invasion of the Turks and the inhabitation by the deserters, at which time the city was abandoned and Novi Žumberački Grad built. Next to the city walls are the restored defensive tower and the Chapel of the Holy Cross.
Church of St. Peter and Paul, Sošice – erected from 1750-1775. Situated right next to the church is the Roman Catholic Chapel of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the 17th century, which was renovated in the 19th century.
Ethno collection of the Žumberak region, Convent of the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great, Sošice 11, tel: 01 6297 559 – Greek Orthodox convent built in 1939. The sisters in particular nurture the traditions of the Žumberak region and maintain this valuable ethnographic collection.
Jazovka Pit, Sošice-Sopote – located 1 km east of Sošice, in the forest to the left above the road. The pit entrance is a 5 minute walk from the road along the path, along which are also the Stations of the Cross, where a prayer gathering is held every 22 June. After World War II, the bodies of the brutally killed wounded and ill Croatian soldiers taken from Zagreb hospitals were thrown here.
Sopotski waterfall, Sopote - situated 3 km northeast of the village Sošice. This waterfall developed thanks to the thin limestone layer present in the geology of the Žumberak mountains. It is separated into three sections, with a total fall of 40 metres. At the base of the waterfall is an old watermill, which contributes to the romantic ambient. Climb up to the top of the waterfall along the steep path, which leads further towards the mountain hut at Vodice (830 m).
Novi Grad Žumberački, Church of St. Nicholas and the Žumberak pil (pillar), Žumberak – erected in defence of the Turkish attacks, and was also the seat of the deserter captains. In the 18th century, the town was ravaged by a fire and since then, all that has remained are the ruins, today mostly covered in soil. The complex is situated outside of the settlement of Žumberak in the valley between two hills. Together with Church of St. Nicholas (current church built in 1654), the parish court and the Baroque pillar of shame from the 17th century, this forms a remarkable entity.

Smještaj, ugostiteljska ponuda, sport, rekreacija i servisne informacije

Žumberak – Samobor Mountains Nature Park, Info Centre in the Medven manor, Medvenova Draga 13, also Slani Dol Eco Centre, Slani Dol 1, tel: + 385 1 3327 660, 3327 661 and Budinjak Eco Centre, Budinjak 7, tel. + 385 1 3385 740, ppzsg@ppzsg.org; www.ppzsg.org
Vodice Mountain Hut, near Sošice, accommodation, HPD Dubovac, Karlovac, tel: + 385 1 1 3362 725
Medven family water-mill on the Kupčina River, Čunkova Draga 19, accommodation,
tel. + 385 1 6270 665, 6270 347
Bistro Mateo, Kostanjevac 5, Žumberak, tel: + 385 1 6271 282, 6297 081
Deško commercial fishpond-grill, Kostanjevac 32a, Žumberak, tel: + 385 1 6272 060
Ribnjaci Inn, Žamarija 1, Žumberak, tel: + 385 1 6272 033
Podžumberak rural tourism home, Klanfar family, tel: + 385 1 6271 254
Tena Pub and Grill, Tupčina 2, tel: + 385 1 6297 038, 098 41 55 49
Oštrc restaurant, Stanišić family, Tupčina bb (Oštrc), tel: + 385 1 6297 099, 091 6297 099
Radić Ilas Inn, Sošice 15, Sošice, accommodation, tel: + 385 1 6297 518, 098 1631 080
Žumberak Inn, Sošice 17, Sošice, accommodation, tel: + 385 1 6297 537, 098 885 219
In Cafe and Shop, Jezerine 13, Jezerine, tel: + 385 1 6270 221

Author: Lidija Mišćin
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