Medvednica Nature Park

Medvednica Nature Park covers almost 18,000 hectares, and is rich in forest, caves and other natural treasures, which is why it is one of the more popular excursion destinations in Croatia. As much as 81% of the park is covered by forest. The park's area includes both lowland and mountain regions, at altitudes between 120 and 1,035 metres. Sljeme is the highest point of Mount Medvednica, as well as of the park itself.

You can visit Medvednica Nature Park throughout the year, but you can of course choose the time of year depending on the activities you prefer.

You should bear in mind that the temperatures in the park also vary depending on location, and on whether you are in the lowland or the mountainous part of the park. Winters on the mountain are very cold with a high percentage of precipitation, while on the other hand summers are pleasant and cool. Because of this, Medvednica is a perfect excursion destination during the summer heat, for a weekend when you want to escape the city crowds and the unbearable heat.

Entering the park and walking in it is free. However, if you want to visit one of the three tourist attractions, there is a charge. There is a charge for visiting the medieval town of Medvedgrad, the Zrinski mine, and the Veternica cave. If you tour the aforementioned locations with a tourist guide, you will learn a lot about the place you are in.

What to see in Medvednica Nature Park?

The plant diversity of the park will enchant every nature lover. The park is home to as many as 1,205 plant species and subspecies. Medvednica Nature Park also has a protected part of forest – the coniferous shrub yew (Taxus baccata), which grows in shady and damp places. Besides plant species, the forests of Medvednica are also rich in animal species. There you can see (if you are lucky) animals such as mice, hares, dormice and voles, all the way up to some larger animals such as roe deer and wild boar. Among the mammals, a particularly interesting group is the as many as 24 different species of bats. Bats inhabit the caves, quarries and tree hollows found in the park. All bats are an endangered species throughout Croatia, and it is forbidden to disturb them.

If you have visited Medvednica Nature Park, you should certainly also go to the medieval town of Medvedgrad, which dates all the way back to 1254. This town is located on Mali Plazur – a peak in the southern part of Medvednica.

Amateur and professional speleologists will enjoy touring the Veternica cave. You can visit more than 7 kilometres of this cave's branching passages with the expert guidance of the park's staff.

Near the Grafičar mountain lodge is the Mining Garden and the Zrinski mine. In this mine, silver was once prospected for.

What to do when you visit Medvednica Nature Park?

Medvednica is rich in hiking trails. There are around 70 of them, criss-crossing the surface of the whole mountain. The trails are of various lengths, suited to recreational walkers and somewhat more serious hiking enthusiasts. Along the wooded slopes of Medvednica, it is possible to go mountain biking, and the park has as many as 8 trails designed specifically for cycling.

How to visit Medvednica?

It is interesting to mention that you can reach Medvednica by public transport. In fact, Medvednica is one of the few nature parks in Croatia that you can visit by public transport. You can reach Sljeme from Mihaljevac by bus line 140. There are also tram lines 14 and 15, which will take you to the cable car, which used to lead up to Sljeme. The cable car is currently not in operation, but there are plans to build a new and even more modern one.

Visitors can of course also arrive by private car.

Overnight stays in Medvednica Nature Park

If you intend to stay overnight and enjoy the park for more than one day, the Tomislavov Dom hotel is available to you. The hotel is located in a beautiful natural setting, at an altitude of 1,000 metres.

Towards the very top of Medvednica is the Snježna Kraljica (Snow Queen) apartment house. This snow house has 17 modernly equipped apartments, two saunas, and much more that is fitting for a place such as this.

You can also stay overnight at the Ivan Pačkovski Lodge – Puntijarka. The lodge is situated on the southern slope of Medvednica, below the very peak of Puntijarka, at an altitude of 927 metres. The Ivan Pačkovski Lodge has a capacity of 35 beds in multi-bed rooms, and is open all year round.

Where to eat well in Medvednica Nature Park?

If you have come to hike on Medvednica, you must certainly also try the well-known beans with sausages. This Sljeme speciality will cost you between 20 and 30 kuna, depending on where you order it. Beans are offered at the Tomislavov Dom, the Stara Lugarnica restaurant, and in almost all catering establishments right at the top of Medvednica. After you have eaten the beans, you must also try the sweet strudels or the Sljeme gibanica (layered pastry).
Medvednica Nature Park is located near the city of Zagreb. Medvednica is a mountain located between the River Sava and the small River Lonja, and the highest peak of Medvednica is Sljeme. The park's area covers 22,826 ha. It was declared a nature park in 1981. The park also contains the caves of Ponikve, Bizek and Veternica, as well as another 40 speleological sites. Besides its natural beauty, there are also many activities that the local population enjoys, and in the winter period the well-known ski cup „Snow Queen“.

Medvednica is covered by forests of beech, oak, fir, hornbeam, yew and lime. The park area contains 1,300 different plant species, of which 268 are protected. Plant diversity is a distinctive feature of Medvednica, in whose area there is not a single human settlement. The name Medvednica (from medvjed, "bear") is indicative, but wild animals such as bears, wolves, deer and otters have not been found here for a long time. In Medvednica, as many as 24 species of bats can be found, living in caves, abandoned mines and tree hollows.

Besides its plant and animal features, the park also contains old fortresses such as Medvedgrad, which was built in the 13th century and served to defend Kaptol and the surrounding area. Furthermore, there is Susedgrad, which was likewise built in the 13th century, and beneath whose walls the famous battle during the Peasants' Revolt took place.

Trails on Medvednica

On Medvednica, a large number of trails can be found, more than 70 of them, so it is no wonder that it is such a popular weekend excursion destination. Depending on age, gender and physical fitness, anyone who wants to enjoy the beauty of this mountain can find something for themselves.