Municipality of Rakovica: Caves, Trails and Cultural Heritage

The Municipality of Rakovica is shaped by the protected karst landscape of the Barać Caves. The area covers 5.19 km² within the municipality; distinctive karst geomorphological features, as well as preserved caves, shafts and ponors, give it its character. The immediate proximity to Plitvice Lakes National Park is also part of the geographical context for a stay in Rakovica.

Karst landscape and circular trails

The Barać Caves area is under preventive protection as an archaeological zone. Trails near the caves pass through extensive stands of mixed deciduous forest and, in places, dry and semi-dry grasslands. These areas provide habitats for numerous rare and endangered plant and animal species. As you follow the trails, you will encounter both the formations of the karst landscape and a variety of vegetation.

Three circular hiking trails begin and end at the Barać Caves picnic area. Having a shared starting and ending point makes it easier to plan a hike in this area: you can choose a loop without having to account for a different endpoint. The trails and cave landscape thus offer a distinct focus for spending time outdoors.

Barać Caves and Ice Age finds

The Upper Barać Cave can only be visited with a guide. Animal remains from the Pleistocene have been found in the cave, making it a particularly significant palaeontological site. Speleon presents Ice Age finds in a different way: fossils from the Upper Barać Cave are displayed there alongside hyperrealistic animal replicas. The site and the exhibition offer different insights into the same natural history theme.

The Ice Age Trail is also part of this theme. It is planned to include ten interpretation points: interactive puzzles, structures featuring animal tracks, screens with sound effects, and information panels about Ice Age animals.

Drežnik, views and culture

The Old Town of Drežnik is considered the most important archaeological and architectural site in the Municipality of Rakovica, owing to its rich history and preserved architectural features. The clearing by the old town is part of numerous cycling, hiking and horse-riding trails, and offers panoramic views of the Korana River and the surrounding landscape. As of 2025, the inside of the tower could not be visited. If the tower is important to you, check its current accessibility before visiting.

The KUD Izvor cultural and folklore ensemble was founded in 1978 to nurture the traditional songs and dances of Rakovica and the wider area, and to preserve the region’s folklore values. The ensemble performs regularly, promotes the folk customs of the Rakovica region, and also gives performances for tourists. Music and dance are therefore distinct cultural themes of the area, alongside its architectural and landscape heritage.

Cycling and horse-riding tours, and getting around

Cycling route 34 starts in the centre of Rakovica and heads towards Jelov Klanac. Check current route conditions before setting out on a cycling trip. For horse rides, the Rakovica riding club can arrange leisure or sport tours to suit guests’ preferences, provided they are contacted by phone a few days in advance. These tours therefore require advance planning.

If you are coming from the direction of Zagreb, turn off in the centre of Rakovica and follow the signs to the Barać Caves via Grabovac. After about seven kilometres, you will reach the caves’ car park. When looking for a hotel in the Municipality of Rakovica, your planned itinerary is a good starting point: first decide which visits will shape your trip, then compare the locations of the hotels you are considering with your own destinations.

Discover more destinations: Grabovac, Drežnik Grad, Rakovica, Irinovac, Drage, Oštarski Stanovi, Korana, Čatrnja, Selište Drežničko, Korita, Broćanac.

For the broader travel overview: Karlovac County.