Municipality of Saborsko: Karst, churches and local history

One quarter of the Municipality of Saborsko lies within the boundaries of Plitvice Lakes National Park. Protected landscapes and karst waters shape the destination, along with churches, local history and traditional crafts. Those who want to combine natural features with cultural history will find a range of themes here to help plan their trip.

Karst waters and protected landscapes

The Čorkova Uvala Special Reserve is located within the municipality and is protected. Visitors may walk along the edge of the reserve from Kuselj to the forest lodge and onward towards Plitvice. The primeval forest itself is off-limits, except to scientists studying its features. Check the park’s latest visitor information before your visit. The Lugarnica forest lodge in Čorkova Uvala was built in 1955 for the forestry service of Plitvice Lakes National Park and has been under provisional protection as Croatian cultural heritage since 2010.

In Lička Jesenica, the protected landscape includes Veliko Vrelo and Malo Vrelo, as well as the entire watercourse with its ponors. There is a cave at the Malo Vrelo spring; above it is a rock bearing a face of Christ that recalls the face of Jesus Christ on the Shroud of Turin. Lake Blata also displays a distinctive feature of the karst landscape: it is a periodically appearing and disappearing estavelle. Whether water is present depends on the dry or wet season.

Churches and historical traces

The present-day Church of St John of Nepomuk in Saborsko was built between 2001 and 2003, after the previous church had been destroyed. Its design evokes old churches in the Krbava region and mountain houses. The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Saborsko has a different building history: it was built in 1726 on the ruins of a larger church dating from the pre-Ottoman period and is described as a protected monument of category zero. In Lička Jesenica, the Orthodox Church of St Elijah was built in 1751.

St Elijah is the patron saint of Saborsko; his feast is traditionally celebrated there every year on 2 August. Other historical landmarks include a stone bridge in Lička Jesenica and the Funtana in Saborsko. The bridge was built in 1876 and has been preserved in its original form. Funtana was Saborsko’s first water supply system and was built in 1883.

Remembrance and traditional crafts

A Way of the Cross leads from the mass grave to the summit of Alan. It was built in honour of the residents of Saborsko who fell in the wars. Craftsmanship is also part of the local culture: the Etno šindra workshop makes traditional wooden shingles and is associated with Saborsko’s intangible cultural heritage. These themes complement the area’s architectural and natural history with forms of remembrance and inherited work.

Hiking and cycling

The Izvor-Voda hiking trail is well marked and has a GPS track. Check current trail conditions before setting out. For cyclists, cycling tourism route 34 provides a specific route reference: it ends in Biljevina in the Municipality of Saborsko, after 15.6 kilometres and 410 metres of elevation gain. The Jesenica River is also a local activity option. It is rich in brown trout and is associated with fishing.

Local products

Along the “Green Road”, which leads from Josipdol and Plaški to Saborsko, you can find cheese, honey, honey cakes, rakija, herbal drinks and other local products. The selection offers a culinary connection to the area, alongside its springs, historic buildings and protected landscapes.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Saborsko, Municipality of Ribnik, Municipality of Karlovac, Municipality of Ogulin, Municipality of Žakanje, Municipality of Tounj, Municipality of Bosiljevo, Municipality of Cetingrad.

For the regional travel overview: Karlovac County.