Discover Budak: Budački Bridge and St. Mark’s Church

Budak can be understood through two historical themes and a connection to nature: Budački Bridge over the Lika River, St. Mark’s Church, and a hiking route in the wider area of Velebit Nature Park. The bridge and church are in Budak; the hike is located in the larger park area. This distinction helps keep local history and hiking plans separate. You’ll find a local historical focus as well as a distinct landscape to consider for your trip.

Budački Bridge: the history of a river crossing

Budački Bridge crosses the Lika River in Budak and was historically one of the important river crossings in the Lika region. The earliest known references to the site appear on military maps from the 18th century. A substantial stone bridge was built in the mid-19th century; its original foundations have been preserved. The map reference concerns the crossing site, while the construction date refers to the later stone bridge. For more than 80 years, the bridge served the residents of Gospić. This long period of use places the crossing, beyond Budak itself, within the regional history of the Lika.

St. Mark’s Church and local history

St. Mark’s Church was built and furnished through contributions from local residents and donors. Its landscaped park offers views of Velebit and the Lika Canyon. The church was blessed on April 25. Support for the building and its furnishings gives the church a strong community connection, while the park provides a scenic focal point.

A parish report published in 2017 describes a celebration of St. Mark’s Day in Budak, with Mass and a large turnout. This was followed by a traditional family gathering with a light meal. Religious worship and family get-together were part of the same occasion.

Nearby, at Stari Budak in Mušaluk, are the remains of a tower locally known as Bešića kula. They have been linked to the possible medieval town of Budak. This attribution remains a possibility and is not a confirmed identification. Different historical periods therefore sit side by side: the known references to the site of Budački Bridge date back to the 18th century, while the tower is tentatively associated with a possible medieval town.

Hiking route in the wider Velebit region

The Budakovo brdo–Bačić kuk hiking route runs through the wider area of Velebit Nature Park. It is 4.5 kilometres long, rated moderate, and has 240 metres of elevation gain. The route crosses mountain meadows and offers views toward the sea, Bačić kuk, and Dabarski kukovi. Distance, elevation gain, and difficulty rating each provide different information for your planning: the number of kilometres describes the distance, the elevation gain adds information about the climb, and the rating summarizes the level of difficulty. Unlike the park by the church, the viewpoints mentioned here look toward the sea and mountains; at the church, views are of Velebit and the Lika Canyon.

A 2021 project report mentions ten newly installed exercise stations along the Ćukinov put–Budački most educational trail project. If you plan to use these stations, check in advance on their current condition.

Discover more destinations: Brušane, Bužim, Mogorić, Gospić, Smiljan, Donje Pazariste, Klanac, Trnovac

For the broader travel overview: Općina Gospić.