Velika Mlaka: St. Barbara’s Chapel and Cycling Route

The Chapel of St. Barbara makes Velika Mlaka a place of cultural and historical interest. Visitors can focus on the Baroque wooden architecture, the preserved interior paintings, and the buildings beside the chapel. A cycling loop in the Velika Gorica area is another option to consider when planning your trip.

The Baroque wooden chapel

The Chapel of St. Barbara is a Baroque wooden building. Written records date back to 1642; the porch was added in 1912. These dates refer to different aspects: 1642 marks the written records, while 1912 marks the addition of the porch. They should therefore not be read as a single construction date. Wood describes the building method, while Baroque refers to its stylistic classification—two different perspectives on the same building.

Around 150 painted surfaces have been preserved inside. They depict saints and floral patterns; there is also a rare depiction of Saint Wilgefortis. This offers a specific focus for visitors interested in sacred art alongside the building’s history: the preserved paintings and their varied motifs. The approximate figure conveys the extent of the painting as part of the interior decoration, rather than directing the visit toward just one image.

Buildings beside the chapel

Beside the chapel are a carved wooden čardak, used as a rectory, and a small wooden grain-storage chamber that has survived from the former church estate. They have different functions: the čardak is associated with the rectory, while the chamber is connected with the former storage of grain. This extends the visitor’s view beyond the sacred building to a church setting that includes both rectory use and storage. These distinct uses offer a practical point of reference if you are interested in the architectural surroundings.

The chapel on a cycling loop

A cycling loop in the Velika Gorica area includes the chapel as part of a circular route of about 16 kilometres. The full loop takes approximately three hours. This time estimate applies to the entire loop, not just a visit to the chapel. So, if you are planning the cycling part of your stay, allow for the time needed to complete the whole loop and treat the stop at the chapel as part of the tour. Route conditions and markings may change; check both before setting out.

Visiting and planning

The chapel can be visited by prior arrangement. Arrange your visit before travelling and reconfirm the arrangements before your visit. Even if the chapel is part of the cycling loop, the tour does not replace the need to arrange your visit in advance. This allows you to plan the chapel visit and the time needed for the ride separately: the visit depends on the arrangement, while the cycling tour takes approximately as long as the full loop.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gudci, Velika Buna, Velika Gorica, Markuševec Turopoljski, Kozjača, Mičevec.

Back to the main travel overview: Općina Velika Gorica.