Luka Krmpotska: Hiking Trails and Glass Chapel

Luka Krmpotska combines hiking trails with mountain scenery and architecture. Several different features are central to planning a trip: a loop trail, two mountain paths toward Medviđak, a viewpoint, and the Glass Chapel. This lets you explore the area in terms of route, landscape, and architectural heritage.

Mountain trails in different forms

The Nebeski labirinti is a loop route: from Luka Krmpotska, the route passes through Omar, by a stone cistern and the labyrinths, and on to Vela Sviba before returning to Luka. Returning to the starting point distinguishes this route from the mountain paths toward Medviđak. At the same time, the named stops along the loop bring together different features: a place name, a cistern, and the labyrinths.

The Green Trail begins in Luka Krmpotska, next to a hunting lodge at an elevation of 750 meters, and ends at Medviđak at 1,027 meters. It is 45 kilometers long and passes through Rujnik, Sitovnik, Zagradski vrh, and Kanculova glava on the way toward Medviđak. Its length and the named peaks make this route different in scale from the loop that returns to Luka.

The Heavenly Trail also begins in Luka Krmpotska and runs over the highest peaks in the area toward Medviđak. The Green Trail and Heavenly Trail therefore share a starting point and direction, but differ in the route features described: four peaks are named for the Green Trail, while the Heavenly Trail is characterized by its course over the highest peaks. You can thus consider the trails according to their respective routes without confusing them with the return loop of the Nebeski labirinti.

Mountain meadows and views

The opening section of the Green Trail runs across mountain meadows and offers views of the sea, the islands of the Kvarner Gulf, and Velebit. This landscape shapes the start of the route. The Sviba viewpoint offers a different perspective: it lies in mountain meadows below the grassy slopes of Mala and Velika Sviba.

From the Sviba viewpoint, the panorama includes the mountainous hinterland, inland villages, the Kvarner Gulf, Velebit, and Učka. The viewpoint is located along a road near the village of Luka Krmpotska. By contrast, the views of the sea, islands, and Velebit on the Green Trail are specifically associated with its opening section; the Sviba viewpoint additionally takes in the hinterland and Učka.

Glass Chapel: architecture and tradition

The Glass Chapel (Staklena kapelica) is in Omar, right next to the hunting lodge at the start of the Green Trail. It consists entirely of a metal frame, glass façades, and a glass roof. Its design also includes Art Nouveau features. The chapel thus provides a distinctive architectural accent alongside the hiking trails and mountain panorama.

According to local tradition, Petar Krpan, known as Samac, commissioned the chapel in the early 20th century. It is considered a rare monument of religious and architectural heritage. Its traditional origin story and distinctive materials give the chapel two different cultural points of reference: its attribution to a particular person and its visible architectural form.

Cycling route through Luka Krmpotska

At kilometer 11, the Bater–Krasno Polje cycling route passes through Luka Krmpotska. This adds a named cycling route as a distinct travel reference alongside the walking trails. If you compare destinations by hiking and cycling routes, you can consider this route alongside the mountain paths and the loop trail.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Donji Zagon, Ledenice, Klenovica, Smokvica Krmpotska, Gornji Zagon, Bribir, Povile, Novi Vinodolski.

For the overview of the wider area: Općina Novi Vinodolski.