Municipality of Jasenice: Majstorska Road, Churches and Karst

The Municipality of Jasenice brings historic roads, churches and the Velebit landscape into focus. The connection between Majstorska Road and the Church of St. Francis, built in its memory, is particularly striking. The area also features distinctive karst formations and opportunities for hiking, cycling and water sports.

Majstorska Road and its history

Majstorska Road was officially opened on 4 October 1832. A 24-kilometre section runs through the Municipality of Jasenice; the historic road is 41 kilometres long in total. The two figures distinguish the section within the municipality from the entire route. The road can also be understood through its endpoints: it connects Sv. Rok in Lika with Obrovac in Dalmatia.

A building also commemorates the road’s construction. In 1832, Emperor Francis I had the Church of St. Francis built in memory of the newly constructed road, which connected southern and northern Croatia across the karst Velebit Mountains. In Podprag, the church stands on the slopes of Velebit below Tulove grede. The road’s history can therefore be encountered not only as a link between Lika and Dalmatia, but also in a building with a specific connection to its creation.

Churches and historic traces

The Church of St. Jerome stands in Jasenice. It was built in 1874 on the site of the former parish church of the Holy Trinity. Its history also includes a later phase: after the end of the Croatian War of Independence, it was gradually restored following the return of the population to the area of the Municipality of Jasenice. The building’s history and its restoration thus belong to different historical periods at this site.

The Church of St. George stands right on the coast in Rovanjska. It is classified as a protected Category 0 monument and as cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia. Its seaside location gives a visit to this church a different local context from the church in Jasenice and the church in Podprag on Velebit. Those interested in cultural heritage can therefore make buildings with their own distinct settings and histories the focus of their trip.

Velebit, karst and outdoor activities

Part of the Velebit Mountains lies within the Municipality of Jasenice and is protected for its exceptional natural values and biodiversity. Tulove grede is considered an unusual karst feature in Velebit Nature Park. The rocky ridge, about one kilometre long, is made of limestone and has particularly steep rock spurs. These specific formations give a more detailed picture of the landscape than a general view of the mountains.

For hikes, Modrič is the starting point for Sveto brdo. Modrič is the westernmost part of the municipality; at 1,752 metres, Sveto brdo is the second-highest peak in Velebit. Cycling offers different highlights: rides along Majstorska Road and the ascent to Tulove grede are among the cycling experiences. This gives you a choice of activities for your trip—a hike with a named peak as its destination, or cycling experiences connected with the historic road or the karst ridge.

Cave and water sports

Modrič Cave is about 800 metres long. It has no concrete paths or spotlights, and there are no large tour groups. Suitable equipment and a knowledgeable guide are required to explore it. These requirements are part of planning a visit to the cave. The municipality’s water sports offerings also include jet skiing. Activities on the water thus complement hiking, cycling and cave exploration, even though they need not share the same character.

Getting there and choosing a hotel

The municipality is very close to both the Zagreb–Split motorway and Zadar Airport. Each is a separate point of reference for planning your trip. If you are looking for a hotel in the Municipality of Jasenice, first consider whether your stay will focus more on the history of the road and churches, hiking in Velebit, or activities such as cycling, cave exploration and water sports.

A culinary project connection

A gastronomic project is also among the local themes: as part of the activities of “U zagrljaju mora” in 2023, a selection based on fishery products was intended to be made available to the local population, the wider community and tourists.

Discover more destinations: Rovanjska, Jasenice, Municipality of Zadar, Municipality of Škabrnja, Municipality of Zemunik Donji, Municipality of Novigrad, Municipality of Obrovac, Municipality of Biograd na Moru.

Go to the regional travel overview: Zadar County.