Lika-Senj: Discover Velebit, caves and culture

Velebit is Croatia’s largest mountain range, about 145 kilometres long and 30 kilometres wide. Plitvice Lakes National Park offers seven routes for exploring the lake system and four hiking trails. It is Croatia’s largest national park and covers nearly 30,000 hectares. Hiking options on Velebit include the 57-kilometre Premužić Trail and the three-kilometre section of the Theresiana educational trail.

In the northern and central Velebit, the Premužić Trail connects the peaks from Zavižan to Baške Oštarije. As trail conditions can change seasonally, take them into account when planning your hike. In Northern Velebit National Park, two trails lead to Veliki Zavižan, the park’s highest peak at 1,676 metres.

The Velebit Botanical Garden offers a different scale of experience: it is a 15-minute walk from Zavižan Mountain Hut and has a 600-metre circular stone path. The Theresiana educational trail includes a three-kilometre section of the old Austro-Hungarian Teresiana Road, which connects Gospić with the port of Karlobag. Along the way, you can enjoy views of the rocky Oštarije Plateau, as well as the Adriatic Sea and the islands of the Zadar and Kvarner archipelagos.

Caves are another of the region’s natural attractions. Samograd Cave is the largest and most attractive cave in Grabovača Cave Park, a geomorphological natural monument and one of Croatia’s oldest show caves. Grabovača is presented as Europe’s only cave park. At the Velebit House visitor centre in Krasno, you can find information about Northern Velebit National Park. The centre offers information about the climate, species, habitats, cultural heritage, geology and underground of northern Velebit; a special experience is access to caves by a dedicated lift. If you plan to visit the centre, check its current opening hours.

From Jablanac, a 30-minute trail follows the coast to Zavratnica. Trail conditions can change, so it is worth checking the latest information before your hike. To reach Majerovo vrilo, the source of the Gacka, follow the route from motorway exit 10 near Otočac along the road towards Vrhovine, Korenica and Plitvice, then take the turn-off to Sinac. When planning this route, too, take possible changes in road conditions into account.

For a cultural stop in Smiljan, the “Nikola Tesla” Memorial Centre offers a glimpse into Tesla’s life and the village with which he was closely connected and where he was born. The centre opened on 10 July 2006. It includes Tesla’s restored birth house, a new museum exhibition, the surrounding grounds, outdoor monuments and newly built facilities. In Senj, Nehaj Fortress was built in 1558, when the city was resisting numerous attacks by the Turks and Venice.

Today, only a few of the approximately sixty mills that operated along the Gacka and its tributaries in the 20th century remain at the Gacka’s sources. They preserve the memory of an old craft that has died out. At the Kuterevo Bear Sanctuary, orphaned bears are protected, while visitors learn about wildlife and the bears’ habitat.

Every year from 13 to 16 July, Kuterevo holds a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. If your trip falls within this period, you can take the tradition into account when planning; specific arrangements may change. For food lovers, the Lika-Senj County Cheese Route leads to large and small dairies, as well as several dozen family businesses that produce cheese and dairy products in the county. Participating businesses and current listings may change, so check the route information in advance.

Discover more destinations: Municipality of Karlobag, Municipality of Senj, Municipality of Gospić, Municipality of Otočac, Municipality of Plitvička Jezera, Municipality of Brinje, Municipality of Rakovica, Municipality of Donji Lapac, Municipality of Lovinac, Municipality of Perušić and Municipality of Udbina.

How many routes does Plitvice Lakes National Park offer?

There are seven different routes for exploring the lake system; the national park also offers four hiking trails. Check the park’s latest information before you travel.

What does Velebit House cover?

The visitor and information centre for Northern Velebit National Park covers topics including the climate, species, habitats, cultural heritage, geology and underground of northern Velebit. Special experiences include access to caves by a dedicated lift.

How long is the Premužić Trail?

The trail is 57 kilometres long and connects the peaks of the northern and central Velebit from Zavižan to Baške Oštarije. Trail conditions can vary seasonally.

When does the pilgrimage in Kuterevo take place?

It takes place every year from 13 to 16 July. Specific arrangements may change; check before your trip.

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