Municipality of Lovinac - Church of Saint Michael
The Church of St. Michael was built in the Baroque style with a high bell tower. Inside church there are three altars, an organ, a frescoed ceiling, a confessional, a baptistery, and a pulpit. There is a tomb in the stone floor in the loggia of the church. People consider it was the resting place of the priest Zduna, but there is no solid evidence to confirm this. On the left side of the entrance, there is a stone Roman urn brought by locals from a nearby Roman cemetery and used as a sprinkler.
The Church of St. Michael was first destroyed during the Croatia War of Independence on 24th September 1991. The reconstruction of the church began in 1998 and was completed in 1999, when it was blessed on September 29, on the day of St. Michael (popular name: Miolja), by Dr. Antun Tamarut, Archbishop of Rijeka and Senj.
Lovinac - Croatia/ Lika-Senj county
Tourist experience: The Church of St. Michael is an interesting attraction for all tourists who prefer cultural and religious tourism. The recommendation is to visit the church on 29th September, when a big village celebration happens.
Experience duration: 1 day
Less than 20 min by walk from the nearest accommodation, car parking or bus station
Accessibility: Accessible to anyone
Tourist contact: Facebook page Parish of St. Michael
Cultural material heritage: Church
Hidden intangible patrimony: Building practices
Form filler: Tamara Božić Smojver
Municipality of Lovinac - Church of Saint Roch
The parish of St. Roch was founded in 1790. Saint Roch is the protector of the village Sveti Rok that is named after the saint. In honour and glory of St. Roch, every year on 16thAugust, a great ceremony is held (popularly called: Rokovo)
The church of St. Roch was built in 1763 in the place of a former medieval church with donations from the eminent citizens of the village Sveti Rok, and was additionally arranged in 1824 by baron and general Josip Vrkljan. It was completely destroyed during the Croatian War of Independence and it was renovated in 1999, when it was blessed on 16th August by Mile Bogović, then auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Rijeka-Senj, and later bishop of the Diocese of Gospić-Senj.
Sveti Rok - Croatia/ Lika-Senj county
Tourist experience: Religious and cultural tourism.
The church itself is interesting to see, but there is also a fascinating sign at the entrance to the graveyard saying: ‘Vi smo bili, mi ćete biti’ (We were you, you will be us). Moreover, there is a statue of Anera next to the church, representing the traditional woman from the area and name after the character of Mile Budak’s novel.
The recommendation is to visit the village and the church on 16th August, when a big village celebration happens.
Experience duration: 1 day
Less than 20 min by walk from the nearest accommodation, car parking or bus station
Accessibility: Accessible to anyone
Tourist contact: Josip Vrkljan
Cultural material heritage: Church
Hidden intangible patrimony: Building practices
Form filler: Tamara Božić Smojver