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Municipality of Lovinac - Rivers
There are numerous rivers in the Lovinac area where you can go for fishing and swimming.
The Ričica is a small river with beautiful natural surroundings that is one of the favourite spots for fishing.
The Opsenica is a local river that flows into Lake Sveti Rok.
On the Banica river, there are old mills and one can still see how flour is milled on this river.
The Suvaja is a local river with amazing surroundings that often gets dry, which is why it got its name (locals say "suvo", meaning "dry").
Lovinac - Croatia/ Lika-Senj County
Tourist experience: The Lovinac area is rich with water, including water springs, creeks and rivers.
On the rivers in Lovinac you can go fishing, some parts are suitable for swimming, but most important you can enjoy silence and beautiful nature.
Experience duration: 1 day
Opening: Accessible non-stop
Less than 20 min by walk from the nearest accommodation, car parking or bus station
Accessibility: Accessible to everyone
Tourist contact: Siniša Radulović Lovinac Tourism Forum
Natural heritage: Rivers, Flora, Fauna
Hidden tangible patrimony: Landscapes, Water streams
Experiences: Fishing, Swimming
Form filler: Tamara Božić Smojver
Municipality of Lovinac - Village Smokrić
Smokrić is a beautiful village in Lovinac with an old well and an old bridge across the river Suvaja. Both, the old well and the stone bridge are included in the list of cultural heritage of the zero category. Village Smokrić has only 23 citizens according to list of population from 2011.
Smokrić Lovinac - Croatia/ Lika-Senj County
Tourist experience: In the village Smokrić one can enjoy walking through nature or cycling on one of several traced bike trails along several hiking trekking routes. There is a bike trail Lovinac - Smokrić which starts at the old mill and leads to Vraničko polje following the course of the river Suvaja.
Experience duration: 1 day
Opening: Accessible non-stop
Less than 20 min by walk from the nearest accommodation, car parking or bus station
Accessibility: Accessible to everyone
Tourist contact: Siniša Radulović Lovinac Tourism Forum
Cultural material heritage: Stone bridge, Old well
Cultural immaterial heritage: Local traditions or legend
Natural heritage: Naturalistic itineraries, Hills, Rivers, cycling trails
Hidden tangible patrimony: Landscapes, Water streams, Pathways
Hidden intangible patrimony: Building practices
Form filler: Tamara Božić Smojver
Municipality of Perušić - Tsar Fir
This tree is known by the locals as "Jela Car" meaning Tsar or Emperor Fir, which is a name it got because it is gigantic. It is the largest known fir tree on Velebit and in Croatia, and one of the largest in Europe. Its height is around 42,5 meters, it has a diameter of around 5,40m and with estimated volume exceeding 60 cubic meters. It is located nearby Kosinjski Bakovac in Begovača Forest.
Begovača Forest Municipality of Perušić, Kosinjski Bakovac - Croatia/ Lika-Senj County
Tourist experience: Adventure tourism, active tourism. Visitors can see the biggest fir tree in Croatia and go hiking in nature. Around 5 km from Kosinjski Bakovac, the access point is located, after which one needs to hike for 2 km through the forest until reaching Tsar Fir.
Spoken languages: English, Croatian
Opening: Accessible any time
60-120 min by walk from the nearest accommodation, car parking or bus station
Accessibility: Not for people with mobility problems
Tourist contact: Perušić Tourist Board
Natural heritage: Naturalistic itineraries, Flora
Hidden tangible patrimony: Landscapes
Experiences: Cycling, hiking, trekking, adventure motor, jeep safari, rafting, walking, exploring
Form filler: Anita Ladišić
Sveto brdo
Sveto brdo (Holly hill) is 1751 m high and it is on the second place of the highest peaks on Velebit, just behind Vaganski vrh (1757 m). People believed that during storms up there Divine and Evil forces were fighting. That is how Sveto brdo got its name. It is probably the most recognizable peak of Velebit. Its high, detached pyramid, visible from several hundred kilometers, is located at the southeastern end of the 10 km long group Vaganski Vrh - Sveto brdo. On the top of the hill, there is a wooden cross, 4 meters high, with the 10 Commandments of God. During the Croatian War of Independence, the locals had to cross Sveto brdo (in 1991) to run away from the war. Once a year, a memorial hike is organised as remembrance called “Tragom zbjega lovinačkog kraja”.
Lovinac - Croatia/ Lika-Senj county
Tourist experience: All those who prefer active tourism should climb Sveto brdo. There is nothing technically demanding on any of the routes leading to Sveto brdo. On the other hand, all climbs are long with a huge height difference, which is why the hikers need to be physically fit. The easiest access is through Velika Paklenica, and the most difficult is through Mala Paklenica, which lasts for 9 hours. All routes offer a completely different landscape. Sveto brdo offers a first-class view, the best on Velebit and can be called the king of panorama.
Spoken languages: English, Croatian
Experience duration: From Mala Paklenica – 9 hours
Circular path from Malo Libinje – 5,5 hours
Opening: Always available
Less than 20 min by walk from the nearest accommodation, car parking or bus station
Accessibility: Not for people with mobility problems
Tourist contact: National Park Paklenica
Cultural material heritage: 4 m high wooden cross, remains of the ruins of the chapel of St. John
Cultural immaterial heritage: Local traditions or legend
Natural heritage: Mountains, Hills, Flora
Form filler: Tamara Božić Smojver
The Lika River
The Lika is a subterranean river that is also the longest river in the region called Lika. Its spring is next to Mountain Velebit at around 600 m above sea level. Stretching along the karst area of the Lika Valley, it is one of Gospić’s three rivers, it continues flowing down the territory of the Municipality of Perušić, entering the artificial Lake Kruščica and disappearing human eyes in many abysses in Lipovo Polje.
Kaluđerovac Gospić, Perušić - Croatia/ Lika-Senj County
Tourist experience: Many who visit the Lika River describe it as magical and spectacular. They are most impressed with its stunning canyon, and surrounding landscape and wilderness, as well as many tales connected with this living witness of the turbulent history of this area. The visitors can go swimming, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, fishing etc., or just walking around the riverbank.
Spoken languages: English, Croatian
Experience duration: 1 day
Opening: Always available
Less than 20 min by walk from the nearest accommodation, car parking or bus station
Accessibility: Limited accessibility for people with mobility problems
Tourist contact: Perušić Tourist Board
Cultural immaterial heritage: Local traditions or legend
Natural heritage: Naturalistic itineraries, Lakes, Rivers, Flora, Fauna
Hidden tangible patrimony: Landscapes, Water streams
Form filler: Anita Ladišić
Tulove grede
Tulove grede (Rocks of Tula) are located in the Velebit Nature Park. They represent a rocky ridge of limestone rocks. They are about 1 km long, and the highest peak is 1120 m high. These rocks are a mystical place of the ancient Slavs. According to folklore, dragons laid their eggs there, and invisible Velebit fairies lived in the rocks. The legends mention another mythical creature in these rocks – the Black Queen, who brought misfortune. This mythical creature gave its name to the mountain pass - the Queen's Gate. It is interesting to mention that the film Winnetou was shot on Tulove grede. Some parts of this area are still mined.
unknown Jasenice - Croatia/Zadar county/Jasenice
Tourist experience: All those who crave for a mountaineering adventure, a long walk in the fresh air and fantastic view, should climb to the top of Tulove grede. They are the goal of hikers, cyclists, adventurers and all who have decided to explore the Velebit Nature Park. They don’t call them for no reason a phenomenon.
Climbing to the top of Tulove grede is not easy and requires some experience. There are several pegs and cables on the marked trail to help with the climb. For people with a lack of experience, without suitable footwear and those who are afraid of heights - it is not recommended to climb to the very top. The path to the foothill of Tulove grede is not technically demanding, so one can admire the beauty of the landscape from that location as well.
Spoken languages: English, Croatian
Experience duration: Approximately 1,5 hour to climb to the top of Tulove grede
Opening: Accessible non-stop
Less than 20 min by walk from the nearest accommodation, car parking or bus station
Accessibility: Not for people with mobility problems
Tourist contact: Nature Park Velebit
Cultural immaterial heritage: Local traditions or legend
Natural heritage: Mountains, Hills, Flora, Fauna
Hidden tangible patrimony: Landscapes
Experiences: Cycling through nature, Climbing
Form filler: Tamara Božić Smojver
Velebit
Being the longest mountain in Croatia, Velebit is also is the largest protected area in Croatia. In its length of 145 km, there are two national parks – Northern Velebit and Paklenica, whereas the entire mountain area is a Nature Park. Because of its biological diversity of flora and fauna, and being a habitat to many endemic species, Velebit is included in the network of international biosphere reserves of UNESCO.
unknown Gospić - Croatia/ Lika-Senj County
Tourist experience: Because of its extremely diverse and rich landscape, Velebit offers various opportunities for exploration – from hiking, walking, cycling and trekking, to exploring caves, bird watching or simply enjoying the amazing view on this giant. Due to its beauty and size, many folk tales and legends of Lika include its biggest mountain.
Vaganski vrh (1757 m) is the highest peak on Velebit, while the most famous trail for hikers is called Premužić trail.
Spoken languages: Italian, English, Croatian, Deutsche
Experience duration: From a few hours to a few days or even weeks.
Opening: Paklenica National Park – open all year
Northern Velebit National Park– open for visitors from May to November
Booking: No need, except for group guiding
Less than 20 min by walk from the nearest accommodation, car parking or bus station
Accessibility: Not for people with mobility problems
Tourist contact: Nature Park Velebit
Cultural immaterial heritage: Historical itinerary, Local traditions or legend
Natural heritage: Parks, Naturalistic itineraries, Mountains, Hills, Medical herbs, Caves, Flora, Fauna, cycling trails, Hiking trails, Speleological object
Hidden tangible patrimony: Landscapes, Pathways
Hidden intangible patrimony: Local customs, Community tales, Knowledge related to agriculture and wild herbs, Family tales
Experiences: Cycling through nature, Cycling, hiking, trekking, adventure motor, jeep safari, rafting, walking, exploring, Road trip, Cave exploration, Sledding, Climbing, Horse riding, Picnic, Sport activities
Form filler: Anita Ladišić