What to See

≈ 20 min drive

Plitvice Lakes

Plitvice Lakes National Park is the oldest and largest national park in Croatia, known for its 16 cascading lakes that spill into spectacular waterfalls. Set in the heart of Croatia, the park is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its unique natural beauty and geological features. Visitors can enjoy walks along wooden boardwalks leading through lush forest, past crystal-clear lakes and waterfalls. The park offers many activities such as hiking, boat rides and photography, while its rich flora and fauna make it an ideal destination for nature lovers. Plitvice Lakes is open to visitors all year round, offering an unforgettable experience in every season.

≈ 37 km · 40 min drive

Barać's Cave

Karst regions are often considered inhospitable because of the lack of water, yet it is the underground that reveals their true beauty. The Upper Barać Cave, the only one open to tourists, lies in Karlovac County. Expert guides present rich archaeological and palaeontological finds, such as a bracelet from the 7th century BC and the remains of a cave bear and a cave lion. The tour lasts 45 minutes to an hour, at a constant temperature of 9 °C. Visitors have free parking, a playground, sports courts and a souvenir shop at their disposal. The caves are open every day, with the last tour half an hour before closing.

For nature lovers there are three walking trails: Vučja (1.2 km), Risja (3.1 km) and Medvjeđa (7.5 km), offering views of sinkholes, grikes, springs and pits. There are two theories about the caves' name: one says they were named after a local man called Barać, the other after the Hungarian word for friend.

right by the estate

The Jesenica River

The Jesenica river, also known as the Lička Jesenica, lies in Karlovac County and is a unique example of a karst sinking river in Croatia. It rises below Mala Kapela from two springs — Veliko vrelo at 540 metres above sea level and Malo vrelo at 480 metres. The river flows through idyllic country covered in conifer forest, creating a picturesque landscape suited to nature lovers and quiet moments in clean natural surroundings.

With an average depth of 1.5 metres in its upper course and a width reaching 50 metres in places, the Jesenica has deeper, flatter stretches in its lower course where the depth can reach 5 metres. The river ends its surface course in the village of Potpolje at 467 metres above sea level, where it sinks underground. After an underground course of 12–13 km it resurfaces near the village of Slušnica and continues as the Slunjčica, which joins the Korana at Rastoke — making this landscape all the more special and worth exploring.

The water quality of the Jesenica is in the first category by Croatian standards, confirmed by regular testing. The river is exceptionally clear and drinkable along its whole course, and its clean water supplies the surrounding settlements through the water source at Malo vrelo. The local water network, built by residents' own contributions in 1979, gives the people of Lička Jesenica, Begovac and Blato access to clean water from a natural spring.

The Jesenica is home to brown trout, an attractive fish that thrives in clean, fast water like this. Brown trout, prized by anglers for its quality and the challenge it presents, can be fished by various techniques outside the closed season. Fishing permits are available from the local Saborsko angling association. River crayfish were once common in the Jesenica, but today they are found only in the upper course.

With its natural beauty, rich flora and fauna and clean water, the Jesenica offers an ideal setting for anyone who wants to explore Croatia's natural beauty, enjoy fishing, or simply spend time by the river in peaceful surroundings.

≈ 180 km · 2 h 45 min drive

Paklenica National Park

Paklenica is a natural gem where a wealth of geomorphological phenomena, diverse plant and animal life and untouched nature meet in a small area. Built of limestone and dolomite, the park abounds in karst features such as grikes, crags, pits and caves, offering spectacular sights that draw nature lovers and adventurers alike.

Forests cover fully two thirds of the park and are home to diverse plant communities, while rock vegetation further enriches its floral beauty. The well-preserved ecosystem provides habitat for over 4,000 different animal species, including rare ones that have disappeared from many parts of Europe.

Paklenica is best explored on foot, and the park offers around 150 km of trails leading through the Velika Paklenica canyon to attractions such as the Manita peć cave, the Lugarnica forester's lodge and the mountain hut. For more experienced hikers, trails lead to the highest Velebit peaks — Vaganski vrh (1,758 m) and Sveto brdo (1,753 m) — with a hiking map recommended.

With more than half a century of tradition, Paklenica is one of Europe's best-known sport-climbing centres, with 590 climbing routes of varying difficulty and length. The climbing season runs from early spring to late autumn, and on 1 May the park gathers climbers from around the world at the traditional International Climbers' Meeting. Paklenica is thus an ideal place for lovers of nature, adrenaline and unforgettable adventure.

≈ 47 km · 50 min drive

Rastoke, Slunj

Rastoke is a settlement within the town of Slunj, shaped by two rivers: the Slunjčica and the Korana. It is known as “little Plitvice” because it resembles the lakes, and its geology is identical to that of Plitvice Lakes National Park, only about 30 kilometres away. Rastoke has a distinctive building heritage dating from the 17th century, and it is believed to have existed even earlier.

There are five visitor zones:

• The murmur of life in Rastoke
• The land of eternal soldiers
• Games for a longer life
• Where time is measured in a different unit
• A town that can surprise you

Rastoke also offers an active holiday, and some of the activities you can try are:

• cycling
• horseback riding
• bowling
• swimming
• hunting and fishing
• motocross
• Nordic walking and hiking
• quad biking
• rafting, kayaking and canoeing

≈ 37 km · 40 min drive

Speleon

Speleon is a centre of underground heritage and a visitor centre devoted to the subterranean natural beauty of the Plitvice area. It presents natural and cultural heritage through four themes: speleology, geology, archaeology and palaeontology. It includes fossil remains of Ice Age animals found in the Upper Barać Cave.

The entrance to Speleon is shaped like a large glass rock imitating a cave mouth, while the layout of the rooms is inspired by the relationship between underground cave halls and avenues.

≈ 27 km · 30 min drive

Dolina Jelena Ranch

Dolina Jelena Ranch is a unique open-air zoo started by the Bićanić family. It covers 15 hectares and, besides deer, you can see black Slavonian pigs and horses. The animals can be fed, petted and photographed on this beautiful estate.

≈ 27 km · 35 min drive

Drežnik Old Town

Drežnik Old Town is a defensive fortress from the 12th century and one of the historic attractions of the Plitvice valleys. It offers numerous cycling, walking and riding routes, as well as a beautiful panoramic view of the Korana river and the surrounding area.