Risnjak National Park

Only 15 kilometres from the coast rises the 1,528 metre high summit of Mount Veliki Risnjak, which also gave its name to the national park surrounding it. The rocky heights attract sportspeople, the slopes are richly overgrown and some of the animal species threatened with extinction have found a safe home here. In the middle of a region known as the hunting paradise of Croatia, the small park forms an oasis of peace and quiet and impressively demonstrates that environmental protection and nature-friendly living are still possible in the present day too. Grotesque limestone formations, mountain pines breaking out, generous plateaus and now steep, now gentle slopes form a landscape rich in contrast which, over the narrowest extent, is a habitat for many species with quite different needs. Whether one spends one's walking holiday here or merely wants to sniff mountain air for a day - in clear visibility and good weather there is hardly a comparably inspiring place as the summit of the Risnjak, which rises like an island out of the sea of clouds and opens up the view of Velebit, the Alps and other peaks!

Coming from Zagreb, one follows the old road or the motorway in the direction of Rijeka, but turns off early towards Delnice. The place has its own railway station, so that arrival by train is also possible. From here it is about 12 kilometres to Crni lug, a picturesque place that marks the entrance to the park and in which the administration of Risnjak has its seat. During opening hours the staff are available in person for recommendations and questions; guided tours can be booked here and all kinds of information material inspected. From here one can explore the national park, and above all the Leska valley, on one's own account along several walking paths. Anyone who prefers more comfort, however, drives by car along the road between Zagreb and Rijeka as far as the Gornje Jelenje exit and follows the forest track in the direction of Vilje for about seven kilometres. To the right a poorly built side track leads to a car park from which one reaches the summit on a short walk. Anyone arriving from the north reaches the park most easily by way of the road between Gerovo and Lazac; from the west one first heads for the settlement of Platak and then continues one's journey either on foot to the southern flank of the Snjeznik along an old Roman path or by car once again in the direction of Gornje Jelenje.