The Municipality of Cetingrad offers two very different discoveries: Cetin marks a decisive moment in Croatian history, while the Koranski planinarski put is a circular trail through a karst landscape and the Korana Canyon. The route also passes several mills and the local bathing spot on the Korana. Historical sites and river scenery thus come together as distinct aspects of the municipality.
Cetin and its layers of history
The ruins of the old town of Cetin are the municipality’s most important attraction and a significant medieval fortress. They lie several kilometres south of Cetingrad. In Cetin, on 1 January 1527, the Croatian nobility elected the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand I of Habsburg as King of Croatia. The site thus connects the history of its medieval fortress with a clearly dated political event.
The remains of an old Franciscan monastery lie near the ruins. The present-day Church of the Assumption of Mary is also part of the area’s history: it is already the fourth church on this site. In 2007, a memorial chapel for the war victims of the Cetingrad parish was consecrated in its crypt. The fortress ruins, monastery remains and church history offer different ways to explore the past.
The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is Cetingrad’s patron saint’s day and draws many worshippers from the municipality and surrounding areas. If you are interested in religious traditions, it offers a different perspective on Cetingrad from the fortress ruins and medieval history.
The Koranski planinarski put and the river landscape
The Koranski planinarski put is located in the village of Donje Gnojnice, within the Municipality of Cetingrad. Its circular route runs from Gnojnice through the Jovac karst depression and the Korana Canyon, past several mills, and on to the local bathing spot on the Korana. The route brings together geological formations, several mills and a riverside destination on a hike closely connected to the landscape.
The trail has six checkpoints, is marked in both directions and takes about six hours to complete. There are no technically difficult sections. The starting point in Donje Gnojnice can be reached via the D1 road and a local paved road; you can park by the former school building. Road conditions can change, and high water levels can make the trail impassable. Therefore, check road and water conditions before setting out.
The Korana and Glina rivers flow through the municipality. Their narrow valleys are cut into the carbonate bedrock in canyon-like formations. The river network also includes the Ruševica, Grabarska and Žrvnica; these waterways are home to a variety of fish species. The canyon along the Korana trail is therefore part of a broader landscape shaped by rivers and their narrow valleys.
Festivals and living traditions
Josipovo is held in Cetingrad every year on the feast day of Saint Joseph. The traditional livestock fair is accompanied by a procession of horse-drawn carriages and riders. This gives it a different focus from the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, Cetingrad’s patron saint’s day: at Josipovo, the fair and procession are central, while the Feast of the Assumption is a religious celebration that brings many worshippers together.
Traditional and handmade products as well as souvenirs are on offer at the Cetingrad fair. The fair also represents the authentic flavours and scents of Kordun. Another perspective on local traditions is offered by the Cetingradska tamburica cultural and arts association, which preserves and presents the traditions, customs and folklore of the Cetingrad region.
Discover more destinations: Bilo, Maljevac, Municipality of Plaški, Municipality of Ozalj, Municipality of Barilovići, Municipality of Ribnik, Municipality of Draganić, Municipality of Lasinja.
For the wider travel overview: Karlovac County.
