The Kupa shapes the Municipality of Žakanje in several ways: it is the municipality’s most significant natural attraction, and twelve waterfalls lie along its course through the municipal area. Old mills have been preserved at some of them. The river landscape thus brings together nature and traces of earlier uses—a delightful focal point for travelers looking to center their stay around the water.
Kupa River, waterfalls and wooded hills
Four waterfalls on the Kupa have been restored, including Sračak. The wooded hills provide a distinct landscape setting. Oak and birch forests dominate at lower elevations, while chestnut, hornbeam and beech trees characterize the higher areas. The varying elevations give the municipality a clear contrast between the river course and the wooded hinterland.
Some of the elevations also have names: at 447 meters above sea level, Jelen vrh is the highest peak in the municipality. Donji Bukovac is a viewpoint at 156 meters above sea level. If you are interested in the landscape, you can use these two places as reference points for the ridges in the municipal area.
Activities on the river and by bike
In summer, the Kupa offers opportunities for swimming; in Pravutina, there is a designated bathing area by the river. The Kupa in the Municipality of Žakanje is also suitable for canoeing. The stretch between Jurovski Brod and Bubnjarci is noted for fishing: catfish, carp, pike, chub, barbel and roach can be caught there. This brings a range of activities into focus on the same river—from swimming and canoeing to fishing.
Horse riding is also possible in the wooded hills around Žakanje. The cycling routes have different described features: Cycling Route 1 is eight kilometers long and classified as difficult. Cycling Route 2 passes the Kapelica u Pobijenki and then leaves the municipal area. This lets you choose between a route with a specific length and difficulty rating and one that includes a named cultural stop.
Church and history of Žakanje
The parish church in Žakanje adds a clearly dated historical reference to the nature themes: the parish was founded in 1789, and the present-day church was built in 1896. Above Žakanje, Šimunec Castle stood on a hill; in the 17th century, it was called Šimunvrh. The recorded name and historic location offer further insight into local history without implying anything about the castle’s present condition.
The wider region: Karlovac County
Beyond the Municipality of Žakanje, Karlovac County is shaped by the Kupa, Korana, Mrežnica and Dobra rivers. Across the county, more than 200 kilometers of waterways are available for rafting, kayaking and canoeing. This regional perspective complements the local focus on the Kupa: it describes Karlovac County as a whole, while the waterfalls, bathing area, and cycling and cultural topics described here relate to the Municipality of Žakanje.
When looking for a hotel in the Municipality of Žakanje, you can first consider which of these local aspects you want to shape your stay: the river landscape and water activities, cycling in the hills, or the history of the town.
Discover more destinations: Žakanje, Reštovo, Kamanje, Jadrići, Municipality of Bosiljevo, Municipality of Generalski Stol, Municipality of Plaški, Municipality of Cetingrad.
Go to the regional travel overview: Karlovac County.
