A quarter of the Municipality of Saborsko lies within the boundaries of Plitvice Lakes National Park. Together with the protected Čorkova Uvala Special Reserve and the karst waters of Lička Jesenica, this location shapes the character of the municipality. Protected nature, historic buildings, and local traditions offer different perspectives on Saborsko and its settlements.
Protected landscapes and changing waters
The Čorkova Uvala Special Reserve lies within the Municipality of Saborsko and is protected. Visitors may walk along the edge of the reserve from Kuselj to the forest lodge and onward toward Plitvice. Entry into the primeval forest itself is strictly prohibited, except for scientists studying its features. Check the park’s current notices before visiting.
In the protected landscape of Lička Jesenica, Veliko Vrelo and Malo Vrelo are part of the scenery, as is the entire watercourse with its ponors. There is a cave at the Malo Vrelo spring. Above it is a rock bearing a face of Christ, reminiscent of the face of Jesus Christ on the Shroud of Turin.
Lake Blata also shows how changeable karst waters can be: it is an estavelle that appears and disappears periodically. Whether water is present depends on whether it is the dry or wet season. This makes Blata markedly different from the springs and continuous watercourse at Lička Jesenica.
Churches, bridges, and local memory
The present-day Church of St. John of Nepomuk in Saborsko was built between 2001 and 2003 after the previous church was destroyed. Its design recalls old churches in the Krbava region and mountain houses. The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Saborsko is described as a protected monument of category zero; it was built in 1726 on the ruins of a larger church from the pre-Ottoman era.
Another historic church stands in Lička Jesenica: the Orthodox Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah was built in 1751. St. Elijah is also the patron saint of Saborsko; his feast is traditionally celebrated there every year on August 2. Different architectural histories thus meet in the municipality alongside a tradition that is still observed annually.
Smaller structures, too, tell of different eras and purposes. The stone bridge in Lička Jesenica was built in 1876 and has been preserved in its original form. Funtana was Saborsko’s first water supply system, built in 1883. In Čorkova Uvala, the Lugarnica, a forest lodge for the forestry service of Plitvice Lakes National Park, was built in 1955. Since 2010, it has been under provisional protection as Croatian cultural property.
Saborsko’s intangible cultural heritage also includes the Etno šindra craft business, which makes traditional wooden shingles. The Way of the Cross from the mass grave to the summit of Alan was built in honor of Saborsko residents who fell in the wars. Craftsmanship and remembrance thus complement the traces left in the landscape by churches and historic buildings.
Hiking trail, cycling route, and regional products
The Izvor-Voda hiking trail is well marked and has a GPS track. Check current trail conditions before setting out. For cycling plans, Route 34 can be assessed using its stated distance and elevation gain: after 15.6 kilometers and 410 meters of elevation gain, it ends in Biljevina in the Municipality of Saborsko. Here, too, it is advisable to check current route conditions before setting off.
The Jesenica River is rich in brown trout and is mentioned as a place where anglers can try their luck. Those also interested in regional products will find a selection along the “Green Road,” which runs from Josipdol and Plaški to Saborsko: these include cheese, honey, honey cake, rakija, herbal drinks, and other local products.
Different themes come to the fore when discovering the Municipality of Saborsko: protected landscapes and changing waters, churches and architectural history, as well as hiking and cycling opportunities. The various places and details offer different starting points for planning your trip, without requiring a fixed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Saborsko, Municipality of Žakanje, Municipality of Tounj, Municipality of Josipdol, Municipality of Krnjak, Municipality of Cetingrad, Municipality of Ogulin, Municipality of Lasinja.
For the regional travel overview: Karlovac County.
