The Parish Church of St. Roch and the “Plava ruta” cycling route give Luka two distinct identities: the church brings together architectural and festival history, while the route runs through western Zagorje to the Sutla Valley. This lets you choose where to stay based on cultural history or a specific cycling route.
Parish Church of St. Roch: Architecture and History
The Parish Church of St. Roch is a single-nave Neo-Gothic building, with the parish house standing beside it. The new church was built in the center of Luka after three years of consultations. Its foundation stone was laid in 1860, and it was completed in 1864. In addition to its construction history, it was recorded as a regional cultural monument in 2004, and the church and parish house were designated cultural assets. In the Zaprešić area, the church is considered one of the largest religious buildings.
Church Consecration Festival and Celebrations in Luka
The parish festival “Posvetilo” commemorates the church’s consecration on August 18, 1864, by Zagreb Bishop Josip Mihalović. In Luka, it is celebrated on the Sunday after the feast of St. Roch. In the Općina Luka, the celebrations include entertainment evenings in a festival tent. Pilgrims from nearby and farther afield attend Posvetilo. Thus, a precisely dated event in the church’s history and a festival date tied to the feast of St. Roch serve as two distinct points of reference in time.
Another festival is “Rokovski kjeden,” celebrated on the occasion of the feast of St. Roch and Rokovsko Posvetilo; it includes the traditional prošenje. In the center of Luka, the event features a festival tent with entertainment and music, as well as food and drinks. There is also a carousel and street stalls selling gingerbread hearts, toys and other goods. Individual program elements may vary from year to year.
Cycling: Plava ruta and Another Route
The “Plava ruta” cycling route starts at a car park in the center of Luka, at Trg sv. Roka, and runs through western Zagorje to the Sutla Valley. Within the Općina Luka, the Blue Route follows a gravel road through a lush valley crisscrossed by waterways. After 4 km on level ground, the route returns to the center of Luka at point 24. Check road and parking conditions before setting out.
Another option is the Kupljenovo–Luka–Dubravica–Marija Gorica–Pušća cycling route, which runs from Kupljenovo via Luka along the Zaprešić–Luka–Veliko Trgovišće road. At the intersection by Buffet Pođunđek and the bus stop, cyclists turn right onto Lučka cesta and ride into the center. 200 m after the Church of St. Roch, they turn left off the main road onto Ulica Andrije Majdaka. These waypoints provide a different frame of reference for the route than the Plava ruta’s starting point at Trg sv. Roka.
Getting Around the Općina Luka
A bus route runs through the Općina Luka, connecting surrounding places with Zaprešić. If you plan to use this connection, check the timetable for your travel date. The Općina Luka also has a Nextbike system with public bicycles for everyday journeys, available to residents and visitors. Confirm its current operating status before your trip.
For the broader travel overview: Općina Luka.
