The Municipality of Donja Voća brings together archaeological history, sacred art, local history and outdoor trails. Špilja Vindija takes you back more than 40,000 years; in Donja Voća, a medieval chapel and works by painter Ivan Krstitelj Ranger take centre stage. This gives you different options for planning your trip: history and art, or a longer hike across Ravna gora.
Špilja Vindija and its history
Špilja Vindija is protected as both a cultural and a natural monument. Fossil analyses show that Neanderthals lived in the cave more than 40,000 years ago. The archaeological site and its dual protected status shape the way this part of the municipality is seen.
Chapel, parish church and art
The old medieval chapel of Sv. Tome, later remodelled in the Baroque style, is located in the upper part of the settlement of Donja Voća. In the first decades of the 18th century, Baroque vaults were added to the interior, along with movable furnishings, while the medieval structure remained. The chapel thus brings together medieval architectural history and later Baroque changes. For its main altar, Ivan Krstitelj Ranger painted “Doubting Thomas with Christ” in 1736.
The parish church of Sv. Martina biskupa is in the centre of the settlement and is decorated with wall frescoes by Ivan Krstitelj Ranger and the Pauline School of Painting. The parish also has a long history: Voća is recorded in 1334 in the first complete list of parishes in the Diocese of Zagreb.
Another way to explore local art is through naive painting. Slavko Stolnik was born in Voća and created most of his finest works there, inspired by local scenes of everyday life. Stjepan Stolnik and Radovan Švetak also found inspiration for their naive art in Voća: in nature, idyllic landscapes and the people who live there. The art theme therefore ranges from sacred paintings to scenes of everyday life and landscapes.
Hiking and cycling
The “Planinarski put po Ravnoj gori” is about 26 kilometres long and has ten checkpoints. It starts in Donja Voća and passes Špilja Vindija on its way towards the summit of Ravna gora. Ravna gora is the northernmost mountain in Hrvatsko zagorje. The difference between the route and the individual cultural sites is clear: it offers a continuous hiking experience, with a starting point, checkpoints and a defined destination.
Cycling in Voća takes you along marked and unmarked routes, forest tracks and roads. Traffic on local roads and routes is described as light, but may vary depending on the road and time of day. Cycling can thus be considered as an option in its own right alongside the described hiking route and cultural sites, without treating the two types of route as the same.
More places to visit during your stay
The Sportski park hrvatskih branitelja in Donja Voća has a modern football pitch, a beach volleyball court, a children’s playground and a rest area. In Gornja Voća, you can also visit the “Virtualna zagorska hiža” by arranging an appointment in advance with the Municipality of Donja Voća. These two attractions add more local options to the cultural and sporting highlights; advance registration is part of planning a visit to the Hiža.
Discover more destinations
Donja Voća, Gornja Voća, Municipality of Ivanec, Municipality of Jalžabet, Municipality of Beretinec, Municipality of Visoko, Municipality of Novi Marof, Municipality of Bednja
For the main travel overview: Varaždin County.
