The Medvednica Nature Park is located in the same recreation area that it shares its name with and extends to the north of Croatia’s capital Zagreb. The nature park is located in the namesake mountain range and is quite large with almost 20 square kilometers. Indicative of the park are its forest rich areas and its wealth of flora and fauna.
Hikers can wander at their own expense, and can dare to climb the Sljeme, the highest mountain of the Park or many of its smaller peaks. The rock layers, classified as being from the Tertiary and Mesozoic era are of particular interest to amateur geologists. A special attraction is the Veternica cave. Here you can see bats, which have now become very rare. The highlight of this cave is that you can adopt a bat here and thereby help to ensure that the species will be preserved in the future. The 7 km long tunnel behind the cave can be entered only with a guide. Even the so-called Bear Mountain is worth a visit. It is the largest forest area in the park, with a variety of vegetation, such as pines, beeches and stone and summer oaks. The first people settled here thousands of years ago and since 1870 you can visit the wooden pyramid lookout point. In Medvednica Nature Park, rare animal species can be spotted, especially rare birds. There are well-marked hiking trails, but the park can also be explored by bicycle. The Sopot waterfall represents a unique natural spectacle, and a visit to the several medieval castles is recommended.
You can travel with your private car, but it is better to use public transport. The buses stop here regularly because many locals from the capital Zagreb make excursions in Medvednica Nature Park.
