Municipality of Vojnić: Petrova Gora and historical traces

Woodland scenery and wildlife observation

The central part of Petrova Gora has been protected as a significant landscape since 1969. Deep ravines cross the area; waterways and numerous drinking-water springs are part of its landscape. Babbling streams, forest flowers and wild animals also define Petrova Gora, which attracts visitors in every season. Here, nature and landscape take centre stage during a stay, rather than just individual sights.

The Petrovac Ornithological Park is located at the summit of Petrova Gora. A marked trail with information boards about the birds that live there leads to the park. An observation tower is available for watching birds and other animals. This offers a specific reason to look out for wildlife along the way and plan time for nature observation as a distinct part of the excursion.

Hiking trails with different highlights

The Petrova Gora hiking and circular route comprises a red and a green trail. Both are listed as taking four hours to walk, and both start and end at Lovački dom Muljava. If you want to plan your day around a marked route, you can take this time estimate into account. The description gives both trails the same walking time, but their routes differ: the green trail passes several historic sites.

It begins on an educational trail, follows the Rimski put to the Petrovac plateau and passes historic sites on Veliki and Mali Petrovac. It then descends to Kraljev grob. The “Rimski put” educational trail is a separate 2,600-metre circular route. It runs at an altitude of 230 to 320 metres through dense beech, sessile oak and chestnut forest, and also starts and ends at Lovački dom Muljava. When planning an outing, you can therefore choose between a longer route with several historic sites and this shorter circular walk.

History at specific sites

In the southern part of the Municipality of Vojnić, the remains of the medieval town of Klokoč lie on a hill above the village of Klokoč. The remains of the Pauline Monastery of St Peter are located on Mali Petrovac. Founded in 1303 or 1304, it is considered one of Croatia’s oldest Pauline monasteries. Both sites add a historical dimension to the landscape, but they differ in their history and function.

Another site with a significant historical connection is the Central Partisan Hospital Complex in the forest of Petrova Gora, in the Pišin gaj area. Construction began in 1942 and was completed in 1943; at the time, the complex comprised 32 structures. The Petrovac Monument, which stands 37 metres tall, is on Veliki Petrovac. It can be reached by car or bus via an asphalt road. Part of the cylindrical tower of the medieval fortress Otmić Grad remains. Stari Grad Krstinja can be reached via a footpath from the asphalt road or along a gravel road.

An October event and a break in Muljava

The Gljivarijada takes place every year in October in Muljava. It includes an exhibition of edible and inedible mushrooms. Its timing and theme add a seasonal touch to a visit: if you are interested in mushrooms, you can take this event into account when planning your trip, while the trails and historic sites offer other highlights.

Visitors can enjoy pancakes with blueberry sauce on the terrace of Lovački dom Muljava. Together with the routes that start and end there, this makes Muljava a clear point of reference for hiking plans and a place to stop for a meal. The options described thus range from nature observation and woodland trails to history and a seasonal focus on mushrooms.

Choosing the right focus for your stay

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday house in the Municipality of Vojnić, you can first consider which experiences matter most for your trip. If hiking and nature observation are your priority, you can consider the trails of Petrova Gora and the Ornithological Park. If you are especially interested in history, Klokoč, the monastery on Mali Petrovac, the hospital complex and other historical traces offer different points of interest. These interests provide a basis for deciding what you want your stay to focus on, without limiting the trip to just one kind of experience.

Perna and Vojnić are also among the places you can consider when exploring the municipality: Perna and Vojnić.

More destinations to discover: Municipality of Generalski Stol, Municipality of Krnjak, Municipality of Barilovići, Municipality of Josipdol, Municipality of Karlovac, Municipality of Ozalj.

Back to the regional travel overview: Karlovac County.