Mrkopalj: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Mrkopalj’s winter sports history dates back to 1913: the first organised Croatian ski course began here. In 1914, the Croatian and Slavonian cross-country skiing championships were held there, and in 1934 Croatia’s first ski-jumping facility was built at Pod Vrhin.

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Culture and History

The present-day Church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Mrkopalj was built between 1850 and 1854. Above Crikvena in Mrkopalj Field, Fortica is considered Mrkopalj’s oldest small church; the excavated walls may date from the 13th or 14th century.

At Matić Poljana, a row of 26 limestone rocks commemorates 26 Partisans who died in a snowstorm on 24 February 1944. The area is also a Natura 2000 site located entirely within the Općina Mrkopalj. Its dry continental grasslands are an important habitat for orchids.

The Historical and Ethnographic Collection of Mrkopalj offers insights into the local past. It was opened in 2017 on the first floor of the cultural centre and contains more than 550 historical photographs as well as around 200 old objects. The annual pilgrimage, the Proštenje of Mrkopalj, takes place on the third Sunday in September.

In the municipality of Mrkopalj, Fajere consists of the remains of the Karolinska cesta from 1732. The Peace Commemoration also takes place in Mrkopalj and includes a traditional peace marathon; one programme listed the 43rd edition of this marathon.

Nature and Trails

HPS-certified guides from the local hiking club lead visitors through the Samarske-Stijene sections of the MPP. The Mrkopalj Hiking Trail has eight checkpoints and offers a choice between more challenging and easier passages through the most important rock groups.

The “Little by little” hiking trail begins in the centre of Mrkopalj. It leads through a scenic landscape to Begovo Razdolje and the Matić Poljana memorial meadow, before returning via Tuk along a gravel road through the forest. The trail is long, but is described as not particularly challenging.

Sports and Routes

The Croatian Biathlon Centre Zagmajna has 4.5 kilometres of prepared cross-country ski tracks and a biathlon shooting range. The Croatian Cup, the Peace Commemoration and school sports competitions have been held there.

A map of Mrkopalj’s cycling trails lists the Šume pjevaju, Široka draga, Vrelo and Rudine routes.

More local pages: Tuk Vojni, Brestova Draga, Sunger, Begovo Razdolje.

To the higher-level travel overview: Općina Mrkopalj.