Stari Laz: History, Routes and Kraljevo

Stari Laz is considered a historic rural ensemble. The Church of Saint Stephen in Stari Laz is registered as a religious building. The church was built in 1912 and is also considered a little-researched cultural asset with historical or architectural potential. For a visit, the village landscape and the building can be considered side by side as two different cultural points of reference.

History

Around 1632, Stari Laz was one of the settlements in these areas where Gašpar Frankopan settled people from Bosnia. In the wider regional surroundings of Ravna Gora, the historic Caroline Road was built from 1726 onwards; it connected Karlovac with Bakar. These two historical topics offer different perspectives, without requiring trip planning to focus on just one period.

Routes

In the vicinity of Stari Laz, a forest path leads between the fire station and the Church of Saint Stephen to Dedinski Vrh. The approximately 30-minute approach initially crosses meadows and then leads into the forest; the route is not marked. For personal planning, the approximate time, the meadow section and the forest section can be considered separately.

By bicycle, the MTB route Following the Path of Berries passes through Stari Laz and forms a loop starting from Ravna Gora. It is 33.5 kilometres long and has a total ascent of 670 metres. The physical difficulty is rated 3/5, and the technical difficulty 2/5. Route length, elevation gain and the two difficulty ratings provide several independent points of comparison when arranging routes for a day.

The Camino Gorski kotar route passes through Stari Laz alongside the Church of Saint Stephen the King. The stage is considered one of the more demanding routes because of the mountainous terrain. Its route type and the demands of the landscape represent a distinct hiking focus alongside the forest path and the MTB loop.

The routes therefore differ significantly in their character: The approach to Dedinski Vrh is described as an unmarked path with meadow and forest sections. The MTB loop combines its fixed distance with specified ascent and difficulty ratings, while the Camino is characterised as a mountainous, more demanding stage. This makes it possible to consider the approach, cycling loop and Camino stage separately on the basis of different route characteristics, without reducing them to a single activity profile.

Other Places

Other places you can also discover include Kupjak, Stara Sušica, Zalesina and Ravna Gora.

When comparing a holiday apartment in Stari Laz, check the travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions on the respective listing page. Together with the question of whether you want to focus on culture, a cycling route or a hiking trail, this information provides an objective basis for your personal planning.

Festivals and Local Character

Kraljevo, the village day of Stari Laz, is celebrated on 16 August or on the first Sunday after this feast day. For annual planning, the date represents a separate occasion alongside cultural and route-related topics. During Kraljevo, portions of beans are distributed to visitors.

For the broader travel overview: Općina Ravna Gora.