Maljevac: Border Landscape and Cycling Route

Maljevac is the site of a permanent border crossing for international road traffic carrying passengers and goods. The border along the Glina and Buhača rivers and a historic cycling route provide tangible points of reference for describing the area. Further natural and cultural experiences can be explored in the wider destination of the Municipality of Cetingrad.

Border Crossing and River Landscape

The crossing is permanently established; specific border procedures and operating conditions may change. From Gejkovac to Maljevac, the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina follows the Glina. From Maljevac towards Bogovolja, it runs along the Buhača stream. In these sections, the waterways are both landscape features and part of the border.

The seasonal character of the Glina and nearby border streams varies: in summer they can almost dry up, while in winter they remain comparatively narrow and shallow. This description gives the river landscape a different character depending on the season, without assuming a particular water level for any specific visit.

Cycling Route with Historical Connections

In 2022, Maljevac was part of the 44-kilometre circular route of the recreational cycling event Cetingradska osmica. A route described as a larger loop, measuring 24 kilometres, ran from Cetingrad through Ruševica, Vilin Križ, Maljevac and Buhača, and back to Cetingrad. This documents both Maljevac’s place on a longer circular route and a specific sequence of locations on the 24-kilometre loop.

For the 2022 edition, the Cetingradska osmica route was fully paved; the local roads were narrow and required caution. The route and road information refers to this 2022 event and is not a current date or schedule.

Community and Tradition in Maljevac

By September 2024, the traditional Mevlud event “I mi u Maljevcu volimo Pejgambera” had been held in Maljevac for the 17th time. The event’s name and its repeated occurrence offer a concrete insight into the religious community life of the area, without anticipating a future event date.

Džemat Maljevac is associated with religious rites, educational activities and humanitarian work. These aspects sit alongside the landscape themes and show that Maljevac cannot be described solely in terms of its waterways and cycling.

In the Wider Destination of the Municipality of Cetingrad

The Koranski planinarski put is located in the village of Donje Gnojnice within the Municipality of Cetingrad. This circular hiking trail runs from Gnojnice via the karst depression of Jovac and the Korana Canyon, passing several mills, to the local swimming area on the Korana. Six checkpoints and markings in both directions help with wayfinding. The hike is estimated to take about six hours; there are no technically difficult sections. The trail may become impassable during high water.

The starting point in Donje Gnojnice can be reached via the D1 road and a local paved road. Parking is available by the former school building; road conditions may change.

History and Culture in the Municipality of Cetingrad

The ruins of the old town of Cetin are considered the most important attraction in the Municipality of Cetingrad and a significant medieval fortress. They lie several kilometres south of Cetingrad; the remains of an old Franciscan monastery are nearby. Cetin is also associated with a historic event: on 1 January 1527, the Croatian nobility elected Austrian Archduke Ferdinand I of Habsburg as King of Croatia there.

The history of Cetingrad also includes the fact that the Church of the Assumption of Mary at this site was the fourth church. In 2007, a memorial chapel for the war victims of the Cetingrad parish was consecrated in the crypt. The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is Cetingrad’s patronal feast and attracts many worshippers from the municipality and other areas.

Another recurring event in the wider destination of the Municipality of Cetingrad is Josipovo, a traditional livestock fair in Cetingrad held on the feast day of Saint Joseph. It includes a procession with horse-drawn teams and riders. Traditional and handmade products, as well as souvenirs, are also offered at the Cetingrad fair. Those using Maljevac as a starting point for their trip can consider these distinct cultural themes of the Municipality of Cetingrad separately from the local river and cycling-route themes.

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