Saborsko: Hiking Routes, Springs and Culture

Two trails offer different experiences: a 5 km circular trail and the 7 km, approximately three-hour, one-way 5-Springs Trail. Regional products and the landscape in the wider destination of Općina Saborsko also offer further points to consider when planning your trip.

Hiking: Circular Trail or Springs Trail

The 5 km circular trail in Saborsko leads from the information board to Alan Hill. Along the route are a viewpoint and a rest area. The trail then descends via the Stations of the Cross, passing the medieval Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Church of St. John of Nepomuk. The ethnographic collection at the Alan Inn is also part of the route.

The 5 Springs hiking trail starts in the center of Saborsko and leads across flower meadows into a wooded hollow. There, five springs form the Jesenica stream. The one-way route is 7 km long and takes about three hours. The two trails therefore differ in both length and format: one is a circular route, while the other runs 7 km in one direction. Check trail conditions locally, as they may change.

Products Along the Green Road

Local products are offered along the Green Road to Saborsko: cheese, honey, gingerbread, rakija, herbal drinks and other homemade products. Products and sellers may vary seasonally. If you have specific products in mind, it is best to check what is currently available in advance.

Nature in the Wider Destination of Općina Saborsko

A quarter of the area of Općina Saborsko lies within the boundaries of Plitvice Lakes National Park. The protected Čorkova Uvala Special Reserve is also located in the municipality. At the edge of the reserve, visitors may walk from Kuselj to the forestry lodge and onward toward Plitvice. Entry into the primeval forest itself is strictly prohibited, except for scientists studying its features. Check the current park instructions before your visit.

The protected landscape of Lička Jesenica includes Veliko Vrelo and Malo Vrelo, as well as the entire watercourse with its ponors. There is a cave at the source of Malo Vrelo. Above it is a rock bearing a face of Christ that recalls the face of Jesus Christ on the Shroud of Turin. Blata is another natural feature of Općina Saborsko: the estavelle appears and disappears periodically. Whether water is present depends on the dry or wet season.

Culture and Architectural History in Općina Saborsko

The churches in Općina Saborsko also tell different stories of their construction. The present-day Church of St. John of Nepomuk in Saborsko was built between 2001 and 2003, after the earlier church had been destroyed. Its design recalls old churches of the Krbava region and mountain houses. The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Saborsko was built in 1726 on the ruins of a larger pre-Ottoman-era church and is described as a protected monument of category zero.

In Lička Jesenica, the Orthodox Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah was built in 1751. The stone bridge there dates from 1876 and has retained its original form. Other cultural and historical points of interest in Općina Saborsko include Funtana, Saborsko’s first water supply system, built in 1883, and the Etno šindra craft business. Traditional wooden shingles are made there; the business is associated with Saborsko’s intangible cultural heritage.

For the wider travel overview: Općina Saborsko.