Municipality of Udbina: Cultural Heritage, Memorial Sites and Landscape

The Municipality of Udbina offers a variety of points of interest for a trip, from historic buildings and religious memorial sites to landscape features. The settlement of Udbina lies on the Zagreb–Split main road; the Krbavsko polje is located below Udbina.

Churches, the Cathedral and Historical Remains

The remains of the Cathedral of St James lie on the eastern edge of the settlement of Udbina. They date back to the 13th century. Another important religious site is the Church of the Croatian Martyrs: it is the largest church in Udbina and a Croatian national shrine. The remains of the Church of St Nicholas the Bishop are incorporated into the church.

Above the Church of the Croatian Martyrs lies Gradina, a tower and defensive complex believed to date from the 15th century. This cautious dating is part of the site’s character. Below Udbina is also the Catholic Church of St Mark. These different points of reference—the cathedral, churches and defensive complex—give the municipality’s cultural history distinct chronological and religious dimensions.

The municipality’s sights also include the ruins of Kaštel Krbava Castle, the remains of the old Croatian Romanesque church in Podudbina, and the remains of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Mutilić. Together with the buildings in Udbina, they show that the area’s historical points of interest are not limited to a single place or period.

Landscape and Protected Areas

The Krbavsko polje is also shaped by individual landscape features: the sinkholes of the Krbavica River lie in the field below Udbina, as does Murtino jezero. Laudonov Gaj Forest Park is located in the northwest of the Krbavsko polje, near the village of Šalamunić. It covers 33 hectares and was declared a forest park in 1960. There are about 600 oak trees there, around 250 years old.

Laudonov Gaj combines a defined landscape area with a stand of old oak trees. Sokolovača offers a different natural point of interest: the area has been proposed as an ornithological reserve and is described as having gorges and nesting sites for golden eagles and peregrine falcons. Forest and old trees on the one hand, and birdlife and gorges on the other, offer distinct themes to consider when planning a trip.

Bijeli Potoci–Kamensko is protected as a significant landscape and is also a Second World War memorial area. It extends beyond the municipal boundary: 513 hectares lie in the Municipality of Udbina, and a further 700 hectares in the Municipality of Donji Lapac. Udbina is therefore part of a protected memorial area shared by multiple municipalities.

Memorial Days and Trip Planning

The Day of the Croatian Martyrs is traditionally observed below Udbina on the second Saturday in September. It commemorates martyrs, defenders, those who suffered, and victims. Special Masses at the Church of the Croatian Martyrs are listed for the second Saturday in September and the last Saturday in August. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these dates, check the programme and Mass times for the relevant year in advance.

Mutilić also has a traditional event date: a gathering of the Serbian community takes place there on 19 August, the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. You should confirm the current programme locally before travelling. The event dates thus differ in both location and occasion; they provide a different point of reference for a trip from the churches, castle ruins and landscape features described as permanent attractions.

If you are travelling for a memorial day, confirmed dates are a useful first step in planning. If you are more interested in the cathedral, churches, castle remains or protected areas, you can make your choices around these priorities.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Frkašić, Udbina, Bunić, Municipality of Karlobag, Municipality of Plitvička Jezera, Municipality of Otočac, Municipality of Perušić, Municipality of Donji Lapac.

Go to the main travel overview: Lika-Senj.