Žumberak: Discover Cultural History and Routes

When looking for a hotel in Žumberak, you can distinguish between two themes: architectural and local history, and routes in the surrounding area. The historical sites include the Church of St. Nicholas, the Žumberački pil and the ruins of Novi grad. There are also hiking, cycling and archaeological routes. This can help you decide what to focus on during your trip before looking for a hotel.

Cultural Monuments in Žumberak

The Church of St. Nicholas is a medieval building with Gothic elements and later Baroque furnishings. It was restored in the mid-17th century and is listed as protected cultural property under reference Z-1887. The protected monument area also includes a rectory.

The Žumberački pil is a Baroque wayside shrine about two and a half metres high. Its four niches depict the four Evangelists in fresco. Due to its many historical functions and symbolic significance, the shrine has considerable cultural and historical value. The Bernardićev mlin is also associated with Žumberak as a mill.

Novi grad Žumberak was built as the seat of a Uskok captain and commander of this part of the Military Frontier. A fire destroyed the site in 1793. Today, earth-covered ruins remain at the historic site. This makes it possible to place the site’s history in context: its original military function was followed by destruction and the remains described today.

Routes and Visitor Planning in the Surrounding Area

In the area around Žumberak, the Žumberak–Samoborsko gorje Nature Park Visitor Centre in Sošice features an attractive multimedia interpretation exhibition. The Put kraljice bukve hiking trail begins or ends at the visitor centre. Check the current visitor regulations before your visit.

The Staza Svete Gere cycling route connects Vivodina, Balići, Radatovići, Sekulići, Sveta Gera and Sošice. Surfaces and conditions can vary, so checking the latest route information is helpful when planning. The Žumberački arheološki put connects six archaeological sites along the main road from Bregana to Krašić. The routes have different focuses: the hiking trail is linked to the visitor centre, the cycling route connects named places, and the archaeological trail follows a road corridor to archaeological sites.

Općina Žumberak: Nature Park and Cultural Heritage

In the wider destination of Općina Žumberak, the entire area of the Žumberak municipality lies within Žumberak–Samoborsko gorje Nature Park. The Kuta primeval forest is located within the municipality’s strict protection zone. The headwaters of the Slapnica stream, up to Brisalo Waterfall, are also in a strict protection zone. Čunkova Draga, also in the municipality, is one of the six main entrances to the nature park. Cycling and hiking in Žumberak–Samoborsko gorje Nature Park are among the sports and leisure activities in the wider destination of Općina Žumberak.

The nature park’s visitor centre in Sošice opened in April 2022. It features the multimedia interpretation exhibition mentioned above; check the current visitor regulations before your visit. Sošice also has historical associations: the Greek Catholic Church of St. Peter and Paul and the Catholic Chapel of the Assumption are jointly listed as protected cultural property under code Z-5702. A school near the church complex opened in 1769 and is considered one of the two oldest schools in Žumberak.

Other protected or registered cultural monuments are located elsewhere in Općina Žumberak. In Kalje, the traditional farmstead with a watermill at Kalje No. 37 is listed as protected cultural property under code Z-4535. Stari grad Žumberak is listed as registered cultural property. In Tupčina, the Bishop Čolnić manor house is protected under code Z-3926; if you plan to visit the interior, check its conservation status. These place and monument names complement the nature park connections with a range of historical points of interest.

Discover other destinations: Kalje, Kostanjevac.

Return to the wider travel overview: Općina Žumberak.