Tuk Vojni – Hiking and Religious Heritage

Tuk Vojni offers hikes with very different time requirements: the Mrkopaljski planinarski put through Samarske stijene and the climb up Čelimbaša. The information on distance and duration will help you choose the right hike when planning your trip. The village is also home to the Orthodox Church of Saint Peter, which is part of the area’s religious heritage.

Hiking: two very different timeframes

The Mrkopaljski planinarski put, or MPP for short, is 10 kilometers long and passes through Samarske stijene. The hike is expected to take approximately nine hours. It starts and ends at Planinarski dom Bijele stijene in Tuk Vojni. Eight checkpoints divide the route; it can also be completed in two stages. The MPP is therefore the longer hike and takes considerably more time than the climb up Čelimbaša.

The climb up Čelimbaša starts at the parking lot of Planinarski dom Bijele Stijene in Tuk Vojni. The route is 3 kilometers long and takes about 44 minutes. The trail is considered easy and well marked; spring, summer, autumn, and winter are all considered suitable seasons for hiking. Since practical trail conditions can change seasonally, it is advisable to check them before setting out. The two hikes differ in both length and approximate duration: the MPP takes about nine hours, while the climb up Čelimbaša takes around 44 minutes.

Getting around Tuk Vojni and its religious heritage

The D32 state road is the main road through the settlement of Tuk Vojni. The Orthodox Church of Saint Peter, part of the area’s religious heritage, is also located in Tuk Vojni. Alongside the hiking trails, the road through the village and a religious building provide concrete landmarks for finding your way around.

Općina Mrkopalj as a regional context

Bijele stijene and Samarske stijene are located in Općina Mrkopalj; both were declared strict nature reserves in 1985. Check the current conservation rules before visiting. At a regional level, the D32 state road connects Prezid, Delnice, Mrkopalj, and Jezerane.

Mrkopalj is considered the birthplace of Croatian skiing. Croatia’s first ski jump, “Pod Vrhin,” was built there in 1934. The Historical and Ethnographic Collection of Mrkopalj opened in 2017 on the first floor of the cultural center in the town center. It includes more than 550 historical photographs and approximately 200 old objects. Exhibits include a document concerning the parish’s founding in 1771, a 1933 design for “Pod Vrhin,” and handmade skis and ski poles, snowshoes, and a rescue sled. History and winter sports can be explored here through a range of objects, from historical documents and a ski-jump design to equipment and everyday items.

Other regional sports and hiking activities are also found in Općina Mrkopalj. The Croatian Biathlon Center Zagmajna has 4.5 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails and a biathlon shooting range. Čelimbaša is used for skiing and sledding in winter. A hiking trail leads from Mrkopalj up the mountain to a viewpoint at the summit. For the climb from Tuk Vojni, however, the parking lot of Planinarski dom Bijele Stijene is listed as the starting point.

Other sites in Mrkopalj are part of its religious heritage: pilgrims visit the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows every year on the third Sunday in September. The Calvary consists of three crosses with bronze sculptures. Matić poljana is a memorial site; 26 stones commemorate 26 soldiers who died in a snowstorm in February 1944. Mrkopalj also hosts a green market year-round, with around a dozen local producers from Gorski Kotar. Check the market date before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Brestova Draga, Mrkopalj, Sunger, Begovo Razdolje

Go to the main travel overview: Općina Mrkopalj.