Pleternica: Nature, Culture and Wine Route

Pleternica offers a variety of ways to shape your stay: natural heritage and routes through the wine-growing landscape sit alongside museums, church traditions and recurring festivals. If you are looking for a hotel in Pleternica, these themes can guide your travel plans. The attractions offer different perspectives on the town—from the region’s landscapes to its musical and pilgrimage traditions.

Natural Heritage and Routes Through the Wine-Growing Landscape

The permanent exhibition at Terra Panonica presents the natural heritage of Pleternica and Požega-Slavonia County. Across six themed areas, it introduces five habitats: the forests of Mount Dilj, the landscape around Lake Sovsko, the Orljava river environment, fragrant meadows and Trbušnjak Cave. The exhibition offers different ways to explore the subject: VR takes you to the ancient Pannonian Sea, while tablets introduce plant and animal species. There are also educational boxes and a short animated film.

The Cesta ruža i vina offers another way to experience the landscape. The route starts in the centre of Pleternica and runs 3.5 kilometres through vineyards. It ends at the Bačva viewpoint on Starac Hill, which looks out over the vineyards and valley. You can explore the route on foot, by bicycle, bus or the Brzi Vinko tourist train. A horse-drawn carriage ride is available by prior arrangement.

The Poučna staza Starac educational trail also brings several themes together along the way: it leads from the parish church via St Peter’s Chapel to Starac Hill. The route passes through woodland and has ten information panels about forest and biodiversity conservation. A rest area and the Bačva viewpoint, with views across the Zlatna Valley, are also among the route’s features. The routes therefore focus on different aspects: the wine-growing landscape and views along the Cesta ruža i vina, and woodland and environmental education on the educational trail.

Music, Local History and Religious Traditions

The Muzej bećarca is dedicated to bećarac singing and its significance in local life. The exhibition explores customs, clothing, original objects, seasonal traditions and well-known performers. Interactive activities include a karaoke workshop and a video game featuring the tambura. Visitors can also try a real tambura instrument and take part in educational workshops.

Trg bećarca is located by the Orljava River. Its colourful paving symbolically evokes the fields of Slavonia, while raised areas form an amphitheatre-like space overlooking the river. Another stop for culture enthusiasts is the parish church of St Nicholas: the new church was blessed in 1971, after the former church building had been demolished. The small hydroelectric power plant also has an educational role and serves as a mini-centre for green energy.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Tears is considered Croatia’s only officially recognised sanctuary dedicated to this devotion. Religious life there is active year-round, and a votive day is observed on the last Saturday of each month. St Peter’s Chapel also stands on Starac Hill above Pleternica. It is used for the Stations of the Cross on Palm Sunday and is also visited for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

Festivals as Seasonal Highlights

The Devetnica Gospi od Suza takes place in Pleternica every year from 23 to 31 August and concludes with a candlelit procession. Its recurring dates make it a regular point of reference for a religiously focused trip. Music features at another time of year: Cvjetići glazbe is a children’s tambura festival held in mid-June as part of LIDAS. It focuses on music for children and a tambura tradition dating back more than 30 years. The two events offer distinct seasonal highlights, while the chapel, shrine and museum provide further cultural and religious themes for a stay.

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