Municipality of Velika: Papuk, cycling routes and cultural heritage

The Municipality of Velika brings together the landscapes of Papuk, cycling and hiking trails, and cultural sites. Papuk Nature Park lies within the Municipality of Velika. The part of the park located here is a wooded mountain and hill landscape with smaller meadows, and covers one third of the municipality’s area. Those planning a trip can combine experiences in nature with a look at Velika’s architectural and exhibition history.

Papuk and cycling routes

The Velika–Dubočanka–Velika cycling route is a 20.8-kilometre circular route. The start and finish are at the Church of St. Augustine in Velika. The route runs through the Dubočanka Valley; along the way, a sign points to the Lapjak viewpoint.

The Walk&Run Lapjak Trail also starts and ends in front of the House of the Pannonian Sea in Velika. Along the way, it passes an educational trail in Papuk Nature Park. For a hike connected to a historical programme, take a look at the 42nd edition of the long-running Papučki jaglaci mountaineering event, which took place in Velika on 16 and 17 March 2024. At the time, the Staza jaglaca began and ended at the Planinarski dom Lapjak. The programme listed the easy mountain trail as taking three hours; the route went via Stari grad, Tauberove stijene, the summit of Lapjak and Šulerov put.

Fossils, water and activity

The House of the Pannonian Sea is a visitor and education centre in Velika. It displays real fossils found on Papuk: petrified shells, snails and corals, as well as a dolphin vertebra, shark teeth, fossilised leaves and a rhinoceros jaw. Visitors can see everything from small fossils to striking finds from larger animals. Outside, an educational maze with information panels and sculptures of prehistoric animals adds to the theme.

Aquapark Shhhuma is in Velika, in Papuk Nature Park, right by the thermal water spring. Its facilities include six swimming pools and three water slides, along with a water tower for children, a children’s water playground and a current channel. Adrenaline Park Duboka is located at F. Cirakija 21k in Velika and has a zipline.

Cultural history in Velika and Trenkovo

The medieval old town of Velika is listed as protected cultural heritage in the Municipality of Velika under reference number Z-419. The oldest Gothic part of the Church of St. Augustine dates from the 14th century or possibly earlier. The sanctuary also has an outdoor altar for open-air liturgical celebrations. Together, these features span the town’s architectural history and its religious use.

In Trenkovo, Baron Trenk Castle was the central building on Baron Franjo Trenk’s estate in the first half of the 18th century. Trenkovo Park was declared a monument of garden and park architecture in 1964. The Veličanka stream runs through the approximately eight-hectare park. The castle’s history, the park’s protected status and the stream offer different ways to understand the place and its landscape.

Getting there and practical planning

The HŽ Putnički prijevoz timetable lists railway connection 43 between Velika, Požega and Pleternica. The stated timetable is valid from 14 December 2025 to 12 December 2026. Check the departure times for your travel date before planning your journey.

Mountain bikes and electric bicycles can be rented at the Papuk Nature Park administration building in Velika, Stjepana Radića 46, 34300 Velika, by prior arrangement only. Confirm the seasonal opening hours before setting out. Bicycles rented in Velika can be returned in Jankovac, and vice versa; they must be returned by 7 p.m. at the latest. Also check the current rental conditions if you plan to use this return option.

Discover more destinations: Velika, Toranj, Trenkovo, Municipality of Lipik, Municipality of Jakšić, Municipality of Kutjevo, Municipality of Brestovac, Municipality of Čaglin.

See the broader travel overview: Požega-Slavonia County.