Municipality of Donja Voća: Vindija, Chapels and Art

The Municipality of Donja Voća brings together several distinct themes: the early history of humankind at Špilja Vindija, sacred architecture and art, and hiking and cycling routes. When planning your trip, you can explore these themes separately—from archaeological traces to churches and local artists, as well as outdoor activities.

Špilja Vindija: Archaeology and Natural Monument

Špilja Vindija is protected as both a cultural monument and a natural monument. Analyses of fossils show that Neanderthals lived in the cave more than 40,000 years ago. This makes it not only a protected site, but also a place where finds reveal a very distant chapter in human history.

The augmented reality app “Prehistory Adventure” also offers a way to explore the archaeological site. It is available on all mobile devices and includes expert descriptions of Špilja Vindija as well as a research quiz. As part of the project of the same name, the road to the cave was reconstructed from 2018 to 2020.

Chapels, Church and Regional Art

The old medieval, Baroque-style chapel of Sv. Tome stands in the upper part of Donja Voća. Its Baroque renovation in the first decades of the 18th century added Baroque vaults to the interior of the medieval building, along with movable furnishings. In 1736, Ivan Krstitelj Ranger painted the altarpiece “Doubting Thomas with Christ” for the main altar.

The parish church of Sv. Martina biskupa is located in the centre of the settlement of Donja Voća. The parish also has a long history: it was listed in 1334 in the first complete register of parishes in the Diocese of Zagreb. The chapel, parish church and this historical record offer different points of interest if you are interested in religious architecture and the history of the municipality.

Voća is also associated with naive art. Slavko Stolnik was born here and created most of his finest works in Voća. He drew inspiration from local motifs depicting everyday life. Stjepan Stolnik and Radovan Švetak also found inspiration for their naive art in nature, idyllic landscapes and the people who lived there.

Visits by Prior Arrangement and Other Places

In Gornja Voća, you can visit “Virtualna zagorska hiža” by prior arrangement with the Municipality of Donja Voća. Making an appointment in advance is part of planning your visit. Another local place to visit is Sportski park hrvatskih branitelja in Donja Voća, which includes a modern football pitch, a beach volleyball court, a children’s playground and a seating area.

Hiking and Cycling

The “Planinarski put po Ravnoj gori” is approximately 26 kilometres long and has ten checkpoints. It starts in Donja Voća, passes Špilja Vindija and heads towards the summit of Ravna gora. This describes a specific hiking route, with an approximate length and named waypoints.

Cycling in Voća takes in numerous marked and unmarked trails, forest tracks and roads. Traffic on local roads and trails is light, although traffic levels may vary depending on the road and time of day. The hiking route described above, with its course and checkpoints, therefore differs from the various types of trails and roads used for cycling.

A Dated Event Snapshot

On 21 June 2025, the eleventh edition of the event “Špilja Vindija – naša prošlost i budućnost” took place in front of Špilja Vindija. Traditional local specialities and souvenirs were offered at the foot of the cave during the event.

Discover more destinations: Donja Voća, Gornja Voća, Gornji Kneginec, Municipality of Bednja, Municipality of Visoko, Municipality of Ivanec, Municipality of Novi Marof, Municipality of Lepoglava.

For the wider travel overview: Varaždin County.