With news of the world’s longest coastal path opening in the UK and Mallorca’s new hiking route launching in January, it’s looking to be a very good year for outdoorsy types in Europe. Joining the growing list of new trails, routes and green spaces is a brand-new nature park in Croatia.
It’s around an hour’s drive from Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, and will be called the Zagorje Mountains Nature Park. It’s Croatia’s 13th protected green space and the first since Dinara Nature Park was established back in 2021. Oh, and it looks absolutely idyllic.
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The site sprawls a vast 30,000-hectare patch, with 150km of stunning trails for cyclists and hikers, which journey through oak forests and connect historic mountain routes with little villages and scenic viewpoints. From Mount Ivanščica, the region’s highest peak, you can take in glorious views over northern Croatia and even towards neighbouring Slovenia.
The designation will not only help safeguard the environment, ecosystems and heritage of the region, but also means important conservation funding will now be accessible.
‘Croatia is known for its coastline and islands, but this new nature park highlights the extraordinary landscapes of our inland regions,’ says director of Croatian national tourist office in the UK Bisera Fabrio. ‘The Zagorje Mountains offer a different perspective of Croatia – one of forests, hills, castles and outdoor adventure, and it’s just a short journey from Zagreb.’
There’s plenty to see in the Zagorje region. Trakošćan Castle is one of the best-preserved castles in the country, while the Vindija Cave is an important prehistoric archeological site, home to a rich collection of Paleolithic artifacts.
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