Lovinac, Sacred Hill

Zir, Debeljača Cave, Sveti Rok
A1- Exit 13, Gornja Ploča

Mystical and Beautiful

The municipality of Lovinac is situated in the south of Lika, on the edge of the Lika basin that is naturally connected to the fields of Gračac, in the Gospić – Udbina – Gračac triangle. A singular geographical boundary in the sub-Mediterranean area from the south, southeast and west is amrked by the Velebit massif. Remains of Japodic hillforts such as Rukavinska, Vrkljanske, Cvituša and Razvala; remains and the reconstructed Roman road under Cvituša and the remains of the Medieval hillfort in the region of Lovinac such as Novak grad with Štulića tower, Vranik, Budak, Zagon, Lukavac and Lovinac are witnesses of the century-long settling of the Lovinac region.




Today the municipality of Lovinac is best known for its preserved and protected natural values: attractive natural lndscape, thick and intact woods, numerous karst phenomena, clean rivers and streams. The area of the municipality of Lovinac covers the highest peaks of Paklenica National Park such as the special reserve „Sveto brdo“  (Holy Mountain) and a large part of Velebit Nature Park.

Did you know?

On the border of Dalmatia and Lika, with the support of the European Union, the biggest skiing center in Croatia is to be built, a center for mountain tourism – Sveto brdo on the Velebit that will connect Lika and Dalmatia in tourism and economy. The 11-km-long route for the gondola will lead from Sveti Rok to Modrići and Rovanjska.

Arrival

Motorway A1, exit in the municipality of Lovinac in Sveti Rok and the Gornja Ploča junction.

Tour Plan

The easiest way to tour the Lovinac area is by bicycle, and they can be rented in the PZ Lovinac Agricultural Association building. The entire region is connected with four cycling trails: Ličko Polje Trail, Ričica Valley, Velebit Trail and Suvajski bunari Trail –  Japode Trail. The highest ponits in the municipality are the Velebit peaks: Sveto brdo (1753 m above sea level) and Babin vrh (1744 above sea level)
Natural (karst) and artificial lakes, such as the  Ričica accumulation –Štikada Lake and Opsenice  River–Sveti Rok Lake

We recommend

– PZ Lovinac tasting center
– Roman road under Cvituša
– „Turska kula“  (Turkish tower) in Varanik
– „Zdunić kula“ in Smokrić from 1744.
– stone bridge, water storage and old school in Smokrić
– wells and stone passages across Suvaje
„Travić“ Mlin in Lovinac from the 19th cent.
– „Josetin“ mill at Bakovac  Ričica
– „Vrilo mudrosti“ in Sveti Rok, on the way to the historical Alan Road  across the Velebit
– Alan Road (so-aclled Majstorica) finished in 1832
– Japodic hillforts: Cvituša, Vrkljanske, Rukavinska
– madieval hillforts: the old town of Lovinac in Sveti Rok and štulić Tower in Ploča
– cave in Debeljača: found during the exploitation of stone for the construction of  Motorway A1
– permanent source of drinking water under the Velebit and Resnik is the biggest natural wealth of the region: Studena source, Holjevac, Vrilo mudrosti (Source of Wisdom), Kozjan, Kuduzovac, Vriline, Liščani bunari (wells) and other.

Activities

– cycling, sleighing and skiing in the winter (sleighs can be let out in restaurant Braja)
– summer bathing in Sveti Rok Lake and the rivers
– hiking, free climbing and caving  
– hunting and fishing are very popular in the entire Lovinac region 

Events

– Day of the municipality of  Lovinac on August 4th  when a competition in the traditional Lika games is organized: pulling ropes, throwing stones,  throwing horseshoes, climbing  the hay stack and other.
– The feast of St Rocco on August 16 is the biggest and best known religious celebration  in Lika that has been traditionally celebrated since 1790.
– The feast of St. Michael on September 29 is traditionally the biggest feast  in Lovinac.

Useful Information

What to See

Travić Lovinac Mill
Stone crossing across the Suvaja
Rocco's Cave

Excursions from locality Lovinac:

Cerovačke caves (20 min),  Nikola Tesla Memorial Center (30 min), Krka National Park(60 min), Kornati NP (45 min), Plitvice Lake NP (45 min), Paklenica NP (30 min), North Velebit NP (30 min), Lake Vrana Nature Park (50 min), Zadar city (50 min), Unesco's city of šibenik  (70 min), Unesco's city of Trogir (120 min), Unesco's city of Split (140 min)
(Distance in minutes refers to car driving distance)

Where to Eat

Restoran „Braja“   
Jurjevići 5, Sveti Rok, 53 244 Lovinac
tel./faks: +38 (0)53 636 173
mob.: +385 (0)98 239 140
djurjevic@globalnet.hr

Where to Stay

Apartments Banica
Lovinac 28
HR-53244 Lovinac

Tel: +385 (0)53 681 028
Mob: +385 (0)98 214 288
www.banica.info

Sveto brdo Development Agency   
Centar 34, 53 244 Lovinac
tel./faks: +385 (0)53 681 005
mob.: +385 (0)98 490 902
www.lovinac.hr
www.svetobrdo.com.hr

PZ Lovinac – Tasting Center
Centar 30, 53 244 Lovinac
tel.: +385 (0)53 681 094
faks: +385 (0)53 681 604
mob.:  +385 (0)98 382 218
www.lickikrumpir.com