Mrkopalj is considered the cradle of Croatian skiing. Croatia’s first ski jumping hill, “Pod Vrhin,” was built here in 1934. For travelers interested in the history of winter sports, this is a distinctive introduction to the Municipality of Mrkopalj. Alongside this sporting history, protected nature, hiking trails, and memorial sites are among the other things to discover in the municipality.
Skiing History and Collection
The Historical and Ethnographic Collection of Mrkopalj opened in 2017 in the center of Mrkopalj, on the first floor of the cultural center. It contains more than 550 historical photographs and approximately 200 old objects. These include a document on the founding of the parish in 1771 and a 1933 design for the “Pod Vrhin” ski jumping hill. Handcrafted skis, ski poles, snowshoes, and a rescue sled add tangible equipment from the history of winter sports to the collection. The 1933 design and the construction of the hill in 1934 are one year apart, placing the planning and construction of the same structure in a clear chronological relationship.
Memorial Sites and Religious Heritage
The Calvary in Mrkopalj consists of three crosses with bronze sculptures. Pilgrims visit the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Mrkopalj every year on the third Sunday in September. Matić poljana is another memorial site: 26 stones commemorate 26 soldiers who died in a snowstorm in February 1944. The three places represent different forms of remembrance—a group of crosses, an annual pilgrimage, and a specific war memorial.
Natural Areas and Trails
Bijele stijene and Samarske stijene are located in the area of the Municipality of Mrkopalj and were declared strict nature reserves in 1985. Check the current conservation regulations before visiting. The Mrkopalj hiking trail has eight checkpoints: Vrh Samarskih stijena at 1,302 meters above sea level, Stepenica, Piramida, Veliki Kanjon, Dvorac, Južni vrh, Amfiteatar, and Razbijeni vrh.
The Čelimbaša Trail offers a different destination: it leads from Mrkopalj up Mount Čelimbaša to a viewpoint at the summit. The hiking trail therefore focuses on eight checkpoints, while the Čelimbaša Trail leads to a summit viewpoint. In winter, Čelimbaša is used for skiing and sledding. The Croatian Biathlon Center Zagmajna has 4.5 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails and a biathlon shooting range. Together with the historic ski jumping hill, this showcases two different sides of winter sports in Mrkopalj: ski jumping history on the one hand, and cross-country skiing and biathlon on the other.
Getting Around and the Green Market
The D32 state road connects Prezid, Delnice, Mrkopalj, and Jezerane. Mrkopalj also has a year-round green market, where around a dozen local producers from Gorski Kotar are represented. Check the market schedule before your trip. The named places along the D32, the market, and the area’s diverse cultural and natural attractions offer different ways to discover the Municipality of Mrkopalj according to your interests.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Sunger, Mrkopalj, Brestova Draga, Begovo Razdolje, Tuk Vojni, Municipality of Crikvenica, Municipality of Kastav, Municipality of Čabar.
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