Nature and culture take many forms in Pleternica: in its wine-growing landscapes and forests, Bećarac music and church festival traditions. When planning a visit, it is worth distinguishing between these highlights: the routes offer different experiences, while the museum, squares and recurring festivals provide further ways to explore the city.
Wine Landscapes and Forest Trails
The Cesta ruža i vina starts in the centre of Pleternica and runs for 3.5 kilometres through vineyards to the Bačva viewpoint on Starac Hill. From there, views stretch across the vineyards and the valley. The route can be explored on foot, by bicycle, by bus or on the Brzi Vinko tourist train. A horse-drawn carriage ride can be arranged in advance.
The Poučna staza Starac offers a different focus. It leads from the parish church past St Peter’s Chapel to Starac Hill and runs through woodland. Ten information boards cover forest and biodiversity conservation; the route also includes a rest area and the Bačva viewpoint, with views over the Zlatna Valley. So while the wine route foregrounds vineyards and valley views, the educational trail focuses on forests and nature interpretation.
Discover and Understand Nature
Terra Panonica’s permanent exhibition presents the natural heritage of Pleternica and Požega-Slavonia County across six thematic areas. It introduces five habitats: the forests of the Dilj Mountains, the landscape around Sovsko Lake, the area along the Orljava River, fragrant meadows and Trbušnjak Cave. The topics are explored through additional formats, including a VR experience about the prehistoric Pannonian Sea, tablets for discovering plant and animal species, educational kits and a short animated film. Pleternica’s small hydroelectric plant also serves as an educational mini-centre for green energy.
Bećarac, Customs and City History
The Muzej bećarca is dedicated to the Bećarac singing tradition and its links to local everyday life, customs, clothing, original objects, seasonal traditions and well-known performers. Visitors can take part in a karaoke-style workshop, play a video game featuring the tambura, try a real tambura instrument and join educational workshops. The museum thus combines cultural context with hands-on activities.
Trg bećarca lies on the Orljava River. Its colourful paving symbolically evokes the fields of Slavonia, while raised sections form an amphitheatre overlooking the river. The history of St Nicholas Church can also be placed in context: the new church was consecrated in 1971 after the former one had been demolished.
Church Traditions and Festival Dates
St Peter’s Chapel stands on Starac Hill. A Stations of the Cross service is held there on Palm Sunday, and the chapel is also visited for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. The Shrine of Our Lady of Tears is considered Croatia’s only officially recognised shrine dedicated to this Marian devotion. It is active as a place of worship year-round, with a votive day observed on the last Saturday of each month.
Two annual events are also worth considering when planning a trip. Devetnica Gospi od Suza takes place every year from 23 to 31 August and concludes with a candlelit procession. In mid-June, the children’s tambura festival Cvjetići glazbe is part of LIDAS in Pleternica. It promotes children’s music and a tambura tradition dating back more than 30 years.
Discover more destinations: Ratkovica.
Go to the main travel overview: Općina Pleternica.
