The Municipality of Velika is home to Papuk Nature Park, a specific circular cycling route, and cultural and recreational attractions in Velika.
A circular cycling route with clear landmarks
The Velika–Dubočanka–Velika cycling route is 20.8 kilometres long and forms a loop back to its starting point at St. Augustine’s Church in Velika. The route runs through the Dubočanka Valley; along the way, a sign points to the Lapjak viewpoint. Its length, circular layout, and start and finish point give the tour a clear framework for planning.
Papuk as a landscape setting
Part of Papuk Nature Park lies within the Municipality of Velika. The part of the park located in the municipality is a wooded mountain and hill landscape with smaller meadows, and makes up one third of the municipality’s total area. Forests, ridges and open meadows are therefore defining features of the region’s landscape.
History and fossils in Velika
The medieval old town of Velika is registered as protected cultural heritage under designation Z-419. The oldest Gothic part of St. Augustine’s Church dates from the 14th century or possibly an even earlier period. The church’s sanctuary also has an outdoor altar for liturgical services held outside.
The House of the Pannonian Sea is a visitor and education centre in Velika. It displays real fossils found on Papuk: fossilised shells, snails and corals, as well as a dolphin vertebra, shark teeth, fossilised leaves and a rhinoceros jawbone. Outside, an educational maze with information boards and sculptures of prehistoric animals complements the exhibition.
Water and outdoor activities
Shhhuma Aquapark is in Velika, in the heart of Papuk Nature Park, right by the thermal water spring. The complex has six swimming pools and three waterslides. It also features a water tower for children, a children’s water playground and a lazy river. Duboka Adventure Park is also in Velika, at F. Cirakija 21k, and has a zip line.
Duboka Eco Camp is at the entrance to Papuk Nature Park in Velika, on the Dubočanka River. The Shhhuma Restaurant is also in Velika, at Cirakijeva bb.
Hiking trails and event traditions
The Lapjak Walk&Run Trail starts and finishes in front of the House of the Pannonian Sea and passes by the Papuk Nature Park educational trail. Papučki jaglaci is a long-running mountaineering event; its 42nd edition took place in Velika on 16 and 17 March 2024. In that edition’s programme, the Staza jaglaca trail started and finished at Planinarski dom Lapjak. The mountain trail was described as easy, with a duration of three hours. Its route passed Stari grad, Tauberove stijene, the Lapjak summit and Šulerov put. If you want to include Papučki jaglaci in a trip today, check the current event dates.
Trenkovo: Castle and Park
In Trenkovo, Baron Trenk’s castle was the central building on Baron Franjo Trenk’s estate in the first half of the 18th century. Trenkovo Park was declared a monument of garden and park architecture in 1964. The Veličanka stream runs through the approximately eight-hectare park; this area figure is an approximate guide to its size.
Getting there and bike rentals
The HŽ Putnički prijevoz timetable lists rail connection 43 between Velika, Požega and Pleternica. The published timetable is valid from 14 December 2025 to 12 December 2026. Check it before your trip.
Mountain bikes and electric bikes can be rented at the Papuk Nature Park administration building, Stjepana Radića 46, 34300 Velika, by prior arrangement only. Before your trip, check whether seasonal rentals are available on your dates. Bikes rented in Velika can be returned in Jankovac, and vice versa, no later than 7 p.m.; allow for this deadline and confirm the current rental conditions in advance.
Discover more destinations: Velika, Toranj, Trenkovo, Municipality of Pleternica, Municipality of Kutjevo, Municipality of Čaglin, Municipality of Jakšić, Municipality of Lipik.
Go to the regional travel overview: Požega-Slavonia County.
