Nature Park Lonjsko polje

Story of the Park

Lonjsko polje: it is one of the biggest and best-preserved natural flood areas in Europe. Floodplain forests of pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash growing in the area are highly representative deciduous forest complexes, not merely at the level of Europe, but throughout the Western Palearctic. Lonjsko polje enjoys a truly special place on the map of European natural wonders: it is one of the last areas in Europe where traditional grazing is still preserved, and livestock still roams freely on large joint pastures; on top of that, it has the first declared “stork village” in Europe... Whether by foot, bike, canoe, river ferry or boat, you are free to discover the uniqueness of Lonjsko polje for yourself.

Lonjsko Polje Nature Park is home to biggest complexes of natural and preserved floodplain forests in Europe. That fact alone is sufficient to sense the importance and uniqueness of this area for Croatian, but also for European biodiversity. With the surface of 50,650 hectares, it is one of the biggest protected wetland areas in the Danube basin.

The soil of the area, rich in floodwater, provides good conditions for growth of highly valued Slavonian pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash. The durability of these trees is synonymous throughout the world with the extraordinarily high quality of timber it provides. There are other plant species too, making this a truly special place – all of it originating in periodic flooding that creates a unique natural world.

Four leaf clover is one of the plants that covers flooded pastures and silty soil. Lonjsko polje is the last safe home of that species in Europe, since it already disappeared in other areas due to the reclamation and disappearance of wetland habitats.

Nature is inseparable and intertwined, and there are few places where that is clear as vividly as in Lonjsko polje. When a flood recedes, pigs, cows and horses return for grazing, staying in the area until the first snow.

Autochthonous breeds are what gives the identity to this wetland area – the Posavina horse, Croatian cold-blooded horse, Slavonian-Syrmian Podolian cattle, Posavina goose, Posavina pointer, and the Turopolje pig, the latter being the most endangered autochthonous breed.

Lonjsko polje provides an authentic experience of self-regulatory balance in nature. It is a world where plants and autochthonous breeds live in harmony, constantly renewing the cycle of life.

When people in this area built their homes, they didn’t impose them violently on nature. Building heritage and the local houses, rare but also preserved today, are a testimony to the indivisible nature of coexistence between people and nature in Lonjsko polje.

These houses were made from oak, built on the basis of intuition and many years of experience that gradually turned into knowledge of local builders, who fitted the houses into the environment in the best way possible.

In the village of Krapje, a historical building area, the originality of traditional architecture has been preserved in its totality. This is a globally unique example of traditional wood architecture in a floodplain environment, with a characteristic linear spatial organization of the village.

There are many wooden houses in Krapje, silent in their deep and long history, still remembering the hands that built them, inviting visitors to have a look at them. However, other historical facilities can be seen in the village as well: the church, building of the firefighters’ association, municipal building, water mill, cemetery, and a local inn.

Krapje is the only village in Croatia with the status of an architectural heritage village. Since 1995, the European Heritage Days are traditionally marked in the village.

Houses of this area are witnesses to the character of the land. And that character boils down to – the flood. Waters of the rivers Sava, Lonja, Struga, Una and Kupa do what they please on this terrain. Inhabitants of the area, reconciled with that character, came up with a response to it, placid towards the flood, and yet providing safety for the households: two-storey houses. They built the walls using thick planks, followed by the ceiling and roof construction.

Livestock breeding is in touch with the rhythm of nature as well.

In the flooding season and during the winter period, farmers keep their animals in warm and dry stalls, taking care of the livestock. When the spring comes, and the water recedes, farmers let their livestock on grazing fields. That is traditional grazing, and Lonjsko polje is the only area in entire Europe where such an approach to livestock breeding has survived.

Traditional grazing is an archaic approach to grazing, with several animal species kept on pasture. Wetland habitats are used in the most efficient manner possible, as a result of experience that taught the local farmers about the logical course of animal feeding. Pigs prepare the pasture by routing up the soil, which contributes to better subsequent growth of grass for livestock grazing. Such a system is indispensible for landscape maintenance and biodiversity protection.

The Sava River is the ruler and the defining principle of life in this area.

Matter deposited by the river defined the animal world. A number of wetland birds are nesting in Lonjsko polje. White and black storks, the Eurasian spoonbill, various heron and egret species, the white-tailed eagle and the lesser spotted eagle feed on ponds and pastures of Lonjsko polje.

Two areas within the Park, the localities of Krapje Đol and Rakita, are special ornithological reserves, Krapje Đol being the first such reserve established in Croatia.

There is also the village known for its storks – Čigoč. At the initiative of the EuroNatur Foundation dedicated to the protection of European natural heritage, Čigoč was awarded the title of the European Stork Village. Many houses and barns have stork nests, with almost one hundred storks in around thirty active nests.

Numerous ethnographic collections include traditional furniture, tools and textiles. Tradition also lives on through intangible cultural heritage: dance, songs and the rich oral tradition.

This is a border area, with the spirit that passes from one generation to the next, flowing through the years like the Sava River. It brings many tales from the boundary between the East and the West, or what used to be the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire. Regardless of empires, Sava is both the beginning and the end of the story, but also a place where life of people with diverse heritage would always find bridges of cooperation.

Lonjsko polje is calling us. It has the four leaf clover, extinct in Europe, and yet coming alive in this area every spring, its abundance feeding the endangered Turopolje pig. It has more storks than villagers in one village. It is a meeting point between the East and the West in the historical region of the Croatian Military Border. It has wisdom too, with valuable hands of domestic builders leaving behind a legacy worth admiring...

Natural heritage

Lonjsko polje is one of the largest floodplains of the Danube basin. It is also a globally renowned birdwatching area, given the fact that 250 bird species have been recorded in the area, with 134 species nesting here. White and black storks, white-tailed eagle and Eurasian spoonbill are only several members of the long list of bird world in Lonjsko polje. Wetland meadows and pastures, together with floodplain forests of pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash, are just some examples of priceless values characterizing the area.

Lonjsko polje is also an example of an area where people have adapted their lives to frequent flooding, creating a tradition of living with the water, instead of attempting to fight it.

Floodplain forests

Lonjsko polje Nature Park is home to the biggest complexes of natural and conserved floodplain forests of Europe. They represent an important part of the total surface of 200,000 hectares of natural floodplain areas in the central part of the region of Posavina, and their biological and landscape value is priceless. The might of floodplain forests can be seen in the way in which they define habitats and landscapes, with certain specific species adapted to floods developing in these forests.

One of the typical species of the area is the famous Slavonian oak, an epitome of excellence in European countries such as Italy or France due to the high quality of timber. Water and floods are the key factors dictating the development of species and plant communities in forest habitats. Almost 70 percent of the Nature Park is covered by floodplain forests of pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash. Pedunculate oak forests of the area are exposed to extraordinarily intensive flooding dynamics, representing a globally relevant phenomenon. The Croatian writer Josip Kozarac, forester by vocation, dedicated some of his most beautiful works to pedunculate oak forests in the area of the Park: “Whoever visits this ancient forest of ours, with all of its marvelous trees that stand so upright, clean and tall, simply cannot forget this epitome of perfection. This is where huge oak trees rise high into the air, their grayish bark marked by straight lines that run the length of twenty-meter high trunks, ending with strong and wide crowns that adorn them as heroes coming back home. And so they line up in their pride, as our soldiers of the past once did, and you can see their enormous strength, their resistance to northerly winds and thunder, and you can see that they are the strongest and the noblest members of their empire and tribe.”

Floodplain grasslands

Floodplain grasslands belong to the most dynamic habitats of the Park, covering approximately 30 percent of its surface. Due to periodical dynamics of flooding caused by waters of the Sava River and its tributaries, hay meadows and livestock pastures of Lonjsko polje and Mokro polje are fully or partially flooded 30 to 100 days almost every year. They play an important role in flood defense as retention areas, and have a major ecological and economic value as part of the traditional grazing system, and as an essential element in the conservation of autochthonous Croatian breeds.

Four leaf clover, a species almost extinct in Europe due to the disappearance of wetland habitats, is still widespread on floodplain pastures of floodplain areas around the Sava River. Its thick cover spreads over the silty surfaces of pastures located in depressions in the terrain, turning into a usual terrestrial plant in times of floodwater retreat. The conservation of this species is connected with traditional grazing. A significant share of autochthonous breeds in the area spend most of the year in joint open pastures, feeding on the plant. In early spring, as the floods retreat, pigs are the first species released to pastures, helping the spread of four leaf clover rhizomes by routing up the soil, thus creating favorable ecological conditions for the growth and development of this plant. In addition to that, this area represents one of the biggest spawning grounds of common carp in the entire Danube basin. The species Eurasian spoonbill uses pastures as feeding grounds only in Lonjsko polje. Finally, hay meadows and natural meadows with tall sedge serve as nesting areas of corn crake.

Animal world

Lonjsko polje Nature Park represents one of the most important bird areas in Croatia, with its 250 recorded bird species (including 134 nesting birds). In 1989, it became part of the list of Important Bird Areas (IBA). Stork is the most interesting species for visitors, as one of the better-known European migrating birds. Adaptation of storks to coexistence with man is clearly visible in the way storks build their nests in human settlements.

Due to a large number of stork nests on the roofs of wooden houses of Posavina, the village of Čigoč became the first officially declared European stork village, back in 1994. In addition, the first ornithological reserve in Croatia was established in the area of Lonjsko polje Nature Park, back in 1963. The Special Ornithological Reserve Krapje Đol is the oldest side arm of the Sava River, protected due to the fact that it represents nesting grounds of a mixed colony of the Eurasian spoonbill and several heron and egret species: grey heron, purple heron, little egret, squacco heron, black-crowned night heron, little bittern and ferruginous duck. White-tailed eagle, the biggest bird of prey in these areas, also lives in the Park. It nests in forests near major water surfaces, and around 15 percent of the Croatian population of this bird species nests in the area of the Nature Park. The stability of 36 nesting pairs is an indicator of the level of conservation and integrity of floodplain forests of Central Posavina, which points to the important role that the area of Lonjsko polje plays in the survival of white-tailed eagle population at the level of the entire Danube basin.

Adaptation to floods

Lonjsko polje is an exceptional example of an area where people have completely adapted their way of life to the floods. Long and constant tradition of living with the floods, rather than against them, has created an extraordinary system that permeates all aspects of human interaction with the environment. People have thus organized their life in the safest places of the area, on elevations called grede right along the river. Behind the settlements, there are orchards, arable land, natural and hay meadows and flood pastures, followed by floodplain forests. Such a mode of land use is clearly conditioned by the arrival of floods and the retreat of water. The flood defense system of Srednje Posavlje uses almost 200,000 hectares of natural floodplain surfaces of the fields of Odransko, Lonjsko, Mokro and Ribarsko.

These natural retentions are important not only for the flood defense system, but also for the purification of water in watercourses, and they play an important role in the replenishment of groundwater supplies. In the international context, the area of Central Posavina with its flood defense system represents one of the first examples in the world where flood defense is based on using the natural floodplain surfaces, thus ensuring sufficient space for rivers. Spacious natural wetland habitats have been preserved in the area of Lonjsko polje, representing one of the key values of biological and landscape diversity in Central and Western Europe. Lonjsko polje Nature Park is listed as a Wetland of International Importance in the framework of the Ramsar Convention. The area is also important as a wintering and resting site for migrating birds, and it is a nesting site for almost 140 species. The values of Lonjsko polje can be preserved only by reasonable use of natural resources through the preservation of traditional agriculture, development of sustainable tourism, and Sava River Basin management in a manner that would minimize the undesirable impacts on ecological and morphological characteristics of the area.

Man’s response to living with the floods can also be seen in traditional architecture. Two-storey houses built from globally appreciated oak from the region are an example of the skill of building an entire house without a single nail. The village of Krapje in Lonjsko polje is the only village in Croatia with the status of architectural heritage village, and an example of unique traditional architecture in a picturesque setting.

The walls of wooden houses are built out of thick logs, with added ceiling and roof construction. There are single-storey houses in the area too; however, two-storey houses were much better adapted to life in Lonjsko polje due to frequent flooding.

Traditional architecture

The architectural heritage of Lonjsko polje is a reflection of indivisibility between people and nature. Traditional oak construction is a testimony to the skills of local builders, who managed to merge their houses with the environment in the best way possible. In conserved older houses, timber construction was made by splitting or hewing; in newer ones, sowing represented a frequently used method. The walls are built out of thick logs, and equipped by a ceiling and roof construction.

Although there are single-storey houses in the area as well, two-storey houses are a true reflection of the centuries of development and adjustment of construction skills to the way of life in the area exposed to frequent flooding. Villages along the Sava River are linear, with houses placed in rows that follow the main road passing along the course of the river. The village of Krapje is the only village in Croatia with the status of an architectural heritage village. The original settlement matrix has been preserved in the historical center of the village, together with a number of wooden houses built in traditional architectural style in a very picturesque ambiance. In addition to traditional architecture, public historical buildings can also be seen in the village: the church, parish house, building of the firefighters’ association, a local inn, municipal building, water mill and the cemetery. These are the values that make Krapje a nationally important site, with the European Heritage Days traditionally marked in the village since 1995.

Cultural landscape

Due to its authentic organization of land use and traditional land use system, Lonjsko polje represents a unique landscape developed in the specific political and economic system of the Croatian Military Border between the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire. The area is a unique example of a cultural landscape with a preserved medieval system of joint grazing of several species, typical for the entire Central Europe until the second half of the 19th century.

Lonjsko polje Nature Park is a unique area with a strong concentration of authentic traditional wood architecture. The main construction material is the world-renowned Slavonian oak from floodplain forests of the region of Posavina. Lonjsko Polje Nature Park is a remarkable European example of an area in which man has adapted its way of life to floods in a most comprehensive manner.

Legend of the Outlaws

During the times of the Ottoman Empire, people were exhausted due to incessant wars and poverty. It was the time of hajduci – outlaws that the villages perceived as genuine heroes. While they represented plain thieves and outcasts from the point of view of noble families, the poor folk saw them as a glimmer of hope and a symbol of the glory of heroism. Led by their outlaw code, stating that it is “disgraceful to rob a poor man”, they were only robbing the rich, dividing their loot with the poor locals.

One day, the guards caught a well-known outlaw, and punished him to death by hanging. As he waited for the rope, his mother came crying, and she cried: “Oh, my dear son, why have you chosen such a dishonest life?” The son replied: “How can you say that, mother? I don’t remember you complaining when I was bringing you eggs; you even asked me how come I didn’t bring a chicken too.“

Author: Arhiva PP Lonjsko polje

Author: Balenović

Author: Martina Turan

Author: Arhiva PP Lonjsko polje

Author: Aleksandra

Author: Balenović

Author: Arhiva PP Lonjsko polje

Author: Pozder

Bicycling

Taking a bike ride through Lonjsko polje is a special experience, with four rivers flowing through the Nature Park – Sava, Trebež, Pakra and Ilova. The trails are mostly flat, and they include asphalt trails, gravel trails and forest paths. Given the floodplain character of the area, visitors should check whether the trails are passable prior to visit. Experience of the forest, so vividly described by the Croatian writer Josip Kozarac and representing a significant aspect of the unique atmosphere of Lonjsko polje, is certain to leave a lasting impression on cyclists.

Sava National Route (Posavina Route)

The Posavina Route is the most attractive cycling route in the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, taking cyclists along the Ž-3209 county road and along the left bank of the Sava River for 77.8 kilometers. The trail begins below the walls of the Old Town of Sisak, and it enters the Nature Park in the European Stork Village of Čigoč. It then passes through typical Posavina villages, such as Mužilovčica, Suvoj, Lonja and the architectural heritage village of Krapje.

After Drenov Bok, the trail passes through the settlement of Jasenovac and continues towards Novska, where it connects with the trail SMŽ 1. Unspoiled nature, friendly people, wooden architecture of Posavina, ethnological collections and opportunities to get acquainted with numerous local sites of interest – these are some of the reasons why this cycling route is more than worth exploring.

Trail length: 77.8 km

Bicycle rental possibilities: At the Čigoč information center (Čigoč no. 26) and Krapje visitor center (Krapje no. 18).

Trail type: Asphalt

Route SMŽ/SMC 1

This route is 114 kilometers long. It begins along the D-36 state road from Sisak, continuing along Ž-3249 county road via Popovača, Kutina and Lipovljani. In Novska, the trail then switches to D-47 state road in the direction of Jasenovac, Hrvatska Dubica and Hrvatska Kostajnica. This route connects the regions of Posavina and Pounje through the area of Moslavina.

In Popovača and Kutina, there is a possibility to explore the network of Moslavina cycling routes passing along attractive wine roads, where you can taste the renowned šklet, autochthonous white wine variety of Moslavina. From Jasenovac onwards, the route leads from the confluence of the rivers Una and Sava along the road that passes through settlements at the left bank of the unique and clear Una River, where you can stop and get refreshment at any point. However, cyclists need to exercise extra caution along this route, because the traffic gets very intense along the section from Popovača to Novska.

Trail length: 144 km

Bicycle rental possibilities: At the Čigoč information center (Čigoč no. 26) and Krapje visitor center (Krapje no. 18).

Trail type: Asphalt

Route SMŽ/SMC 2

This route along the D-224 state road connects Sisak and Hrvatska Dubica via Sunja, and it is 49 kilometers long. If you find yourself along that route in mid-July, do not miss the horse-breeding exhibition in Sunja, where you can see the best selection of the original horse breeds of Croatian Posavina horse and Croatian cold-blooded horse.

Passing through the villages such as Staza, Papići, Šaš and Živaja, you can make a brief detour and enjoy the beauty of the area of Sunjsko polje.

Trail length: 49 km

Bicycle rental possibilities: At the Čigoč information center (Čigoč no. 26) and Krapje visitor center (Krapje no. 18).

Trail type: Asphalt, gravel

Local route PPLP/LPNP 1

This route is 23.7 kilometers long. It begins at the village of Kratečko and passes across the Sava River towards Sunja, linking the areas of Lonjsko polje and Sunjsko polje (route SMŽ 2). In order to pass the river, you need to use the traditional river raft, which adds to the attractiveness of this route.

What is interesting is that this raft, which has 24 tons of carrying capacity, is powered by the river current as it transports goods and passengers to the other river bank, and the friendly ferryman will be happy to tell you the details about this unusual transfer. Upon crossing to the right bank of the Sava, the route takes cyclists to the hamlet of Sunjsko Selišće, continuing along the local road through the valley of the river of Sunja to the settlement of Sunja as the final destination.

Trail length: 23.7 km

Bicycle rental possibilities: At the Čigoč information center (Čigoč no. 26) and Krapje visitor center (Krapje no. 18).

Trail type: Asphalt

Local route PPLP/LPNP 2

This route is only 12 kilometers long, linking the Sava National Route (Posavina Route) with the SMŽ 1 route. Beginning at Krapje, we pass the canal of Veliki Strug across a bridge. This canal is very important, as it is directly linked with the Sava River, allowing floodwater to naturally enter the plain of Lonjsko polje. This area is also important for the spawning of fish, making Strug a well-known destination for recreational fishing.

From the village of Plesmo onwards, the route passes through the floodplain forest of Rastina, continuing through the villages of Stara Subocka and Nova Subocka and connecting with the route SMŽ 1.

Trail length: 12 km

Bicycle rental possibilities: At the Čigoč information center (Čigoč no. 26) and Krapje visitor center (Krapje no. 18).

Trail type: Asphalt

Local route PPLP/LPNP 3

This route is 29.1 kilometers long, linking the Sava National Route (Posavina Route) with the SMŽ 1 route (the Moslavina section) not far from the European Stork Village of Čigoč. The route starts at the village of Gušće and leads towards the village of Veliko Svinjičko. We then leave the village and enter a gravel forest path (5.5 kilometers long) taking us along the levee of the creek of Lonja to the D-36 state road. The route then continues along the local road through the village of Stružec, the site of what was once the most abundant oil field in Croatia. This is where we come across a mild climb for the first time – a sign that we are coming close to Osekovo and the foothills of Moslavačko gorje.

People with good knowledge of the Nature Park will tell you that it is precisely from Osekovo that one can enjoy the most beautiful view of the wide expanse of Lonjsko polje. The route continues through the villages of Donja Gračenica and Gornja Gračenica, finally connecting with the SMŽ 1 trail route. Do not miss the opportunity to visit the chapel of St. Fabian and St. Sebastian in Donja Gračenica – a rare example of preserved wooden sacral architecture of Moslavina.

Trail length: 29.1 km

Bicycle rental possibilities: At the Čigoč information center (Čigoč no. 26) and Krapje visitor center (Krapje no. 18).

Trail type: Asphalt, gravel

Local route PPLP/LPNP 4

This route, 20 kilometers long, touches upon as many as four rivers (Sava, Trebež, Pakra and Ilova). It passes through the heart of Lonjsko polje, connecting the Sava National Route (Posavina Route) with the SMŽ 1 route. We start along a gravel path (7.5 kilometers long) from the village of Trebež to Kraljeva Velika.

As we cycle along that route, we can enjoy the mysterious ambiance of centuries-old floodplain forest, described in the works of the writer and forester Josip Kozarac who spent ten years here as manager of the Forest Administration of Lipovljani. The route continues through the village of Piljenice, a picturesque settlement spread along the natural course of the Pakra River and along the fish pond of Lipovljani. This is where we cross the A3 highway, proceeding through the village of Ilova before we connect with the SMŽ 1 route.

Trail length: 20 km

Bicycle rental possibilities: At the Čigoč information center (Čigoč no. 26) and Krapje visitor center (Krapje no. 18).

Trail type: Gravel, asphalt

Cycling route Wetland Trail

This loop cycling trail begins at the visitor center in Repušnica, taking us through Repušničko polje to Čeperlin, and then along a forest road and next to a hunting lodge and phosphogypsum landfill to Radićeva Street in Kutina, before returning to the visitor center in Repušnica. The trail is predominantly flat and without climbs, and the route includes asphalt roads, hard forest roads and wetland terrain.

The trail is partly connected with the regional cycling route SMŽ 1. The route takes approximately 2 hours.

Trail length: 24 km

Bicycle rental possibilities: At the Čigoč information center (Čigoč no. 26) and Krapje visitor center (Krapje no. 18).

Trail type: Forest path, asphalt

Note: Due to occasional unfavorable hydrological circumstances resulting in the impassable wetland terrain from Vrbak to Čeperlin, prior notice is required in order for Park Management to check whether the trail can be used.

Cycling route Cycling to Lonja

The trail begins at the visitor center in Repušnica, taking cyclists along the northern levee of the Lonjsko polje retention area, and then along a dirt road to the village of Osekovo. Proceeding further, the trail leads from Gornje Selo, through Osekovsko polje to the old course of the river Lonja at Kostrinja. The trail is mostly flat and without climbs, and the route includes asphalt roads and hard forest roads.

The trail is partly connected with the regional cycling route PPLP 3. The route takes 1.5 hours.

Trail length: 16.5 km

Bicycle rental possibilities: At the Čigoč information center (Čigoč no. 26) and Krapje visitor center (Krapje no. 18).

Trail type: Forest path, asphalt

The Nature Park has four hiking trails offering distinct and unique experiences. The trails pass next to wooden houses in Krapje as wonderful examples of traditional architecture, and lead through floodplain pedunculate oak forests, floodplain meadows and pastures.

Borderers' Trail

This trail begins at Krapje and proceeds in the direction of the Orlinci pasture, with foundation stock of the critically endangered Slavonian-Podolian cattle in open range grazing. The trail then continues towards the ornithological reserve Krapje Đol as the largest nesting site of Eurasian spoonbill in Croatia. This area was once the area of the Croatian Military Border – a buffer between Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire.

Replicas of two historical wooden watchtowers have been built along this walking trail, reminding visitors of the turbulent history of the Croatian Military Border and the life of the borderers. A tour of this trail takes approximately two and a half to three hours of pleasant walking.

Trail length: 5 km

Trail difficulty: Medium difficulty

Recommended time of year for visit: April to September

Accessible to persons with disabilities: Not accessible

Recommended equipment: Suitable footwear / rubber boots in case of bad weather; mosquito repellent; sun protection

Availability of drinking water: Not available

Tena's Trail

This forest trail is a joint project of the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park and the Forest Administration of Lipovljani. The trail was built within the boundaries of the Park at the village of Piljenice (not far from the mill of Vaclavekov mlin and the fish pond of Lipovljani). Its name – Tenina staza or Tena's Trail – symbolically recalls the forester and writer Josip Kozarac, who spent ten years here (in the period 1885-1895) as the first manager of the Lipovljani Forest Administration.

In these forests he wrote his best works (such as Dead Capital, Slavonian Forest, Between Light and Dark, Tena and Mira Kodolićeva). Tena’s Trail is a gentle circular walking trail 2.5 kilometers long. It includes 16 educational panels (in Croatian and English) elaborating themes related to the typical lowland forest of pedunculate oak and European hornbeam. The path is located on a micro-elevation representing a ridge of sorts, and it is therefore outside of the area affected by flooding. The forest is a genuine treasure trove of biodiversity, and it is hard not to be moved when walking through it.

Trail length: 2.5 km

Accessible to persons with disabilities: Not accessible

Recommended equipment: Suitable footwear / rubber boots in case of bad weather; mosquito repellent; sun protection

Availability of drinking water: Not available

Posavac Trail

Posavac Trail provides visitors with a pleasant stroll that takes between two hours and two and a half hours. On the way, you can discover how the locals managed to use their arable land, meadows and pastures, while still leaving the door open to the wilderness. The trail tells of the characteristics of this floodplain area and the traditional livestock breeding on the pasture that also includes a tower for birdwatching and for observing the domestic animals in free grazing.

The tour of the trail ends with traditional farm products that represent a unique culinary offer for visitors of family farms of Posavina today. We would suggest that you start exploring this loop trail at the information center in Čigoč no. 25, where you will get all the advice you need about further directions. This loop trail is equipped with five information panels.

Trail length: 4.2 km

Trail difficulty: Medium difficulty

Accessible to persons with disabilities: Not accessible

Recommended equipment: Suitable footwear / rubber boots in case of bad weather; mosquito repellent; sun protection

Availability of drinking water: Not available

Haymaker Trail

This loop trail begins at the visitor center in Repušnica, taking us along the northern levee of the Lonjsko polje retention, next to floodplain hay meadows and pastures, across the Vrbačinec resting area, and ending at the visitor center.

Guided tour of this trail coupled with educational program is available as well, and visitors can also explore the trail on their own. Birdwatching is possible as well. The route leads along the existing forest roads and dirt roads. Visitors can see autochthonous cattle breeds in free grazing along the way.

Recommended equipment: Suitable footwear / rubber boots in case of bad weather; mosquito repellent; sun protection

Boat trips provide visitors with the opportunity to explore river landscapes that are not accessible from land. The most popular boat trip is the tour aboard the educational tourist raft Vodomar, taking visitors through a gallery of willow and poplar trees. Abundant bird world, meanders and sandbanks represent a special attraction for visitors. The riverboat captain is ready to answer questions of even the most curious visitors.

Educational and tourist raft Vodomar

Educational and tourist self-propelled raft Vodomar was designed and built by Zvonimir Marčec from Drenov Bok, and it connects the piers in Drenov Bok and Krapje. It is 15 meters long and has registered capacity of 25 persons, providing a delightful trip along the Sava River. The attractive river landscape with its rows of willows and poplars, traditional Posavina rural structures, abundant avian world, meanders and sandbanks will surely thrill visitors, offering an ideal opportunity for an exclusive Posavina photo-safari.

In addition, the experienced riverboat commander will reveal to you many interesting details about the Sava River.

Duration: 40 minutes

Suitable for individual / group visits: Group visits

Accessible to persons with disabilities: Not accessible

Excursion to Lonjsko polje with the tourist boat Juran i Sofija

One special attraction in the Nature Park particularly worth pointing out is the possibility of a solar-powered boat tour. A tour in these silent boats that can carry 12 persons (two boats) gives visitors a unique experience of the Sava River. Thanks to the boats' technical characteristics, the experience of a tour of the Lonjsko polje retention during the flooding periods is unforgettable.

Floodplain forests, wide expanses of flooded terrain and rich bird world that you encounter on a solar boat tour will give you a true experience of this "European Amazon".

Crossing the Sava River with a traditional raft

Visitors can also cross the Sava River by taking a traditional raft in the area of the Park. Two traditional rafts are still operational - one in the village of Kratečko, and one in the village of Suvoj. These rafts are powered by river currents, and using them to cross the river is a special experience, especially when coupled with the tales of the experienced ferryman. Depending on the number of persons aboard, the price of raft transfer is arranged with the ferryman.

Recommended time of year for visit: Throughout the year

Canoeing in Lonjsko polje

Canoe safari is yet another way in which visitors can enrich their stay in Lonjsko polje. You can rent a canoe at the Krapje information center, enjoying the amazing landscape of Posavina by exploring the small river (canal) of Veliki Strug, which has preserved its natural course. Canoe recreation in this oasis of dense vegetation is a true joy, and an opportunity for an unforgettable stay for the entire family and everyone wishing to experience active vacation.

Canoe safari is suitable for all age groups and various fitness levels. Since this is a lowland river, the danger of overturning is almost non-existent. The following equipment is recommended: waterproof clothes, light sport footwear, backpack or light bag, binoculars and photo camera.

Recommended time of year for visit: From May 1 until October 31

Suitable for individual / group visits: Individual visits

Accessible to persons with disabilities: Not accessible

Canoeing in Lonjsko polje

You can rent a canoe at the information center in Čigoč, and then take the equipment to Mužilovčica 7 kilometers away, where you can enjoy the ride along a river side arm called Tišina (Silence) and the abundance of flora and fauna of Lonjsko polje.

Recommended time of year for visit: From May 1 until October 31

Suitable for individual / group visits: Individual visits

Accessible to persons with disabilities: Not accessible

Tour with the tourist boat Katarina

Tourist boat Katarina capable of carrying 70 persons is moored at the pier in Jasenovac (below the railway bridge). This boat is intended for round tours that have become one of the key attractions of the tourist offer in the Nature Park.

A cruise along the Sava River to the confluence with the Una River, navigation below the road bridge and the railway bridge, the unique river landscape – all of these attractions will make the excursion a truly memorable experience. When the hydrological conditions are favorable, navigation along the Una River is also possible. Very large deck of this tourist boat is an additional benefit, providing the opportunity to organize various educational, promotional and fun events, and culinary offer is available as well.

Suitable for individual / group visits: Group visits

Accessible to persons with disabilities: Not accessible

Boat route Lonja by Boat (permanently available)

This route along the canal of Nova Lonja from Čeperlin to Kostrinja can be explored by various vessels (boats, canoes). In addition, birdwatching and presentation of traditional fishing are available as well.

Duration: 11 kilometers (22 kilometers including the return trip)

Suitable for individual / group visits: Individual visits

Accessible to persons with disabilities: Not accessible

Boat route Lonja by Boat (available during floods)

This route from Vrbak to Kostrinja can be explored during the flooding periods by various vessels (boats, canoes).

Duration: 15 kilometers (30 kilometers including the return trip)

Recommended time of year for visit: During the floods

Suitable for individual / group visits: Individual visits

Accessible to persons with disabilities: Not accessible

Birdwatching enthusiasts know about the value of Lonjsko polje. The Park includes two special ornithological reserves – Krapje Đol and Rakita. Birds are the most endangered species on the planet, and the Nature Park is home to 250 bird species. That is what makes this area a very appealing destination for even the most passionate birdwatchers.

Ornithological Reserve Krapje Đol

The area of Krapje Đol became officially declared as ornithological reserve in 1963, and it is located at the village of Drenov Bok. Protected as special ornithological reserve, it covers approximately 25 hectares. The area of Krapje Đol is a wetland area covered in dense and diverse wetland vegetation.

Until recently, Krapje Đol was the nesting area of the only colony of Eurasian spoonbill in Croatia. In recent years, approximately 90 to 140 pairs of the species are nesting here – a phenomenon relevant at the international level, since approximately 10 percent of the overall Eurasian spoonbill population in Europe nests in this area. In the past, this reserve was almost completely destroyed due to carelessness and negligence. For agricultural purposes, areas around the ornithological reserve were subjected to water management, with drainage pipes used to drain the entire surrounding area, and the species stopped nesting there as a consequence. With financial assistance of the Frankfurt-based Zoological Association, steps were taken to save the reserve. A canal was dug through from the Sava River to the site, releasing water to Krapje Đol. In 1991, the birds started nesting there again. Birdwatching enthusiasts can reach Krapje Đol by taking the Borderers' Trail.

Wildlife species that can be seen: Squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides), little egret (Egretta garzetta), great white egret (Egretta alba), black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), purple heron (Ardea purpurea), Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia).

Suitable for individual / group visits: Individual and group visits

Ornithological Reserve Rakita

Rakita was declared a special ornithological reserve in 1969. It is located in the Lonjsko polje retention area at the village of Mužilovčica. This wetland area is significant due to the presence and nesting of a large number of birds. During the winter bird migrations, sizeable wild duck populations can be seen in the area. In the surrounding pedunculate oak forests, the concentration of nesting birds is above average compared to the average in Lonjsko polje.

Rakita ornithological reserve is also an important feeding area for egrets, herons and storks, as well as for many other wading birds and birds of prey, especially in the periods of drought when the retention area of Lonjsko polje is dry.

This reserve also ended up almost completely destroyed by human activity at one point, when it lost water due to increasing drainage. However, thanks to the financial assistance of the Zoological Association from Frankfurt, a levee was built, helping to retain water most of the year.

Wildlife species that can be seen:

Great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus),
Eurasian reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus),
marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris),
sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobeanus),
Eurasian river warbler (Locustella fluviatilis),
common reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus),
wild duck (Aras platyrhynchos),
ferruginous duck (Nyroca nyroca),
Eurasian coot (Falica atra),
common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus),
white stork (Ciconia ciconia),
black stork (Ciconia nigra),
grey heron (Ardea cinerea),
purple heron (Ardea purpurea),
little egret (Egretta garzetta),
black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax),
Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia).

Suitable for individual / group visits: Individual visits

Accessible to persons with disabilities: Not accessible

Note: Visitors who wish to enter the ornithological reserve and other birdwatching sites must report to the staff on duty at Park Information Centers (in Krapje or Čigoč), where they will receive instructions on how these sites should be visited.

Retention at Mužilovčica

As we enter the retention area at Mužilovčica, we enter the core of Lonjsko polje with abundant animal world. In addition to a large number of birds using this site as feeding area, and many reptiles and amphibian species hiding in ponds, we also have the opportunity to see the autochthonous domestic animal species of the region.

Turopolje pig is the first species we are likely to notice, as it digs the ground in search of food and thus survives in nature throughout the year. In the distance, we can notice herds of the impressive Posavina horses. In the past, this species was the main working animal, and today it rests in the shade of oak forests. This area changes in appearance from one month to the next, and every new visit is a special experience.

Wildlife species that can be seen: White stork (Ciconia ciconia), black stork (Ciconia nigra), grey heron (Ardea cinerea), purple heron (Ardea purpurea), little egret (Egretta garzetta), black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), swan (Cygnus); tree frog, European fire-bellied toad, yellow-bellied toad, sand lizard, European pond turtle, grass snake; Posavina horse, Turopolje pig.

Recommended time of year for visit: Throughout the year

Suitable for individual / group visits: Individual and group visits

Accessible to persons with disabilities: Not accessible

Note: Visitors who wish to enter this area must report to the staff on duty at Park Information Centers (in Krapje or Čigoč), where they will receive instructions on how the site should be visited.

Three educational trails focus on intriguing topics. Borderers' Trail allows visitors to see the rare Podolian cattle species, and to explore the largest nesting area of Eurasian spoonbill in Krapje Đol. Tena's Trail teaches visitors about forests, and a walk along the Haymaker Trail provides an opportunity to see autochthonous breeds in natural grazing.

Posavac Trail

The trail provides visitors with a pleasant stroll that takes between two and two and a half hours. On the way, you can discover how the locals managed to use their arable land, meadows and pastures, while still leaving the door open to the wilderness. The trail tells of the characteristics of this floodplain area and the traditional livestock breeding on the pasture which also includes a tower for birdwatching and for observing the domestic animals in free grazing.

The tour of the trail ends with traditional farm products that represent a unique culinary offer for visitors of family farms of Posavina today. We would suggest that you start exploring this loop trail at the information center in Čigoč (address: Čigoč no. 25), where you will get all the advice you need about further directions. The loop trail is equipped with five information panels, and it is 4.2 kilometers long.

Trail length: 4.2 km

Duration: 2.5 hours

Number of interpretation panels: 5