Municipality of Stubičke Toplice: Hiking Trails, Nature and History
Accommodation in Municipality of Stubičke Toplice
Hiking trails, natural monuments and places of cultural and historical interest shape the range of excursions in the Municipality of Stubičke Toplice. The trails differ in length and route: the “Kamenjak” historical educational trail is 1,200 metres long, while the “Kapelščak” educational and recreational trail measures 2 kilometres. Walking Kapelščak at a leisurely pace takes about 45 minutes. These details give you concrete points of reference for comparing distances and time requirements when planning your day.
File:Center of Stubicke Toplice on January 1, 2019.jpg
Photo: Dorianbezak via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hiking trails and their different routes
The “Kamenjak” historical educational trail has an elevation difference of 87 metres. Rest areas and information boards about local trees, plants and animal species enhance the trail. It therefore combines exercise with insights into the natural surroundings of Kamenjak Forest.
The “Kapelščak” educational and recreational trail starts in Maksimilijana Vrhovca Park and climbs towards the viewpoint and the Chapel of Saint Catherine. Its facilities include information boards, eco-messages, wooden benches and rubbish bins. The approximate 45-minute walking time at a leisurely pace helps you gauge how long the trail will take; its uphill route sets it apart from a walk focused mainly on comparing the distance of Kamenjak.
Longer hikes are also described. Hiking Trail 38 leads from Stubičke Topliceto Main Hiking Trail 1 on the ridge of Medvednica. Hiking Trail 39 runs from the Zagorje side of Stubičke Toplice via Pila to Medvednica’s summit, Sljeme, and has two access points. The full route from Stubičke Toplice to Sljeme is listed as taking about four hours on foot. If you are considering this route, the approximate duration helps distinguish it from the shorter educational and recreational trails.
Natural monuments and places of cultural and historical interest
The pedunculate oak “Galženjak” stands in Kamenjak Forest along the “Kamenjak” historical educational trail. It is protected as a natural monument. The yew at the upper end of the Horvatove stube is also protected; it is considered one of the oldest specimens of its kind in Croatia. These two trees provide distinct points of interest in different natural settings: Galženjak is on the educational trail, while the yew stands at the top of the stone steps.
The Horvatove stube comprise 500 stone steps built single-handedly by Vladimir Horvat between 1946 and 1953. The number of steps and the period in which they were built also make the staircase a destination of cultural and historical interest. At Kapelščak, a memorial plaque beside the Chapel of Saint Catherine commemorates the last battle of the 1573 Peasant Revolt. The chapel itself was built and consecrated in 1814, and is considered a rare example of early Neoclassicism.
The Betlehemska spilja is also located on the grounds of the Parish Church of Saint Catherine. It houses a permanent exhibition of nativity scenes and the tomb of Christ. The Betlehemska spilja is the work of sculptor Izidor Popijač Bednjanski. Those interested in religious art and specially designed places of remembrance will find another cultural highlight here, alongside the trails and the chapel.
The area’s natural character also includes four mineral springs. They are hyperthermal, with temperatures reaching up to 69.7 °C. The event “Gljivarenje v Stubakima” provides a culinary connection to the region and promotes Zagorje’s gastronomic tradition. Together with the hiking trails, natural monuments and historic sites, these offer a range of themes to shape your travel plans around.
For the wider travel overview: Krapinsko-Zagorska.
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