Poljanica Bistranska
About this place
Poljanica Bistranska is the administrative seat of the Municipality of Bistra, one of six Bistra settlements on the north-western edge of Zagreb County. The village sits below Medvednica, while the wider Bistra area is known for a ski run that has hosted FIS World Cup races since 2005. Its earliest written record appears in King Andrew II’s charter of 1209, which mentions the Poljanica estate and the parish of St Nicholas. St Nicholas the Bishop parish church at Crkvena 1 was built in 1631 and ranks among Croatia’s earliest Baroque churches. Its present form followed the 1787 storm that brought down the tower and much of the church; rebuilding was completed in 1792. The former school, built in 1878, is now a protected cultural asset housing the Bistra Cultural and Tourist Centre. Poljanica consequently combines Bistra’s municipal role with the area’s oldest church and school heritage.
Poljanica Bistranska is defined by St Nicholas’s parish church on the hill between Bistra Castle and the village. The Bistra estate and its wooden church on this site first appear in King Andrew II’s charter of 1209, the year regarded as the parish’s foundation. The present Church of St Nicholas was built in 1631 and acquired its current form in 1792 after a storm brought down the bell tower. Below it stands the protected old school on Omladinska Street, opened on 27 October 1878 as a two-class primary school.
Things to see
Chapel of St. James, Zagreb
Landmark · Gornja Bistra
chapel in Zagreb, Croatia
4 km from Poljanica Bistranska
Church of Our Lady of Sljeme, Queen of Croats, Zagreb
Landmark · Sljeme
church building on Medvednica mountain, Zagreb, Croatia
6 km from Poljanica Bistranska
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Things to do
Start a short walk through Poljanica at the old school on Omladinska Street, whose position beneath the church hill illustrates the historic relationship between education and the Parish of Saint Nicholas. Continue uphill to the church, then follow Bistranska Street to the municipal offices at number 98. For a longer walk, head toward Gornja Bistra and the Oršić manor park, where a 520-metre hornbeam avenue leads to the residence. Hikers can continue from Gornja Bistra on trail 42 toward Činovnička livada or take the circular Bistra Trail through Rasuha, Oštrica, Jezero and Bistransko sedlo; the official route is 15.41 kilometres long with 561 metres of elevation gain.
Tours and activities
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Nearest destination: Zagreb (12 km)
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Practical information
Getting there and around
Poljanica Bistranska lies on the bus corridor between Zagreb and Gornja Bistra. At Črnomerec terminal, route 176 is marked for Gornja Bistra, while route 177 links Poljanica and Gornja Bistra; the official terminal plan lists both under the operator Presečki. From central Zagreb, the simplest public-transport approach is to take a tram to Črnomerec and change to the regional bus, checking the operator’s current timetable beforehand. Drivers approach through Zagreb’s western suburbs and Donja Bistra, with Bistranska Street continuing through Poljanica to the municipal building at number 98.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bistra Municipality based?
Bistra Municipality is based in Poljanica Bistranska at 98 Bistranska Street.
What can visitors see in central Poljanica?
The principal local ensemble consists of the old school at 26 Omladinska Street and the nearby hilltop Church of Saint Nicholas.
Which trail begins in nearby Gornja Bistra?
The circular Bistra Trail runs from Gornja Bistra through Rasuha, Oštrica, Jezero and Bistransko sedlo for 15.41 kilometres.
Nearby
Poljanica Bistranska
Open in OpenStreetMap(opens in a new tab)Smaller places
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Photo credits: Gornja Bistra, Medvedgrad — Miroslav.vajdic (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Jablanovec — Doremo (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Jakovlje — Suradnik13 (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Kupljenovo, Pojatno — Franjo Tahy (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Chapel of St. James, Zagreb — Baltabar (CC0) · Church of Our Lady of Sljeme, Queen of Croats, Zagreb — Baltabar (CC BY 4.0) · Veternica — Carbonbasedlifeforms (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Book Me Apartman — Natalija Kirša (courtesy of the property owner) · Osijek — Rp031 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Vukovar — Bybbisch94, Christian Gebhardt (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Stubičke Toplice — MOs810 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Slavonski Brod — Petar Milošević (CC BY-SA 4.0)