Medvednica Nature Park

Medvednica Nature Park covers much of the mountain range immediately above Zagreb, making it an unusual example of protected nature beside a capital city. Sljeme, Medvednica’s highest summit, reaches 1,033 metres. Forests of beech, fir, maple, ash, and sessile oak are central to the park’s value, and eight forest reserves lie within its boundaries. Differences in elevation, springs, and streams create varied habitats with more than 1,300 recorded plant species. Veternica Cave is one of its key geological features, with passages extending for about 7.1 kilometres. A network of marked trails makes the mountain well suited to walks and hiking from the city’s edge.