Medvednica

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View of Zagreb from Sljeme.

Medvednica is a mountain in central Croatia, just north of Zagreb and marking the southern border of the historic region of Zagorje. The highest peak is Sljeme at 1.033 m, and most of the natives usually call the entire mountain after the name of this top peak.

The name could be translated as "bear mountain", and there are other toponyms on the mountain using the kajkavian dialect term medved (bear, standard Croatian "medvjed"), notably Medvedgrad, a medieval castle on its southwestern edges.

Most of the area of Medvednica is a nature park (park prirode), a type of preservation lesser than a national park. The area of the park is 228.26 square kilometers. About 63% is covered with forest.

There is a winter sports center at the southern slopes towards Sljeme. Up to now there was two woman FIS World Cup slalom races (2005 and 2006) in January. The name of this race is Snow Queen Trophy. There are plans that it will be performed man slalom in February 2008 on the same spot.

This winter sports center consist now of one chairlift for three persons and two T-bar lifts. Recently there are equipment for artificial snow, and because of that skiing season is prolonged to more than four months.

Somebody can reach the top (Sljeme) on three ways: 1. by car, 2. on foot (there are numerous mountaineeiring paths) or 3. by gondola lift which is starting from ex-village Gračani. This cable car exists from 1963 and it is for four persons. Journey lasts only 23 minutes for this kind of transport.

On the Medvednica there are dozen of mountaineering houses for traditional one day trips in the mountain Medvednica. Because of neighbourhood to biggest town in Croatia - Zagreb, Medvednica has many visitors, especially during weekends.

Among the greatest sites is the cave Veternica, with 2.622 meters long main channel.

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