The legends and fairy tales of Ogulin

The first thing you will notice when you arrive in Ogulin is the mountain Velika Kapela and the somewhat frightening peak Klek (1181m). The reason for this is that it is in the shape of a large giant lying down. The main 200-meter-high rock resembles the giant’s head, while the smaller rocks on the opposite side – Klečice – look like his feet.

Let’s start with the legends. There is one that says that the god Volos had the giant Klek petrified, hence the appearance of the mountain. In addition, there are two more related to Klek. One is about Kleck witches dating from the 17th century. They say that all witches, fairies, and elves would gather from all over the world during stormy nights, around midnight. Their dances and singing would be heard all the way to Ogulin. There is one more about the Klek cave, we leave it up to you to look it up…

Back to the lowland. Through a guided tour we will get to know the inner city of Ogulin: the amphitheater “Đulin Vrt”, the Frankopan castle, the Church of the Holy Cross, King Tomislav Park …  Two legends are connected to the nearby localities of the spring “Cesarovac” and “Đulin Ponor”. Legend has it that every woman who drinks water “from Cesarovac” becomes beautiful, nice, and forever young. If, on the other hand, a man drinks water “from Cesarovac”, he will marry a woman from Ogulin. The guide will tell you more about the legend of “Đula’s Ponor” and the tragedy of two lovers.

After a good lunch, we head to “Ivana’s house of fairytales” located in the Frankopan Castle. The very name itself, the overall ambiance, and the activities carried out represent not only the most famous Croatian fairy tale writer, Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić, but also many other Croatian and world-wide fairytale writers.

The day tour is ended by dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. After check-out, we visit two lakes known as the two pearls of this area: Lake Sabljaci and Šmit Lake. The artificial lake Sabljaci, made on the Zagorje Mrežnica, is also named the “Ogulin Sea” because of its size and numerous activities that are carried out primarily in summer.

Lunch by the lake follows, where you will have the opportunity to taste fresh fish specialties caught from the lake. Afterward, you can relax in your free time and enjoy nature by the water before continuing the tour.

Not far is the nearby natural emerald-colored lake named Šmit Lake, hidden in the woods. You should not be surprised that a legend is associated with it. St. George heroically saved a girl from an infamous dragon, and this event is permanently marked by the imprint of a horse’s hoof preserved on a stone by the lake. In addition to the lake, there is an interesting cave named “Rupećica” where a human fish was found.