A fairytale landscape of Slunj

Imagine a fairytale land. What would it be like? How would the houses look like? And what about nature? And now, let me tell you that all you imagined is not just a fairytale. I can take you to such a place and show you that the fairytale-ish places do exist. Slunj, for sure, has a look of a fairytale landscape. 

Rastoke

When you get to Slunj from Plitvice Lakes side, it really seems like an ordinary little town. It has a small square, a Catholic church and a few restaurants. It is sweet and cozy, but it seems like every other little town. On the other side, if you visit Plitvice Lakes on your way here, you think that you have already seen one of the most beautiful parts of Croatia. And for sure, Plitvice Lakes National park is one of the most wonderful natural treasures of Croatia. But Slunj owns a hidden gem, and it is more amazing than you can think of. Rastoke is a small village belonging to Slunj, where the houses are made of wood, on the stone pillars above the river Slunjčica. The floor of each house is made of stone from the river, and the walls are made of wood. Some of the houses are renovated and now used for living or renting. 

The river Slunjčica makes 23 wonderful small waterfalls on its way to the Korana River (yes, you read it well - 23). These waterfalls are similar to those of Plitvice National park, the stone under the water is made from the layers of travertine. So, the stones make a cascade look of the river and create the waterfalls.

Water mills around Slunj town

Not so far from the place where Slunjčica meets Korana, hidden behind the trees, a water mill from the 18th century is located. Besides that one, around 22 water mills are situated around Rastoke, some of them dating back to the 17th century. A water mill was using the power of the river to prune the wheat. The mill was working thanks to the wooden scoops on a big wooden wheel. Inside of the mill, there were usually two big round rocks close to each other, where the wheat was put. The wooden wheel was moving the upper rock, and the grains inside were grounded that way. A water mill was built of wood, and its sound will remind you of some past times.

How to reach Slunj

A fairytale landscape of Slunj is located halfway from Karlovac to the Plitvice Lakes. If you travel from Split to Zagreb, you will reach Slunj taking off from the highway toward Plitvice Lakes and taking the road D25, and then the road D1.