National Parks in Slavonia

KOPACKI RIT

KOPACKI RIT (Kopacki Trscak), a nature park not far from the confluence of the Drava and the Danube, situated at the very border, is one of the most important, largest and most attractive preserved intact wetlands in Europe. It comprises many backwaters and ponds along the Danube. The vicinity of a big city of Osijek and its surroundings as well as excellent traffic communications (by road, railway, plane, ship) enable a high visiting rate. The beauty of "intact" nature, multitude of waters, flora and fauna attract not only excursionists and visitors but also many experts and scientists from the whole Europe. A part of Kopacki Rit has been designated as a special zoological reserve. Around 260 various bird species nest here (wild goose, wild duck, big white heron, white stork, black stork, white-tailed eagle, big crow, coot, seagull, tern, kingfisher, woodpecker, green woodpecker, etc.), and there are many other species using this area as a temporary shelter on their way from the northern, cooler regions to the southern, warmer belts and vice versa. There are 40-odd fish species (pike, ide, tench, bream, carp, catfish, pike-perch, perch, etc.). Several various mammal species inhabit the land (common deer, roe, wild boar, wild cat, pine marten, stone marten, weasel, sable, otter, etc.). Rich plant life, typical of wetlands, is found also in Kopacki Rit.
Tourist visits by panoramic ships, boats, team of horses or on foot, are guided. Some packages offer the possibility of photographing or video-recording animals, birds in particular.
Angling and hunting is allowed in certain parts of Kopacki Rit, which are put under less strict protection.
The specialities of Kopacki Rit (fish stew, grilled carp, venison, Belje wines, etc.) can be tasted in the nearby restaurant.

PAPUK

PAPUK, a mountain in the region of Slavonia, on the northern and north-western border of the Pozeska Valley in Slavonia; the highest peak Papuk (954 m). Springs and sources of many water bodies (the Cadavica, the Karasica, the Pakra). Forest vegetation (oak, beech). Vineyards on the southern slopes of the foothills. The road Cacinci Velika Pozega leads over the Perivoj peak (725 m).
Thanks to the Vocin nobleman Josip Jankovic, the central part of Papuk was arranged in the first half of the 19th century, especially Jankovac. Mountaineering societies were also founded, the first one in 1895 in Jankovac (one of the oldest in Croatia) and in 1932 also in Daruvar and elsewhere. This marked the beginning of organized hiking tours on the biggest Slavonian mountain, Papuk. After the construction of mountain huts and other facilities and the marking of trails, Papuk became a frequent destination of excursionists and mountaineers.
The asphalt road from Velika to Jankovac runs through the highest part of Papuk (the Nevoljas pass, around 700 m) and divides it in the eastern (lower) and the western (higher) part.
There are several mountain lodges and tourist facilities on Papuk: the mountain lodge Lapjak (335 m) 3 km from Velika, the thermal spa Toplice (296 m) in the vicinity of Velika, the mountain hut Trisnjica, 7 km from the Lapjak lodge, the facilities of the mountain rescue team on Nevoljas (725 m), the ski-lift above Jezerce (descends from Nevoljas), the mountain lodge Jankovac (475 m) on the northern slopes of Papuk.
Usual accesses: Lapjak lodge Duboka Jezerce Nevoljas (2 hrs); Lapjak lodge Maliscak Papuk (4 hrs); by road, Lapjak lodge Velicanka spring Jankovac (16 km); Velika Papuk peak (17 km).

[Text by Croatia.hr]