THE GROBNIK AREA
Grad Grobnik, Čavle, Jelenje
The
area of the northeastern Rijeka hinterland, dominated by the field
of Grobnik (15 km2), is situated between the Obruč mountain range,
the detatched Kamenjak, Rječina (18.5 km) and littoral crests is a
Karst area with all the specific features pertaining to it. The
Grobnik area has inherited the famous Frankopans past: Vinodoski
zakon (1288) (the Vinodol Codex), traces and memories of the
agricultural activity, dairy and cattle-breeding, of the
immeasurable efforts of the «mlikarice» (milkmaids) and their
difficult walk to the Rijeka households, memories of carpenters, the
“tišjari”, their chairs and furniture,of the Grobnik stone masonry.
Today, the tradition continues, with the busy motodrome (1978) and
sports airport (1966), there is also a versatile Section of
«Čakavski sabor» - Chakavian Convention here. The area belongs to
two administrative units (Jelenje and Čavle) and covers
approximately thirty settlements. Hahlići and Platak, of which the
latter is a famous ski resort in winter, are two popular and easily
accessible excursion places in this area. The craggy, waterless
land, intersected by numerous old military and wood paths offers
extraordinary karst attractions and values to mountain climbers and
nature lovers, extensive sights, a rich and interesting area in
terms of flora and fauna, in a place where Mediterranean and
continental climatic influences meet.
Main mountain destinations and directions:
Obruč – a group of peaks and mountain ranges with the highest homonimous peak (1377 m) and a whole series of equally beautiful peaks: Trstenik (1243 m), Štulc (1212 m), Fratar (1353 m), Sleme (1271 m), Grleš (1325 m), Gornik (1322 m), Crni vrh (1335 m), Primorski Klek (1210 m)...The spacious grassy slopes covered by shepherd’s needle (Sesleria juncifolia) and full of different habitats and endemic or rare plants. Flora: Kluzi’s gentian (Gentiana clusii), the endemic type of spurge(Euphorbia triflora), the greenweed (Genista holopetala), dwarf bay (Daphne cneorum), Illyric iris (Iris illyrica) and other species of iris... Fauna: numerous species of mammals, bears, wolves, foxes, wild cats, lynx, deer, does, insects and butterflies.
Hahlići – a grassy bay with a water source at the bottom of the Ćunina glava slope and three walled-in pools with special botanical features. There is a climber’s lodging (1097m) in the immediate vicinity. Fauna: hatching ground of common toads (Bufo bufo) and of big newts (Triturus carnifex)
Borovica, Borova draga - nominated in the category of special reserves. The wonderful autochtonous black pine wood (Pinus nigra) “of relict character” was partly burnt up in the recent fire. Fauna: endemic and relict spurge (Euphorbia triflora), alpine knapweed (Centaurea alpina). Flora: relict Velebit lizard (Iberolacerta horvathi), salamanders’ hatching ground (Salamandara salamandara), endemic Karst doormice (Eliomys quercinus dalmaticus)...
Trstenik (1240 m) – hides a peculiarity in the karst depression (960m), «cret», a remnant of the Glacial period. «Cret» is a type of vegetation growing on humid ground. The vegetal remains accumulating here, do not decompose completely but form the so-called «peat» where a unique type of moss develops, unknown elsewhere. Nominated for the special reserve category.
Fratar - “the most striking” peak (1353m) of the Obruč group, offering a wide-ranging view.
Pakleno, a rugged valley with various types of wood and
magnificent, deep stone sink-holes and rocks, nominated in the
category of strict reserve. Flora: habitats of edelweiss
(Leontopodium alpinum), Alpen rose (Rhododendron hirsutum), special
communities of the Alpen rose and Rhodoreto-Juniperetum. Fauna:
birds and mammals of all main species and rare snail species
Walk duration:
 |
-
Škrljevo - Veli vrh - Suhi vrh - Cernik 4 to 5 hours
- hamlet Kamenjak - peak Kamenjak one hour - village Podkilavac - Hahlići - Podkilavac 6 to 7 hours - Trstenik-Hahlići-Pakleno, Obruč, Fratar-Trstenik up to 6 hours - Platak - Jasenovica - Platak 2 hours - Platak - Sleme - Platak 2 hours - Platak - Guslica - Platak 4 and a
half hours |
 |
Čavle, phone 051/259 095 |
Mudna dol and Kacaj - “flood-canyon valley” (about 3km), in some places it is so narrow that only a small trace of sky is discernible. It is the habitat and provides shelter to numerous rare and interesting plant and animal species and has thus been nominated for the special reserve category. Flora: mountain turfy blue-bell (Capanula cespitosa), the endemic columbines (Aquilegia kitaibelii), the cinquefoil (Potentilla caulescens), the protected yew-tree (Taxus baccata), the littoral greenweed, an endemic plant of the Kvarner–Liburnian area (Genista holopetala) and spurge (Euphorbia triflora). Fauna: nesting of the grey falcon (Falco peregrinius), of eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), habitat of the chamois.
Platak (about 1100m) – a spacious meadow area surrounded by the slopes of Jasenovica (1138m), Sljeme (1138m) and Radeševo (1364m), is a popular destination in summer and in winter it has a long tradition as a ski resort (1913 first competition, 1933 slalom).
Guslica (1490m) and Jelenc (1442m) – are peaks of spacious views and grassy slopes covered with rare mountain flora. The sink-hole Veliko snježno, (Velo snižno 1061m) at the bottom of Guslica, proposed in the special reserve category, owing to its specific climatic conditions and the world, living within its limited space, represents a world unto itself.
Kamenjak,
Kamičina (837m) - “is a real small treasury of superficial Karst
forms” nominated in the category of special reserves. It is a group
of picturesque, limestone rocks around which goes the old road
Lujzinska cesta. There are three prominent peaks, of which,
according to many, the most beautiful is the southeastern one (771m,
an alpinistic training field). In the sink-hold below the highest
peak, there is a rich relict wood community of the hop hornbeam
(Ostrya carpinifolia) and common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), and
equally interesting are the holly (Ilex aquifolium), dwarf bay
(Daphne laureola), butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus)... On the
meadows: tertiary relict and rare plant lousewort (Pedicularis
acaulis) Fauna: the endemic karst doormouse (Eliomys quercinus
dalamticus), small thrush (Oenanthe oenanthe), mountain shrew (Sorex
alpinus)... Caution: there are many horned vipers (Vipera
ammodytes)!
Tuhobić (1106m) – is a line dividing Gorski kotar, separated by a steep ridge, and the Littoral, where it descends mildly towards the Bakar and Grobnik boundaries. It is a favourite and traditional destination (travel book from 1878) as well as a memorial area, offering pleasant views, and it is easily accessible.
