In the canyon running through the center of the town, the Dobra River ends its course by plunging beneath rocky and steep cliffs into the enormous chasm called Đula’s Abyss. This abyss connects with the Medvedica Cave and represents the longest speleological system in Croatia, as 15,701 meters have been explored so far. The name of the abyss is linked to the legend of Đula, who threw herself into the chasm due to unhappy love. On the rocky cliff, you can easily spot the profile of a man believed, according to legend, to be Captain Milan watching where his Đula has disappeared.
Above Đula’s Abyss, Bernardin Frankopan founded Ogulin around 1500, building a Renaissance castle. The town walls enclosed the courtyard on three sides, while on the fourth stood a three-story palace with towers at its corners. Today, the Frankopan Castle houses the Heritage Museum opened in 1967.
Ogulin is the birthplace of Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić, who, as a young girl, experienced her hometown as a fairy-tale place. Ogulin honored her by opening Ivana's House of Fairy Tales, a unique multimedia and interactive visitor center located in the Frankopan Castle. Her fairy tales are an exceptionally valuable cultural treasure, making Ogulin the Homeland of Fairy Tales. Every June, it hosts the international Ogulin Fairy Tale Festival, and throughout the year, numerous creative workshops and storytellers welcome visitors on the unique fairy-tale route, sparking curiosity and playfulness. The festival is a unique event combining culture, art, and tradition, offering an unforgettable experience for all ages. During the festival, the Karlek excursion train runs between Zagreb and Ogulin. Its passengers are greeted by majorettes, brass bands, cultural and artistic groups, and even witches to ensure visitors have a great time. This train has a long tradition, with many excursionists traveling on it over the years, proving that a trip to Ogulin is an excellent option for all ages.
For those seeking active holidays, the real gem of the area is Lake Sabljaci, an artificial reservoir on the Zagorska Mrežnica River. As the 11th largest lake in Croatia, it offers endless opportunities for recreation: swimming, rowing, windsurfing, pleasant walks, cycling, and regattas, while fishing is allowed year-round. Viewed from Prelesje above the village of Desmerice, it truly resembles a large sea bay. You can also visit Šmit’s Lake, the largest in the Ogulin area, near several caves, the most famous of which is Rupećica, where the olm was discovered.
If you prefer hiking, visit the mountain of Klek (1,182 m above sea level), with its incredible shape and striking beauty, marking the northeastern ridge of Velika Kapela. Its 200-meter-high vertical cliff is the cradle of Croatian mountaineering and alpinism, as the idea to establish a mountaineering society arose here in 1874. Klek is a botanical reserve rich in tertiary flora, including Kitajbel primrose, Maly's Moon Carrot, Carniolan lily, alpine clematis, and about 30 species of orchids (mountain orchids). There are also many protected animal species: wolf, bear, lynx, capercaillie and wildcat. From Ogulin, you can also embark on hiking trips to Veljun, Modruš, and the Bijele and Samarske cliffs.
Travel by train to Ogulin for many events held throughout the year. Enjoy the celebration of the Mountaineering New Year, children’s carnivals, the folklore festival Igra Kolo, the Ogulin Fairy Tale Festival, ciklobajka (cycletale), cycling events, Summer in Ogulin, MK Vještice motorcycle gathering, Honey Days, Advent in Ogulin, the Ogulin Day celebration, the Ogulin Cabbage Festival, Ogulin Trail, religious and sports events, and more.
More information can be found on the website of the Tourist Board of Ogulin.
Check the train schedule and enjoy the beauty of the Ogulin region.