Mužilovčica

Mužilovčica is a small village in Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, the great floodplain of the Sava River south-east of Zagreb, and it is one of the settlements that give the park its human character. The village stands on slightly raised ground, where generations of farmers built wooden houses safe from the spring floods, and around it spread the wet meadows, oak forests and channels that make up the floodplain. A visit here shows how people have adapted to a landscape that regularly turns into a lake.

The village architecture is the main attraction. Traditional houses of the Posavina region are built of oak timber, often resting on stone or timber foundations and sometimes raised off the ground, with steep roofs of shingles or thatch, small windows and wide eaves. Barns, granaries and sheds stand around the yard, and the whole group of buildings forms a compact farmstead. The old oak was cut in the surrounding forests, and the skill of the carpenters who built these houses was handed down over generations. Several villages in the park, among them Krapje and Čigoč, keep ensembles of this kind, and the Characteristic Wooden Houses of the area are protected as cultural heritage. Čigoč is also famous as the first European Stork Village, where white storks build large nests on the rooftops each spring and fill the sky with the sound of clapping bills.

The land around the village is just as interesting. In flood time, in autumn and spring, water from the Sava spreads over the meadows and into the forests, and the village stands like an island. In summer, when the water retreats, the pastures are used for grazing, and local breeds of horse and pig roam in the meadows and woods, as they have for centuries. The oak and ash forests of the floodplain are among the best preserved in Europe, and the Lonjsko Polje Floodplain Forests and Sava River Wetlands offer paths for walking and cycling. Birdwatchers can look for storks, herons, eagles and many other species, and the park is an Important Bird Area.

Facilities are modest, so plan ahead. The Zelen-Gaj Campground offers a base for those who like to stay close to nature, and local guesthouses serve traditional food. Water levels change the access, and mosquitoes are common in summer, so bring repellent and wear long sleeves. The village suits nature lovers, photographers, cyclists and anyone interested in traditional rural architecture. Spring, when the storks nest, and early autumn are good times for a visit.