Prezid Forest

Prezid Forest surrounds the small village of Prezid, in the municipality of Čabar, in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, close to the border with Slovenia. This is the green, thinly populated core of the Gorski Kotar highlands, where beech and fir woods cover the hills for mile after mile, the air is cool and the winters are snowy. The forest begins on the edge of the village and offers walking paths, forest tracks and quiet picnic spots, away from the busier tourist routes of the coast, which is less than an hour away by car. The atmosphere is calm and rural, and you are more likely to meet a forester or a mushroom picker than another tourist.

The forest is part of the way of life in the village. Residents use it for walks, for picking wild herbs, berries and mushrooms, for firewood and for hunting, and the work of the woods has shaped local traditions for generations. One of the most distinctive is the hunting of dormice, small nocturnal rodents that live in the beech forests and are caught in autumn according to old customs. The village has a small museum, called the Hunting Collection and Dormouse Museum, that explains this tradition together with other aspects of local hunting and forest life, and it is an interesting stop for anyone curious about how people lived with the forest.

Wildlife is a draw as well. Gorski Kotar is among the best places in Croatia to find large mammals, and the area around Prezid has a bear observation area where visitors can learn about brown bears and, with luck and patience, see signs of them. Wolves and lynx also live in the wider region, though they are shy and rarely seen. Walkers should stay on marked paths, make some noise in the woods and never approach wild animals, particularly in spring when bears have cubs.

Seasons change the experience. Spring is fresh and green with birdsong, autumn brings gold and copper beech leaves and the mushroom season, and winter turns the forest quiet and white. In the summer the shade is welcome, and the temperature is noticeably lower than on the coast. There are no official opening hours or admission fees, so you can visit at any time, but be aware that weather in the mountains can change quickly, and wear sturdy shoes.

In the village, the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, which dates from the 16th century, is a short walk from the woods and makes a good cultural stop. The forest suits walkers, families, nature lovers and travellers who want a quiet break in the highlands. Bring water, a map and a picnic.