Papuk Nature Park

Papuk is the largest of the Slavonian hills - though neighbouring Psunj rises slightly higher - a long wooded ridge in a region otherwise given over to plains and farmland, and it was recognised as a geopark because of the range of rock exposed in a small area. At Rupnica, lava cooled into regular vertical columns, protected since the nineteen forties as the country's first geological monument. At Jankovac, a small forest park in a wooded hollow, a stream drops over a tufa barrier as the Skakavac waterfall beside two artificial lakes. Elsewhere the interest is beech forest, quiet marked trails and ruined medieval castles on spurs above the villages.

What you actually see

• Jankovac forest park - a wooded hollow with two small lakes, a stream and the Skakavac tufa waterfall.
• Rupnica - an exposure of columnar volcanic rock, protected as a geological monument since the nineteen forties.
• The beech forest trails - marked walking routes along the ridge through mature beech woodland.
• Ruzica castle - a large ruined medieval fortress on a wooded spur above Orahovica.

When to go

April to October. Spring brings wildflowers and full water at Skakavac; October gives the beech forest at its best. The waterfall shrinks in a dry summer. Weekends bring local families to Jankovac, where parking is limited. Winter access is possible but roads over the ridge can be snowbound.

Honest expectations

The park is spread out and the sites are far apart on winding roads, so seeing more than two in a day means a lot of driving. There is no practical public transport. Skakavac is modest by Croatian waterfall standards and disappointing in dry weather. Signage is patchy in places and some trails are lightly maintained. Facilities outside Jankovac are minimal.

Nearby

Pozega and the Slavonian wine hills lie south, and Kopacki rit is about two hours east.