Hiking
Baška
Educational trail Zarok – Batomalj – under the Lipica pass
Learn all about the history and natural phenomena of the Baška Valley
Karakteristike
At the bottom of a tame, fertile valley in the south-eastern part of the island of Krk lies the town of Baška. It is surrounded by two mountain massifs with the tallest summits on the island, and its intact nature, karst and rocky lands, impressive history and tradition, along with mind-blowing vistas, will leave no one indifferent. The best way to learn about a place, its past and ways of life is to experience it first-hand, so walk down the educational trail Zarok – Batomalj – under the Lipica pass is an ideal opportunity to hear all about Baška’s history and natural phenomena that make it so unique.
This undemanding loop trail is intended for families with children and hiking enthusiasts and can be completed in about two and a half hours. It will take you through the picturesque landscapes of the Baška Valley, from the Zarok sands, along the Vela Rika watercourse, the historical Batomalj and the sanctuary of Our Lady of Gorica, all the way to the springs underneath the Lipica pass. Along the way, you will learn a lot of interesting things about the numerous plant and animal species inhabiting this part of the island, as well as about its impressive cultural heritage.
First head upstream by Vela Rika, the island’s only body of water with a constant flow. On your way, you will come across stone sculptures in the shape of Glagolitic letters. Follow the fenced pastures and drystone walls to get to the quaint hamlet of Batomalj, located at the foot of the steep slopes of the island’s western massif. Walking down its narrow, winding alleys packed with stone houses will feel like a time travel. On the edge of the pine tree forest follows a mild ascent towards the island’s largest Marian shrine, the Church of Our Lady of Gorica. This serene place of worship and prayer has been attracting pilgrims since the 16th century on. The trail continues to the Lipica site with one of Baška’s most renowned corrals (mrgar), made of flower-shaped drystone walls of rare beauty. The Baška Valley is adorned by countless drystone walls, corrals (mrgari) and sheepcotes (mošune), as living witnesses of traditional architecture. Joint sheep grazing on the rocky slopes of the southern part of the island of Krk has survived to date, with occasional sheep roundups and sorting being an important event for the residents of Baška, Jurandvor and Batomalj.
At the sanctuary, the trail follows the Stations of the Cross down the 237 votive stairs. Once you arrive to Batomalj, turn left to reach one of the eight former mills, then follow the Vela Rika stream again to get back to Zarok. For the perfect ending to your tour, have a rest on the 1,800 metres long Vela Beach.
