PHOTOS Unforgettable View of Snow-Capped Alps from Japetic

View of the Alps from Japetic

At 879 meters above sea level, Japetić, the highest peak of Samobor Hills, is a favorite Croatian destination for picnickers and hikers. Due to its preserved natural beauties, Japetić has been declared a reserve of forest vegetation.

On one of the trails, not far from the top, a lookout tower was built in 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was also built. The iron pyramid-lookout is 12 meters high and is under the protection of the Ministry of Culture. Until 1960, it was at the top of Medvednica mountain, but it was moved after the construction of the television tower on Sljeme.

A little above the lookout at the top of a steep meadow is the famous mountain lodge Žitnica, from whose terrace you will also find a beautiful open view of the surrounding Pokuplje hills area in the distance.

Popular Japetić lookout offers a view of the nearby peaks of Sljeme, Oštrc, Okić, Klek, Plešivica, Sv Gera, and even Bjelolasica, Risnjak. In clear weather like these days, especially in winter, even the Alps can be seen.

Last snowy weekend, while some people visited destinations such as Plitvice Lakes and ski resorts in Gorski Kotar and Lika, photographer Josip Škof stayed in Zagreb County, capturing the snow-capped Alps from the winter-bound Japetić.

And he was not the only one because Japetić is one of the most exciting lookouts in Zagreb’s vicinity, only half an hour drive away. It is an unavoidable destination for visitors during the winter because of the snow that covers the old beech forest, creating a winter idyll, but also because of the unforgettable view of nearby peaks.

“I can’t find the words to describe the scenes that were created in front of me. Luckily, I brought my camera, so I can most faithfully show you what views I enjoyed this weekend. I also chose the right day, and my view reached as far as Triglav peak, about 150 kilometers away. A little closer, approximately 120 kilometers, the Kamnik Alps were in the palm of my hand,” said Škof in his Facebook post, telling us to enjoy the beautiful photos of his beloved native Zagreb County.

Although Alpine ski resorts are inaccessible to us this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is almost unbelievable that we still have the opportunity to see Alpine peaks from the Zagreb neighborhood. Marked hiking trails from Ivančići and a good road over Draga Svetojanska lead to Japetić.

The ascent to Japetić is not overly demanding, and the scenes of winter idyll are worth experiencing. Josip Škof’s photo gallery is calling us to take the opportunity and go to one of Croatia’s most interesting lookouts, only thirty minutes away from the Croatian capital of Zagreb.