Turistička zajednica grada Vrbovskog

Lukovdol - the birth-place of late poet Ivan Goran Kovačić and the cultural centre of Vrbovsko. The house of Ivan Goran Kovačić has been turned into a memorial museum which also houses a gallery, a library and the memorial area with permanent exhibition of Goran's life and work. Ivan Goran Kovačić lived through art. Undoubtedly, this explains the source of his eternal youth and his ceaseless springs. The manifestation "The Spring of Ivan Goran Kovačić" also called "Goran's spring" is held each year at his hometown Lukovdol on 21 May, the first day of spring and also Goran's birthday (1913). Apart from Goran's house which was renovated in the summer of 2003, make sure to visit the amphitheatre together with the monument made by Vojin Bakić.

Working hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday from 10,00 am - 17,00 pm
Thursday, Sunday: 10,00 am - 14,00 pm

tel: 051/871-295

Ticket prices:
students, umirovljenici, group visits : 5,00 kn
other: 10,00 kn

Genuine examples of ancient highland houses are all but gone. Still, some impressive remains are hidden in the remote corners of Vrbovsko area. If you find yourself passing through the town of Vrbovsko, take a break and visit the ethnic heritage of state-protected villages along the river Kupa. The villages like Zaumol, Plemenitaš, Zapeć, Blaževci and Štefanci are worthy examples of traditional highland architecture. Time and again, one can be surprised at the ease with which the ancient households existed under one roof. Being so modest it is still remarkable, conveying warmth and healthy lifestyle. Authentic materials such as spruce-wood, fir-wood and stone were used for house construction, while the roofs were primarily shingled. In Gorski Kotar region, the front entrance to a house was through the kitchen, in these parts known as sala or veža. Naturally, the most significant part of any kitchen was the hearth were the meals were prepared. In the old days, houses featured open hearths together with the vaulted kitchen ceiling that protected the roof from the possible flying sparks. The main room of rural homes regularly had a stone fireplace. The furniture was made by rural craftsmen, the carpenters. Usually it included beds, chairs, tables, chests of drawers. Dishes and other small utensils were stored in various cupboards or on shelves. Moreover, besides owning clothes-chests, people used to have a flour-chest and various barrels used for milk souring and producing butter. They include sirnica, a tall and thin container and churn with butter-staff.

Since 1970 Mrs. Velinka Burić has been carving and shaping various pieces of woods like branches and logs she finds in Gorski Kotar forests. Through minimal woodcarving alterations, she creates fantastic forms like birds, animals and people that retain the natural beauty of the wood used. So far she has made around 600 carvings, including phenomenal works like The blessings of nature, The wild boar, The roe-buck, The Mummy, Picasso, The war victim. She displays her works of art in her own home and visitors are welcome to see them.

The art molding workshop is located in Plemenitaš, a small picturesque village in the Town of Vrbovsko area near the river Kupa.
After its reconstruction in 1994, the old elementary school became the home of the workshop and the place for traditional meetings of sculptors and ceramicists from all over the world - for the international RAKU conference. The workshop promotes visual arts expression in all sculptural and ceramic techniques, particularly in RAKU technique. Visitors are invited to see the artwork displayed in the workshop gallery.