Ivanšćica
1,059 m
Croatia
Also known as Ivanščica, Ivonjčica, +2Also known as
Ivanščica · Ivonjčica · Иваншчица · Ivančica
- Elevation
- 1,059 m
- Prominence
- 752 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Apr–Oct
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The gentlest and most popular of the northern routes: from the hikers' car park at the Žgano vino spring above Prigorec (about 475 m), a well-trodden, well-marked path climbs through old beech forest past Mrzljak spring and Črne mlake to the Pasarićeva kuća hut and the 10 m viewing pyramid on the summit. About 4 km and 600 m of ascent.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 4.0 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +600 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,059 m
- Time Up
- 2h 30m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 42m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Ivanec drive south to Prigorec and on to the large free car park at the Žgano vino spring (about 475 m, spring water), which fills up at weekends. The path starts as a stony track, then becomes a well-trodden forest path with clear HPS markings. The first usual rest is at Mrzljak spring, with benches; the path continues through tall beech forest past wooden sculptures and information boards and the clearing at Črne mlake, steepening in places. Shortly below the top the path joins the gravel forest road that comes up from Prigorec; follow it to the Pasarićeva kuća hut (Planinarski dom Josip Pasarić, about 1,050 m) beside a 60 m television transmitter. The highest point is a meadow about 100 m beyond the hut, with a 10 m iron viewing pyramid built in 1929; the smaller Stričevo viewpoint looks north over Ivanec, Varaždin and Međimurje. Descend the same way, or make a loop via the steeper Konj ridge (Veliki Konj, 870 m) or the Pionir path back to Prigorec. The forest gives shade all the way; there are no views on the Mrzljak path until the top.
Start
Žgano vino459 m
- Bus to Ivanec (from Varaždin or Zagreb), then a few kilometres on foot or by taxi via Prigorec to the Žgano vino car park.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Žgano vino → Ivanščica | 4.0 | 600 | 0 | 2h 30m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Žgano vino459 m
- Hut: Pasarićeva kuća1,053 m
not on route line
- Summit: Ivanščica1,059 m
Key Passages
- Stony track above Žgano vino
- Mrzljak spring
- Steeper forest section to Črne mlake
- Viewing pyramid on the summit
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
The highest mountain of north-western Croatia (1,059 m), a 30 km beech-forested ridge above Ivanec in Hrvatsko zagorje. Marked forest paths climb 600 m to a stone hut, a TV mast and a 10 m iron viewing pyramid with a panorama from Medvednica to the Kamnik Alps.
Ivanščica (also Ivančica; Kajkavian Ivonjčica) runs for about 30 km east to west through Hrvatsko zagorje, between the Bednja valley in the north and the hills of Zlatar in the south; with the lower Strahinjščica it forms the Očura massif. The northern slope above the Bednja is steep and mountain-like, the southern slopes gentler and longer. Beech forest covers almost everything above 300 m, with limestone outcrops and karst caves in places, the rocky Legesičine ridge and the ruins of Belec castle on a crag.
The summit is a broad meadow with an iron viewing pyramid nearly 10 m high, built in 1929. About 50–100 m away stand the stone Pasarićeva kuća hut, run by HPD Ivančica of Ivanec and open at weekends, and a 60 m television transmitter; a road from Prigorec reaches a car park just below. On clear days the view takes in Varaždin and the Drava lakes, Medvednica, Žumberak, Klek and Bjelolasica, and to the west and north-west the Kamnik–Savinja Alps and the Austrian Tauern.
It is a popular, sociable mountain: dozens of marked paths reach the top from Ivanec, Prigorec, Lepoglava, Lobor and Belec. The three classic northern paths from Prigorec, Mrzljak, Konj and Pionir, climb about 600 m through shaded beech forest and suit beginners with reasonable fitness.
Climbing Notes
Any reasonably fit walker can do it: allow about 4 hours for the 8 km round trip via Mrzljak with breaks, and around 600–650 m of ascent. Paths are well marked and well trodden; the forest gives shade in summer. Wear proper footwear, as the paths are stony and slippery after rain, and carry a warm layer for the windy summit. In winter snow is common on the upper slopes and microspikes help. Weekend car parks at Žgano vino fill early. The hut serves food and drink at weekends and on holidays; check opening with HPD Ivančica before relying on it on weekdays. The summit is a control point on the Croatian Mountaineering Transversal (HPO KT 4) and the Zagorje mountain trail; the stamp is on the hut wall.
History
The Pasarićeva kuća hut, named after Josip Pasarić, president of the Croatian Mountaineering Society (HPD) and a native of the region, was built in 1929 and opened on 1 September 1929. Gutted in the Second World War, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1951, electrified in 1964 and enlarged in 1981–1982 after a road reached the summit in 1973. In 2003 a storeroom became the always-open Francekovo sklonište shelter. On 16 March 1983 the mountain was the epicentre of a strong (MCS VII) earthquake.
Season
Best Apr–Oct- January: Good
- February: Good
- March: Good
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Best (best window)
- November: Good
- December: Good
- Jan
- Often snowy on the upper slopes; microspikes useful
- Feb
- Snow or mud likely
- Mar
- Muddy paths in the thaw
- Apr
- Spring flowers in the beech forest
- Jul
- Shady forest; afternoon thunderstorms possible
- Oct
- Autumn colour
- Nov
- Short days; wet leaves
- Dec
- Snow possible
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Pasarićeva kuća (HPD Ivančica, Ivanec) is open at weekends, on public holidays and by arrangement; contact the hut warden through HPD Ivančica.
- Getting There
Ivanec
Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport (ZAG)
- Car: Varaždin–Ivanec, then south to Prigorec and the free car park at the Žgano vino spring; a mostly gravel forest road continues from Prigorec to a car park about 100 m below the hut (minibuses but not coaches)
- From the east via Novi Marof, Završje Podbelsko and Peca, or via Bela and Margečan, to Prigorec
- Bus: regional buses from Varaždin and Zagreb to Ivanec, then on foot or by taxi to Prigorec
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,054 m
Pasarićeva kućaHutStaffed
Weekends, public holidays and by arrangement; Francekovo sklonište annex always open