Pliševica

Pliševica is a forested hill rising directly above the village of Lisac, part of the Klana municipality in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, just a few hundred metres from the Slovenian border. Locals often shorten the name to Pliš — a term traditionally used for bare, grassy summits, though today the slopes are covered mostly by pastures and beech-fir woodland. It's a quiet destination for anyone wanting an easy hike or bike ride away from the crowded trails of the Kvarner coast, paired with a look at an authentic border village of the Gorski Kotar region.

How do you get to Pliševica?

The starting point is Lisac itself, a settlement sitting at roughly 700 metres above sea level, northwest of the Klana municipal centre. From Rijeka the drive takes about half an hour, following local roads through Klana toward Lisac, Studena and Škalnica. Pliševica rises right behind the village houses, with the hillside itself spanning an elevation of about 678 to 765 metres, so the short approach from Lisac doesn't require any special preparation. This stretch forms part of a longer Klana–Pliš loop of roughly 12 km with a few hundred metres of elevation gain, typically walked in about 4.5–5 hours. The same section also works as a short, easy (green-rated) mountain-biking singletrack under a kilometre long, popular with riders based in Rijeka.

What will you see along the way?

The scenery around Pliševica is typical of the Gorski Kotar–Slovenia borderland: open pastures, forest clearings and stands of beech and fir. From the slopes there are views toward neighbouring hills — Grmada and Liščići near the border — and down to the valley of the Reka stream, whose source lies just north of Lisac. The village itself consists of only a handful of farmsteads gathered around a small Church of St. George, renovated by residents in 1887. Its history goes back to the 18th century: an Austrian Josephine military survey map from that period already marked the settlement as LISZACZ, with the nearby summit recorded as LISSACZKI VERH (Grmada), and noted a small chapel on the site. For generations, village life has revolved around the old tavern "Lovac," and on the feast day of St. George former residents and their families return to celebrate together.

When is the best time to visit?

Late spring and summer are the best seasons for hiking or cycling here, when the pastures are green and the forested stretches offer welcome shade. Autumn suits birdwatchers, since the surrounding woods and clearings are known as good birding territory. In winter, the hill's elevation and exposure bring cold, windy conditions, and the access roads can turn slippery, so it's worth checking the forecast before setting out. The trail is open year-round and dog-friendly, though dogs should only be let off-leash where it's clearly safe to do so.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pliševica a separate village? No — it's a hill above the village of Lisac, within the Klana municipality. The same name is sometimes used loosely for the nearby summit also called Pliš.

How long does it take to reach the top? The short approach from Lisac usually takes under an hour, while the full Klana–Pliš loop runs about 4.5–5 hours on foot.

Is the trail suitable for families? The shorter stretch near Lisac has a gentle grade and is marked as easy, making it manageable for less experienced walkers, while the full loop calls for a better level of fitness.

What else is worth seeing nearby? Klana itself, the source of the Reka stream just north of Lisac, and the neighbouring villages of Studena and Škalnica, which together with Lisac make up this small border municipality.