Javorova Kosa

For most people, this toponym (meaning literally ‘Maple Hair’) is just the name of a tunnel on the highway from Rijeka to Zagreb, but a weird train of thought always takes me to the fairytale world of Ivana Brlić Mažuranić, making it seem almost like a magic place.

Actually, it is a hill, topped by a lookout offering a wonderful view of the mountains of Ravna Gora, Risnjak, Snježnik, going as far as the Karavanke and Medvednica. It is well known for its springs; legend has it that Božji Studenac (God’s Spring), frequently visited and praised since ancient times, has healing properties.