Sljeme Tunnel
On your way up to Sljeme, hidden beneath the green slopes of Medvednica, lies an intriguing piece of history – the old Sljeme tunnel.
You might recognise it if you’ve ever ridden the old cable car from Gračani, as you would have passed through it. What many don’t know, though, is that the tunnel was actually part of a much grander plan, one that aimed to make a passageway through all of Medvednica and connect Zagreb with Zagorje.
Construction began in 1947, with prisoners of war from World War II working on the project. The ambitious plan never fully came to life – various reasons led to its abandonment, and in the end, only the first part of the tunnel, 120 metres long, on the Gračani side, was completed. However, this small section now has a new, unexpected life.
Today, the tunnel is part of one of Sljeme’s most popular hiking routes – the Bikčević trail, or trail no. 18. As you walk through, you’ll notice something interesting on the walls and ceiling – ropes, pegs and other climbing equipment. That’s because the Mountain Rescue Service uses the tunnel for training, so you might just stumble upon one of their drills in action.
Besides hikers and rescuers, the tunnel occasionally serves as a backdrop for film shoots or a quirky stage for electronic music performances. Who would have imagined that beneath Medvednica lies such a vibrant, unconventional underground world?
