Southeast from the frantic capitol you can find serenity and mystique in forest-covered hills.
„Alpine Croatia“, as people call Žumberačka and Samoborska gora as well as Jaskanska Plješivica, hides close to its bosom the Žumberak nature park – Samoborsko gorje.
The hills on the south side of Žumberak mountains are an area of karst origins, sporting numerous caves and chasms, ravines and forests of chestnut and beech trees.  
Animals, plants and hikers find shelter here in the nature that prevented cities from spreading further. Mountaineering homes here cherish a  long tradition of catering hill-climbers and hikers, while gravel roads and forest trails still shield this area from civilization, inviting only those it chooses to investigate it further.

Villages and rural settlements are strewn about on a 300 km2 area, with the largest ones near to main roads and most of them located on more than 400 m elevation.
Žumberak hills are a border area between Croatia and Slovenia, with special importance for tourism, especially mountaineering. Water and stone have found coexistence in this karst landscape. Together they create chasms, caves, pits and waterfalls - Sopot, Brisalo, Vranjački slap and Cerinski vir. The highest peak is Sveta Gera - 1178 m. People who come here are impressed observers and caretakers.
The whole Žumberak area is famous for numerous speleological sites. The hillocks under Plešivica and Japetić are some of the most picturesque vineyard landscapes in Croatia. Numerous monuments contribute to the value of this area as well – ancient towns and castles. Mountaineering, hiking, hunting and angling are main recreational activities on Žumberak, while traditional home cooking, venison and fish dishes with wine from Plešivica complete what this area has to offer.