Nestled in the Nature Park Lonjsko Polje, in the quaint village of Lonja, where time seems to stand still, the Ethno Village Stara Lonja offers a serene escape into nature. Here, you can enjoy the tranquillity of oak woods, breathe in the clean air, and listen to the croaking of frogs and the singing of birds.

The authentic wooden guest house, built in 1935, was renovated in 2011. Everything has been planned carefully and carried out, respecting the rich cultural heritage of traditional homes. All accommodation units have the possibility of preparing food. Guests can use the covered terrace with seating and barbecue facilities. The rural property amidst the impressive scenery of the Nature Park Lonjsko Polje covers an area of 20.000 m². Free WiFi  internet access is available throughout the estate.

The owners offer traditional local cuisine of the Croatian Posavina region: breakfast with homemade products or dinner with freshly caught fish prepared traditionally.

In the garden, you will find a variety of ancient fruit trees, all grown without the use of chemicals.

Some outdoor activities

If you are interested in birds, especially storks, or fishing, you are in the right place because the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park is a paradise. You can rent bikes or a boat in the Ethno Village Stara Lonja. The river beach is just 500 metres away.

You can also take a horse-drawn carriage ride or visit a nearby ethnographic collection with tools and instruments once used at farm work (over 700 objects).

A rare and authentic experience with excellent traditional cuisine and friendly hospitality. Ethno Village Stara Lonja is definitely worth a visit!

Lonjsko Polje was proclaimed a nature park in 1990. It covers an area of 50.650 hectares. There are about 250 species of birds, and it is the largest hatching ground in Europe.

Service: self-catering

Accommodation:  

• 3x two-bed studio apartments for 2
• 1x one-bedroom apartment for 2 (44 m², furniture made in 1892)
• 2x two-bedroom wooden cottages for 4, type A4

Accommodation equipment: authentic wooden furniture, oak floors, double beds or twin beds, wood-burning stove, sitting area with table and chairs, LCD TV, well-equipped kitchenette, WiFi Internet (free of charge), balcony, bathroom with shower and toilet. Smoking is not allowed.

Prices:

• Included in room price: 13 % VAT, bed linen, towels and final cleaning.
• Minimum stay: 2 nights.
• Minimum occupancy per apartment: 2 persons.
• Mandatory extra costs (payment on site): tourist tax adults 1,86 € per person/day; children 12-18 years 0,93 € per person/day, children till 12 free of charge.

Additional costs (upon request):

• Breakfast: 7 € - 8 € (non-meat products/meat products)
• Dinner: 10 € – 20 €
• Cot
• Pets
• Transfer

Discount: 10% booking discount for seven days or longer.

Payment on the spot is only possible in cash.

Check-in: 12:00 - 22:00         Check-out: 7:00 - 10:00

Additional services:

• renting a bicycle: 3 €/h; 15 €/day
• hiring a fishing guide: 80 €/day
• guided fishing tour with a motor boat for 2 persons: 100 €/day
• photo safari: 100 €/day; 60 €/half a day
• the fishing school (learn to catch catfish traditionally) for 2 persons: 100 €/day
• guided motor boat trip for 4 persons, 4 hours: 80 € 
• 2-, 4- and 6-day tour packages - look at the section "Lonja Tours"

Traditional cooking:

• fresh and tasty continental breakfast with home-made local and organic products
• traditional Posavina cuisine; home-style cooking founded on ancient traditions of the region
• freshly caught fish grilled traditionally over an open fire 
• vegetarian meals & packed lunches: on request

Other facilities:

• Pet-friendly accommodation (extra fee).
• Souvenir shop and tasting room.
• Child-friendly estate.
• Sports activities in a meadow: football, volleyball, badminton, traditional bowling.
• Covered outdoor sitting area and a spacious courtyard with an orchard.
• Parking place available free of charge.

Some other attractive activities:

• Boat trips on the nearby rivers.
• Cycling tours of the surrounding area.
• Trips by horse-driven carriages.
• Observation of the traditional livestock.
• Relaxing on a sandy river beach, only 600 meters from the centre of the village of Lonja.

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  Recommended day trip: Canoe Safari in Lonjsko polje

• Lonjsko polje Nature Park has more than 250 bird species, over 550 plant species, and some autochthonous breeds like the Turopolje hog, the Posavina horse, the Posavina hound, and the Posavina goose. It is also a fishing paradise and the largest protected wetland area in the Danube River basin. There are many well-laid-out and marked educational walking trails.

• Visiting the first European Stork Village Čigoč - the picturesque village was proclaimed the first European stork village by the European foundation Euronatur. Due to its exceptionally favourable natural conditions, there are stork nests on nearly every house or barn, and in the storks' season, there are more storks than people.

• Private ethnographic collection of family Sučić in the Village Čigoč - more than 700 tools and instruments once used at farm work. For a small price, you can enjoy an interesting presentation from the owner about the past times.

• Sightseeing the village of architectural heritage Krapje - a pearl of architectural heritage in the Sava River basin. Located on the left bank of the River Sava, not far from Jasenovac (12 km), it offers fullenjoinment in traditional architecture typical for this part of the Posavina region to enthusiasts of historical heritage.

• Bird-watching in Lonjsko Polje Nature Park, one of the world's most important bird area officially designated an IBA – Important Bird Area in 1989. Such a large concentration of birds on a relatively small area of 506 square kilometres gives a good picture of how rich the avian fauna is: 79 species are threatened at the European level and 133 species are protected by international conventions (those of Berne and Bonn and the Wild Birds Directive).

• Photo-safari - the attractive river landscape with its swamp meadows, forests of ash, willow and poplar, interesting traditional Posavina rural structures, a wealth of flora and fauna, meanders and sandbanks are ideal for an exclusive Posavina photo-safari. It would be great to take a picture of some of rare European animals: white-tailed eagle and short-toed eagle, gray and white heron, black stork and others.

• Fishing trips and traditional fishing lessons – the hosts of the property “Stara Lonja” are experienced fishermen who will share with you their extensive experience fishing in the rivers of Lonjsko polje which are rich in fish species. Some of the most basic are: carp, pike, perch, catfish, bream, crucian carp. Lonjsko polje is one of the largest spawning grounds of carp in Europe.

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  Any of the recommended trips can be booked through Inlandia.com. Just give us a call or drop us an e-mail at info@inlandia.com . Our local experts will design for you a tailor-made itinerary.

Tour 4 days / 3 overnights:

1. Day - arrival in the Ethno Village Stara Lonja, welcome drink, free activities, dinner.
2. Day -  breakfast, packed lunch, visit to village Čigoč - European Stork Village, Ethnographic collection of Family Sučić; village  Mužilovčica – the most beautiful entrance in Lonjsko field, dinner.
3. Day - breakfast, packed lunch, visit to village Krapje (the only village of architectural heritage in Croatia – traditional Posavina wooden houses), visit to Info Center of Nature Park, visit to „Krapje djol“ - an ornithological reserve - birdwatching or canoe safari  for the whole group (till 12 adults), bathing on sandy beaches of the River Sava (summer season), dinner.
4. Day – breakfast, departure.

Price per person: 350 €

Tour 6 Days / 5 overnights:

1. Day - arrival in the Ethno Village Stara Lonja, welcome drink, free activities, dinner.
2. Day - breakfast - packed lunch, visit to the village Krapje (the only village of architectural heritage in Croatia – traditional Posavina wooden houses), visit to Info Center of Nature Park, visit to „Krapje djol“ - an ornithological reserve for birds - birdwatching, dinner.
3. Day - breakfast, packed lunch, canoe safari (till 12 adults), bathing on sandy beaches of the River Sava (summer season), dinner.
4. Day - breakfast, packed lunch, visit to the village Čigoč - European Stork Village, Ethnographic collection of Family Sučić; village  Mužilovčica – the most beautiful entrance in Lonjsko field), dinner.
5. Day - breakfast, packed lunch, visit to the old town Sisak, cycling tour of significant destinations in Sisak with a voice guide in headphones – several foreign languages, dinner.

6. Day – breakfast, departure.

Price per person: 550 €

Tour 8 Days / 7 overnights:

1. Day - arrival in the Ethno Village Stara Lonja, welcome drink, free activities, dinner.
2. Day - breakfast, packed lunch, visit to the village Krapje (the only village of architectural heritage in Croatia – traditional Posavina wooden houses), visit to Info Center of Nature Park, visit to „Krapje djol“ - an ornithological reserve for birds - birdwatching, dinner.
3. Day - breakfast, packed lunch, canoe safari (till 12 adults), bathing on sandy beaches of the River Sava (summer season), dinner.
4. Day - breakfast, packed lunch, Moslavina wine roads (visit to the Moslavina vineyards), dinner.
5. Day - breakfast, packed lunch, visit to the village Čigoč - European Stork Village, Ethnographic collection of Family Sučić; village  Mužilovčica – the most beautiful entrance in Lonjsko field), dinner.

6. Day - breakfast, packed lunch, photo safari (finding tour locations in the field suitable for taking pictures).
7. Day - breakfast, packed lunch, visit to the old town Sisak, cycling tour of significant destinations in Sisak with a voice guide in headphones – several foreign languages, dinner.

8. Day - breakfast, departure.

Price per person: 750 €

The prices include:

• full board (breakfast, packed lunch, dinner)
• dinner upon arrival
• breakfast on departure day
• welcome drink
• tickets for all days of stay in the Nature Park Lonjsko polje
• map of the Lonjsko fields
• tourist tax
• English-speaking tour guide