The Slavonian village Stara Kapela, on the borders of Požega, Slavonski Brod and Nova Gradiška is the first Croatian "antistress Village" which started being created five years ago by a group of enthusiasts gathered in the Association of Eco-etno village Stara Kapela. Members of the association, which today has 50 members, no longer wanted to be witness to the extinction of Slavonian villages and heritage so they decided to renew abandoned old properties. For now, four properties have been entirely restored, five are in the stage of opening to tourists, and three are being finalized. Stara Kapela should soon have 50 tourist beds.
In the 500 meters long village wire fences are nowhere to be found anymore and have been replaced by traditional wooden fences, combined with old brick, oak and natural materials.
Every traditional detail was respected and modern furniture banished from all the estates, and in its place was put renewed indigenous furniture.
When word spread of the idea for an "anti-stress village", that is, an eco-ethno village that transforms into an interesting tourist destination as "a rural-hotel ,association members started receiving from all sides traditional chests, cabinets, tools, pottery ...
Members of the association built a pedestrian - bicycle path with six resting places and four replicas of the old blockhouses, which served as lookout points, set unique public lighting with 20 candelabra, namely petroleum lanterns that can be replaced by electric outdoor lighting at any moment. There are facades in traditional style on all of the 14 existing houses.
After the first phase of restoration, comes the phase in which there will be an awakening of workshops with old crafts. So the guests of Stara Kapela will be able to learn weaving on loom, making pottery, brandy, friying bread in a baker's oven ... They will learn the mastery of traditional crafts, which have been "run over" by modern life.
Stara Kapela is at an hour and a half drive from Zagreb. It can be reached by highway from which you descend to the exit Lužani.
The Tourist Board of the Brod-Posavina County
www.tzbpz.hr
Eco-etno village Stara Kapela
www.stara-kapela.hr