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Visit us! A magnificent combination of natural beauties and rich historical heritage will provide you with a range of opportunities for relaxation, spending leisurely time in the sun, and enjoying quiet sunsets on the banks of the meandering Gacka river. Deciding to spend your time in the pristine natural environment of the Gacka river is a choice that, like no other, will allow you to benefit, within a distance of just 40 kilometres, from the enjoyment in two national parks (Plitvice Lakes National Park and North Velebit National Park), the Velebit Nature Park and a host of other small but picturesque and interesting localities, each of which hiding its own unique and interesting history. Unlike any other destination, Gacka offers you a possibility to spend the day swimming in the crystal clear sea only 40 kilometres away, and relax on one of the café terrace during warm summer evenings; to go on a bike ride, a walk or a hike in the mountain or take advantage of the numerous other outdoor activities provided by a destination located near some of the world’s greatest natural attractions within easy reach of the sea. What also makes this destination unique is the simplicity and generosity of the hosts, their jovial, peaceful and boisterous nature and desire to please the guest. It’s a wealth you cannot take with you, instead it will capture your soul and keep it filled until your next visit. Where We Are: Gacka can be accessed from different directions: west from the road leading to the coast and the town of Senj across the Vratnik mountain pass; north from the direction of Ogulin and Gorski Kotar across the pass dividing Velika Kapela and Mala Kapela; east from the direction of Plitvice Lakes and Krbava via Homoljac gorge; south from Gospić and Lika across the Janjče slopes. This picturesque area can also be accessed from the sea over the largest Croatian mountain, through the Velebit Nature Park and Krasno via the Grezina pass on the Senjsko Bilo ridge. If travelling by rail, you will experience the most beautiful scenery – the place of birth of the river Gacka. If arriving by air, the whole landscape will spread out before your eyes. The Gacka region is located in a central position between the world famous Plitvice Lakes National Park, the Velebit Nature Park and the North Velebit National Park (not far from the Botanical Garden on Zavižan and the Marian pilgrimage site at Krasno). Adding to the attractiveness of the destination is the Gacka river, one of the best known salmonid waters in the world. Arriving in Gacka, you wil see it is not all barren rocks, on the contrary, the landscape is very green with forests, glades, meadows and flat plains, rivers, streams and lakes, but still abounding in karst formations such as caves and sinkholes. Villages and towns are randomly scattered in the fields in the foothills. Here people live in harmony with the wonders created by nature. When You are in Gacka... ... make the most of the moment and choose from the rich and diverse offer something for yourself, try its cuisine and take souvenirs back with you that shall remind You, until next meeting, of Gacka You met and got fond of. Rare are those who havehave never heard to the River Gacka, its phenomenon, rare are passionate anglers who haven't visited this river at least once, but that's not all. Gacka still stores some rarities slowly fallin to oblivion. For it is barely known that here the grain is milled into flour in the water mills at the very spring of the river, and that cloth is being felted in autochtonous mills. It is also almost unknown that there are several God Mithras sanctuaires here and that this region was settled already in the late Bronze Age. Gacka is still hiding many things that haven't been discovered yet, unknown yet genuine, and offers the opportunity to spend a dynamic holiday in a slightly different way. It is those who come to visit Gacka, that shall be the truest and most successful tourist representatives, who shall testify to the potential and value, to the beauty and uniqueness as well as to the hospitality that they met here, having a sound reason to come again. Highlights: • Croatian Centre for Indigenous Water Fish and Crawfish Species The Croatian Centre for Indigenous Karst Water Fish and Crawfish Species was set up in Otočac in 2006. The founders are the Town of Otočac, the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Ruđer Bošković Institute and the company Gacka d.o.o. The Centre operates as an independent association of legal entities. Activities: • Scientific research of indigenous karst water fish and crawfish species, with emphasis on their genetic profile and spawning • breeding fry for karst water restocking • development of projects and programmes for commercial breeding of indigenous karst water fish and crawfish species • branding The highest managing body of the Centre is the Council and the Centre manager is responsible to the Council. Each of the founders of the Centre has one member appointed in the Centre Council. The relationships and mutual rights and obligations of each founder are regulated in an organisational plan. Promotion and market presence are defined in the marketing plan through the marketing mix (production, price, distribution and promotion). The project was developed over a period of three months for the EU Phare 2005 BRI programme. The project applicant is the Town of Otočac with partners: Croatian Chamber of Economy, Otočac County Chamber, Gacka d.o.o., Tourist Board Otočac and associated partner IRB, Zagreb. The project was submitted in February 2007 with an initial project value of EUR 722,389.00. In October 2007, the project went through two evaluation phases. After two month’s negations the total project value was reduced to EUR 630,222.85 (75% EU, 25% applicant and partners), cutting back on 2 technical assistance funds, staff allowances, vehicle maintenance, etc. The co-funding agreement was signed on 29 October 2007. The Centre was officially opened on 28 November 2008. • Velebit Bear Orphanage The village of Kuterevo is situated at the north-east slope of the Mount Velebit along the border of the Velebit Nature Park. Apart from forestry, the people of Kuterevo are still engaged in the old craft of woodworking. Kuterevo lies in the proximity of the Senj - Otočac – Plitvice road, with the Otočac - Krasno - Sv. Juraj road running along the west fringes of the Kuterevo valley. Owing to its geographic location in North Velebit in the vicinity of an area densely populated by bear habitats, Kuterevo has become home to the first Bear Orphanage in Croatia, providing shelter to young, abandoned bears. The bear orphanage project (popularly known as: The Velebit Bear) has been initiated by the Croatian Centre "Knowledge for Environment" and is implemented on site by the Velebit association Kuterevo – VUK. The project is aimed to build and establish the first bear orphanage in Croatia in order to help efficiently protect the brown bear species and to contribute, through education of the local population and visitors, to a better awareness of the valuable biodiversity in the Velebit Nature Park area and the need for its preservation. The Kuterevo Orphanage is run by a team of nature lovers composed of biology and environmental protection experts and layman volunteers who are motivated by their great love of bears. They all selflessly care for the bear inhabitants of Kuterevo and are anxious to provide the young animals with a safer future and the living conditions as similar as possible to their original habitat. The Velebit Bear Orphanage in Kuterevo will serve as part of the visitor centre as well as being an attractive site for the promotion of the Velebit Nature Park. The first inhabitants of the Orphanage: the bear couple Mrnjo Brundo and Janja Zora. To visit the Orphanage, please make an appointment at: Phone. E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Activities Coordinator: Ivan Crnković – Pavenka Project Manager: Vladimir Lay, D. Professional Guidance: Prof. Đuro Huber, D. • The springs of the Gacka river During the 20th century about sixty water mills were operating on the Gacka river and its tributaries. Today only a few water mills at the river springs in Sinac are still used for grinding grain in the traditional way using the river’s water power. Continuing in harmony and collusion between man and nature, as objects signifying their accord and cooperation, the water mills safeguard the memory of old, extinct trades. The millstones on the Sinac scaffolds were grinding away incessantly, day and night, throughout the year, accompanied by the roar and murmur of water. In times of big floods or low water levels of the river Lika, people would travel for hours from the remote parts of the Krbava and Lika regions to grind their grains during the peak period from threshing season to late autumn. Grain was transported on oxcarts or packsaddles, or on sledges in winter, horse-drawn carts still being a rarity. The place was bustling with movement, with life and people; on some days as many as twenty cart-loads were brought, with villagers waiting in a queue for their turn to mill the grain. It is hard to imagine that this dying village was ones a prosperous milling community. The centuries-old tradition of milling has been preserved not only as an important commercial activity, but also as a way to exchange knowledge and experience, to make important bonds and friendships and converse with others with plenty of jokes and laughter. As they had to wait for their turn, the peasants brought food and hay for the cattle. Sometimes they had to wait two or three days until it was their turn in the milling queue, in which case the miller provided them with food and accommodation as well as hay for the cattle. The mill owner had to make sure that enough bread was baked each day. Besides, he had to take care of his reputation, secure the grain and make sure the grain is always finely ground. On the other hand, some millers were only interested in the millstone turning and in the milling being finished quickly so as increase the profits from their service. The milling trade was therefore considered an easy way to earn money and a secure source of income. However, the millstones required maintenance. They had to be removed every couple of days, depending on the amount of grain processed, and had to be sharpened. Only the most skilled millers knew how to chisel the stone, place it in circular wood forms and cover it with resin, and after the resin had hardened, nail it with brass rings. A single water mill had more than one owner with each of them entitled to use a single millstone according to a predefined schedule. They were "holders of the line", a right acquired by inheritance, donation or acquisition of shares. Even women were entitled to it through dowry. Today, at the beginning of a new century, the water mills at the springs of Gacka are still standing as monuments of traditional architecture, with the clatter of millstones. Visit us and experience the centennial peace of old water mills, either on your own or in a group. For sightseeing tours and demonstration of the grain milling process, cloth fulling and wool rug weaving, please announce your visit directly to: Jure Majer, the Miller Tel. • Culture and Art Society Lipa KUD "Lipa" Sinac evolved from the Tamburitza ensemble "Lipa" Sinac which was founded eighty-five (85) years ago, in 1923. According to our sources, it is the oldest society of its kind on the territory of the Lika-Senj County and the oldest in the whole country. KUD Lipa has been committed to working together to promote the music culture and oral and other heritage not only in Sinac and the Gacka valley, but the whole of Lika and Croatia. The Society’s activities were partly suspended during the recent independence war in Croatia, when the members of KUD Lipa were actively involved in defending their homes. Applying more contemporary methods, the society continued working towards achieving their long-set goals of helping the culture organizations in the region in which they are living and working to conserve the spiritual heritage and the living oral traditions of the oldest inhabitants as well as to preserve the region’s material treasures from being forgotten and dying out. Education is vital for gaining insight into the essence and significance of the Croatian language, notably the authentic local vernacular, the CHAKAVIAN DIALECT OF SINAC which is still today spoken by the Sinac people. Currently two-thirds (2/3) of the members are young people below twenty (20) who eagerly expand their school education with a more detailed knowledge of the Croatian history that is written in the green stones and cliffs of the magnificent river Gacka. Having performed numerous times throughout the country and abroad, they in a way act as ambassadors who promote and disseminate the cultural heritage of Croatia on the fertile grounds of the classical European culture. The Society is lead by expert and highly qualified professionals who are eager to pass on their knowledge and extensive experience to the new members. The Tamburitza section, which is made up of a mixed tamburitza orchestra and a folk tamburitza ensemble, is directed by Mr. Tomislav Bogdanić. Early on, he taught himself how to play by ear while listening to the sounds of tamburitza. To play tamburiza was a matter of prestige and only the best were allowed to play in the background to demonstrate their knowledge and earn a place among the masters. Today Mr. Bogdanić plays all string instruments, including the samica, a forerunner of the modern tamburitza. The choir works under the direction of Ms. Branka Bernardi, a music teacher. Using oral traditions and some musical recordings, she reconstructs authentic versions of old tunes and songs combining a cappella and tamburitza accompaniment as well as the sound of the samica with the singing of soloists and singing choirs. The whole work is documented in musical notes, sounds and videos in order to preserve the authentic tunes for the future generations who are growing up in this majestic landscape of fields, woods and water, bathed in the snow, rain, sun and the hospitality of the sturdy, peace-loving, noble, proud, pious, yet sometimes stubborn men and women of Sinac. The folk and drama groups are lead by Ms Jasna Ilić, a graduate of Croatian language and literature and phonetics. The extensive knowledge acquired through theoretical studies and practical work in the field is transposed, to the greatest possible extent, in the spoken and sung word, in the folk dance steps, in the hair braid style, in traditional embroidery, knitting and weaving techniques, in the smiles and glances of each member of the KUD Lipa. The aim is to develop love for and awareness of the language, both spoken and written, of the history of ones home town and home country, of every member of the living community who has a vital place in the chain of life. To find out more about the Art and Culture Society "Lipa" Sinac please visit: www.kud-lipa-sinac.hr • Culture and Art Association Gacka Ličko Lešće lies on the left bank of the river Gacka along the Otočac-Gospić road. There is also a railroad through the village. Lešće is located in the Gacka valley between the slopes of Kapela and Velebit mountains, surrounded by a mountain range on three sides. The evidence of human habitation in this area can be traced back to the Middle Stone Age with the earliest finds, as old as 10000 - 4000 B.C. discovered in the Pećine cave site. Numerous charred remains of animal bones and bones with clear traces of stone tools indicate the presence of a Middle Stone Age material culture. In the Late Bronze Age, Lešće was inhabited by Iapodes tribes as confirmed by ceramic fragments found in the Pećine cave. There is also evidence of Roman and ancient Croatian settlers. From the ancient Roman period there are two limestone bases with inscribed texts in honour of the Roman emperors Augustus and Trajan. In the Pećine cave there is a clean and clear stream called Kostelka (Tepli potok) and a number of smaller streams suitable for fishing. In the village centre there is a Baroque church devoted to St. Mary of the Rosary (popularly known as St. Rosary) originally built in 1700 and rebuilt in 1786. The church has Rococo altars, pulpit, baptismal font and well-preserved liturgical vessels. There is also a small church dating back to 1721, the St. Francis, with walls built from stones of the ruined ancient Roman Arupium with fragments of Latin texts. With the arrival of the Croatian settlers Ličko Lešće embraced a new culture and new customs. Cultural life was vibrant among the population. However, no written records are available to tells us about the life of the villagers and their customs of song, music and dance. The first organized cultural group emerged in 1928 as the peasant culture association "Seljačka sloga" (Peasant Unity) Ličko Lešće. A tamburitza ensemble called "Javor" (Maple) was set up. The initiator of the group was Delko Bogdanić, the son of Ilija Bogdanić, one of Lika’s biggest entrepreneurs. The Bogdanić family paid for all the instruments for the group. Taught by Delko Bogdanić himself, the young and talented tamburitza players, all of them working in a sawmill in Lešće owned by the Bogdanić family, soon developed into a very good vocal tamburitza ensemble. Among them: Frane Marić (Đukan), Mate Vašarević (Mrka, Golubica, singer), Mate Vašarević (Šajan), Ivan Marić (Starešina), Tomo Orešković (Tomac), Dragan Ostović (Babić), Stjepan Ostović, Dragan’s brother, Marko Babić (Markus), Frane Kovačić (Dancik), Nikola Dujmović (Knez), Joso Ladišić (Šnjapar), and Stjepan Orešković (Stipurina, singer). The ensemble had its first performances in Ličko Lešće, Sinac and other villages in the Sinac municipality, and later performed in Otočac, Perušić, Gospić and Senj municipalities. “Javor” also participated in the Zagreb Folk Festival with one of the ensemble members attracting special attention both with his singing skills and his rugged highlander physique – Stjepan Orešković (Stipurina). A photo of this hero from Ličko Lešće has for many years appeared on the cover of the Croatian Cultural Heritage, a publication issued in Zagreb. The name written under the photo said Mane from Popina, a false name used to conceal the identity of Stjepan Orešković from Ličko Lešće during the dictatorship of King Alexander. In 1936, a Community Centre was set up in Vrilo, providing the two culture groups with better conditions for practice. After a local shop owner, Perica Pleša, who built the building for his shop (today housing a post office) had gone bankrupt a few year later, the building was put up for auction and bought by Seljačka Sloga as a venue for cultural events in Lešće. Javor continued in existence until the Second World War. As almost all ensemble members were employed with Ilija Bodganić, his son Delko was able to take them off work and pay them their daily allowances for the interests of the ensemble, thus promoting the culture of the village of Lešće in other parts of Croatia. The 1930s were a period of national awakening in Croatia, a movement lead by Vlatko Maček which resulting in the Cvetković-Maček Agreement and the creation of the Banate of Croatia. After the Second World War, when the tamburitza ensemble and all other forms of cultural activity came to a standstill, teachers Milan and Mandica Sabljak revived the cultural life in the village by forming youth folk and drama groups. Rehearsals were held in the school next to the church. They were soon joined by tamburitza players Franjo Marić (Đukan), Ivan Marić (Starešina), Tomo Orešković (Tomac), Stjepan Kolak (Žiža), Dane Kovačić (Trapan), Dragan Ostović and others. Collective folk dance Kolo, singing with tamburitza accompaniment and male a cappella singing were rehearsed in preparation for the first Folk Festival in Zagreb in 1947. Stjepan Kolak (Kekljin) was then in charge of the culture group. Among the outstanding members of the male singing group were: Franjo Orešković (Stipurina), Stjepan Orešković (Stipurina), Dane Kovačić (Trapan), Jure Marković (Bracan), Milan Jakšić (Jovan), Ivan Jakšić. At the Folk Festival in Zagreb they performed the song "Oj Livado zelena bujado" (Oh Meadow, Green Ferns), and Dane Kovačić (Trapan) had a solo performance with the song "Čuvam ovce i sjedim u ladu i studiram za koga da me dadu" (I Tend to My Sheep, Sitting in the Shadow, Musing about Whom to Marry). The folk group performed the collective folk dance Ličko Kolo and the tamburitza ensemble played the song "Junak sam iz Like ja" (I’m a Hero from Lika). The prominent members of the folk group included: Manda Kolak (Rođina), Francika Kolak, Kata Kolak, Mandica Orešković, Luca Orešković. Parallel to the formation of peasant cooperatives in Yugoslavia, community centres began to be built in villages throughout the country. With the construction of a Community Centre in Ličko Lešće in 1949, even better conditions were created for further development of the already vivid cultural life in the village. When the teacher Milan Sabljak left Lešće to move to Zagreb, a great vacuum was created in the cultural life of the village, however, thanks to a group of young enthusiasts, among them Dane Orešković (Tomac), Tomo Orešković (Tomac), Milan Kolak (Nanika), Ivan Marić (Miloš) and others, a dance group met each Sunday in the Community Centre in Ličko Lešće. Though not a formally organized group, they worked on their own initiative until arrival of Stevica Uzelac as school headmaster and Mandica Šerić as teacher of music and traditional Lika dance. Under the guidance of Mandica Šerić, school children from Ličko Lešće took part in a festival (Slet) in Otočac which was taking place on a football pitch. The students of the elementary school in Ličko Lešće performed a Kolo dance "Ej mati, mati" (My Mother) in the Open University Community Centre. In the early 1960s, Željko Pavelić (Buban), a teacher from Otočac, moved to Lešće. He immediately started teaching children how to play tamburitza and founded a large student tamburizta ensemble. This ensemble yielded a number of important tamburitza players who diligently practiced the tamburizta until the foundation of the Arts and Culture Society (KUD) “Ružica Brkljačić”. There was also a drama group under the guidance of Stevica Uzelac and Mandica Šerić as well as a folk and tamburitza groups. The drama group had many notable performances with the play "Klupko" (Hank) by Pero Budak accompanied with folk and tamburitza performances. Notable members of the drama group include: Manda Kolak Ćuić, Stjepan Kolak, Nikola Bodlović (Režo), Katica Uzelac (teacher), Ankica Vukmanić (teacher). They held performances in Lešće at all major events (Labour Day, New Year’s Day, Women’s Day). They also had performances in Donje Kosinje, Švica and Sinac. Towards the end of the 1960s, the cultural activity in the village became almost extinct save for some school activities thanks to the efforts of Mandica Šerić. In 1972, following the reconstruction of the Community Centre, the Scout Association of Croatia launched a project "Ništa nas ne smije iznenaditi" (Nothing Can Surprise Us) in the village. On this occasion, Branko Ćuić, Živko Marić, Joso Marić, Dane Čop, Tomo Kolak, and Tomo Grčević and some other enthusiasts started collecting the surviving violins and organizing tamburitza dance events. With the money raised they bought new tamburitzas from the artisan tamburitza maker "Stjepan Gilg" in Sisak. The revival of the tamburitza ensemble gave new hope for the rejuvenation of cultural life in the village. A new seed was planted and nurtured by Joso Marić (Đukan) until the foundation of the KUD "Ružica Brkljačić". During the periods when the ensemble was inactive, some enthusiast players continued to play at wool spinning and down plucking gatherings, allowing the tradition to be preserved. After the Second World War, until KUD "Ružica Brkljačić" was set up, the cultural activities in the village were organized under the auspices of the Ličko Lešće Elementary School. The school teachers played an important role as instigators of all cultural life activities. The young people of Lešće were also active in the public and cultural life of the village through the youth organization. Despite the fact that they were sometimes quite inactive, the Youth Organization has still made a significant contribution to the preservation of the traditional heritage and encouragement of cultural life in the village. In 1980, the need arose for setting up an art and culture society (KUD – Kullturno-Umjetničko Društvo). Housed in the Ličko Lešće Elementary School, the KUD came about on 20th April 1980 through the initiative of a group of enthusiasts. On 20th April 1980, the following villagers met with the aim to set up the KUD: Mićo Orlović, Dragan Orešković (Paja), Dragan Orešković (Belaš), Luka Orešković, Dane Čop, Tomislav Madžar, Tomislav Jergović (Trumba), Franjo (Mićo) Rupčić, Orešković Ivan (Buco). Dragan Orešković (Paja) was elected the first president by the constituent assembly, with Tomislav Madžar elected as secretary and Branko Vašarević as treasurer of the organization. All the villagers who could play the tamburitza and all men and women who could sing well joined the society. Housed in the premises of the Elementary School, the KUD practiced songs which they would soon perform throughout Lika and other parts of Croatia, but also abroad where they presented their local customs to Croatian workers temporarily employed outside the country. The tamburizta ensemble was made up of the following members: Frane Marić (Đukan), Joso Marić, Mate Kolak (Žiža), Dragan Orešković (Belaš), Tomislav Jergović (Trumba), Mile Polić, Tomo Kolak (Žiža), Mile Vuić, Dane Čop, Jurica Ostović, Ivan Orešković (Šinđa), Josip Žanić (Čiko), Biserka Tonković, Nevenka Bobinac, Ružica Marić Mandica Šerić, Ana Čop, Nada Kraljić, Ivan Orešković (Buco), Milan Jakšić, Milan Orešković, Drago Adamović, Josip Žanić (Čikin), Anka Kolak (Žižina), Jadranka Gomerčić, Janja Kraljić Franjo Rubčić, Nikola Kraljić, Tomica Kraljić, Ankica Dujmović (Vidova). The first record with authentic traditional songs of Ličko Lešće was recorded in 1982. A second audio cassette was recorded in 1984. The KUD had two performances in Switzerland, in addition to performances in Otočac, Gospić, Pašman, Ogulin and other towns in Croatia. In 1986, the KUD took part in the TV show "Lički divani" (Lika Coversations) made by the Zagreb TV. In 1986, the first video recording showing a down plucking gathering with the songs "Oj livado zelena bujado" (Oh Meadow, Green Ferns), "Oj medvjede gorska životinjo" (Bear, the Animal form the Mountain) and others. In the same year, the KUD appeared on the TV show "Oj slobodo bistra vodo" (Freedom, You Are Clear as Water). Dragan Belaš founded a tamburitza school to teach the young generations of elementary school children how to play tamburitza. In 1994, Mato Čop, the managing director of "Industrogradnja" from Zagreb reconstructed the Community Centre in Vrilo, originally built in 1936 by Seljačka Sloga. Following its reconstruction the Community Centre became the property of the KUD. For unknown reasons, the Community Centre in Lešće was registered as property of the Agricultural Cooperative in Otočac. Towards the end of the 1990s, the Otočac Agricultural Cooperative suffered the same fate as the rest of production facilities in the town of Otočac region and was dissolved. The Community Centre was built by the villagers who contributed both labour and financial donations. Thanks to Mato Čop, the rebuilt Community Centre is Vrilo is now available to the inhabitants and the KUD as a place where they can get together for meetings and other activities. Since the founding of the KUD in 1980, Mate Čop has been the principal sponsor of all major performances, audio and video recordings. Mato Čop remained the honorary president of the KUD until his death. During the recent independence war in Croatia, KUD’s activities waned as most members of the KUD were actively involved in the defence of the village and the country. In 1994, the KUD members gathered again and resumed their activities. At the assembly meeting the KUD changed its name from KUD "Ružica Brkljačić" to Arts and Culture Association (KUU) "Gacka" Ličko Lešće. The elected presidents of the KUU were: Franjo Rubčić, Milan Matasić (Prća), Ivan Orešković (Šinđa), Darko Orešković (Mićanov), Tomo Jagodić (Tule), Julica Banić (Brižanova), Tomislav Jergović (Trumba), Tomo Jagodić (Tule) – elected for two terms, and since 2009 Đurđa Orešković (since 2009). The current president is Ivan Marković. The KUD had notable performances at the following events: County Folk Festival in Otočac, Bread Festival in Gospić, the Feast of Our Lady of Carmel in Kuterevo, Vinkovci Autumn Festival (twice), Zagreb Folk Festival in 1998, Regional Folk Festival in Gradiška, Lika Evening in Slavonski Brod in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, Spring Festivities (Prošarica) in Slavonski Brod in 2003 and 2006, Male A Cappella Singing Groups in Ivanić Grad, performances in Otočac at the Town of Otočac Day festivities, Folk Festival in Perušić "Ide jesen, ide ličko prelo" (Autumn Comes, the Wool is Spun), Ostrovački Lišani, Šibenik, Mirlović Zagora, the Lace Festival “Šlingani Dani" in Jalžabet, performances in Switzerland (twice), and Stuttgart. Also, the KUD has regular performances in Ličko Lešće at religious events and festive liturgies, and in Sinac. Tomo Jagodić – Tule started the initiative, through the Ministry of Culture, to protect “ojkanje” and “rozganje” singing as intangible cultural heritage. The proposal sent by the Ministry to UNESCO was accepted and KUU Gacka received the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Charter (Bear, the Animal from the Mountain). The Croatian Prime Minister Ms Jadranka Kosor handed over the Charter to Tomo Jagodić – Tula on 20th February 2011. This history is based on memories of the children of the oldest members of the Society who have long been dead, the memories of the author based on the stories of these people, and based on the memories of individual members of the KUD. Those who have read this text, and can provide information about the KUD, which they have obtained from their cousins, fathers, grandfathers or neighbours, are invited to submit their remarks and suggestions for improvement of this text to the e-mail address of the Lika-Senj County Association of the Blind and Vision Impaired or the address of KUU Gacka in Ličko Lešće. After we collect the required data, we will try and write a book about the KUD, which would be the first book ever to be written about Ličko Lešće by the people of Lešće themselves. Address: KUU "Gacka" 53224 Ličko Lešće Croatia Last Updated (Monday, 24 November 2014 09:15)
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KUU Gacka Ličko Lešće smjestilo se na lijevoj obali rijeke Gacke, uz cestu od Otočca prema Gospiću, a kroz njega prolazi i željeznička pruga. Lešće je selo smješteno u Gackoj dolini, između obronaka Kapele i Velebita, okružen planinskim lancem s triju strana. Tragovi života potječu već iz mezolitika, a u nalazištu Pećini pronađeni su ostaci koji datiraju još iz razdoblja od 10000 do 4000 godine prije Krista. Pougljeni ostaci brojnih životinjskih kostiju i kostiju s jasnim tragovima kamenog oruđa govore o nositeljima mezolitske materijalne kulture. U Lešću žive Japodi u kasno brončano doba o čemu svjedoče pronađeni ostaci keramike u Pećini. Lešće je naseljeno u rimsko i starohrvatsko doba. Iz rimskog razdoblja potječu dvije vapnenačke baze s tekstovima ispisanim u čast carevima Žaugustu i Trajanu. U Pećini izvire bistri i čisti potok Kostelka (Tepli potok), te nekoliko manjih potoka pogodnih za ribolov. U središtu je sela barokna crkva Majke Božje od sv. Krunice (u narodu poznatije kao sv. Lozarija) iz 1700.g., koja je obnovljena 1786. Crkva ima rokoko oltare, propovjedaonicu, krstionicu i sačuvano staro liturgijsko posuđe. U gornjem je Lešću crkvica sv. Franje iz 1721. godine, u čije je zidove ugrađeno kamenje s ruševina rimskog Arupiuma, a na kojima se mogu čitati fragmenti latinskih tekstova. Dolaskom Hrvata na ove prostore naseljavaju i Ličko Lešće gdje žive i dan danas. Hrvati su sa sobom donijeli svoju kulturu i običaje. Kulturni život bio je jako izražen među stanovništvom. Ne postoje pisani tragovi o kulturnom životu seljana koji bi mogli svjedočiti o običajima pjevanja sviranja i plesanja. Organizirana skupina kulturnog življenja javlja se 1928 .godine pod okriljem "Seljačke sloge" Ličko Lešće. Osniva se tamburaško folklorna sekcija "Javor". Inicijativu za osnivanje ovog društva daje Delko Bogdanić sin Ilije Bogdanića, jedan od najvećih poduzetnika u Lici. Za potrebe tamburaške sekcije obitelj Bogdanić kupuje sve potrebne tamburaške instrumente. Mlade tamburaše tamburanju podučava sam Delko Bogdanić i uskoro od vrlo talentiranih mladih ljudi koji su radili na pilani u Lešću, vlasništva obitelji Bogdanić, nastaje vrlo dobar tamburaški i pjevački sastav. Tu se ističu: Frane Marić ( Đukan), Mate Vašarević (Mrka, Golubica kao pjevač), Mate Vašarević (Šajan), Ivan Marić (Starešina), Tomo Orešković (Tomac), Dragan Ostović (Babić), Stjepan Ostović Draganov brat, Marko Babić (Markus), Frane Kovačić (Dancik), Nikola Dujmović (Knez), Joso Ladišić (Šnjapar) te Stjepan Orešković (Stipurina kao pjevač). Prve javne nastupe ostvaruju u Ličkom Lešću, Sincu i drugim selima općine Sinac, a kasnije na prostoru općine Otočac, Perušića, Gospića i Senja. Sudjeluju na smotri folklornog stvaralaštva u Zagrebu. Na smotri folklora u Zagrebu naročito se svojim pjevanjem i pojavom kršnog gorštaka Ličana ističe Stjepan Orešković (Stipurina). Slika ovog junaka iz Ličkog Lešća godinama izlazi na naslovnici Kulturne baštine hrvatskog naroda, novinama koje se tiskaju u Zagrebu. Ispod slike je pisalo Mane s Popine, što nije bila istina, jer to je vrijeme diktature Kralja Aleksandra pa nije bilo poželjno u novinama naći ime Stjepana Oreškovića iz L. Lešća. Seljačka sloga 1936. godine sagrađuje dom u Vrilu gdje se stvaraju još kvalitetniji uvjeti za rad ove dvije sekcije, a nakon što je Perica Pleša, trgovac sagradio zgradu (današnja pošta) u kojoj je otvorio trgovinu i nakon nekoliko godina zbog dugova propao, zgrada se našla na javnoj dražbi pa ju je kupila Seljačka sloga u kojoj se dalje odvijao kulturni život sela Lešća. Rad "Javora" trajao je sve do drugog svjetskog rata. Gotovo svi članovi ovog društva radili su kod Ilije Bogdanića, tako da je njegov sin Delko mogao radnike uzeti s posla, platiti im dnevnicu za interese "Javora" i promicati kulturu sela Lešća u drugim krajevima Hrvatske. To vrijeme tridesetih godina je vrijeme nacionalnog buđenja hrvatskog naroda pod vodstvom dr. Vlatka Mačeka što je u konačnici rezultiralo dogovorom Cvetković- Maček čime je stvorena Banovina Hrvatska. Nakon Drugog svjetskog rata, za vrijeme kojeg je u Lešću zamrlo tamburanje i drugi vidovi kulturnog života učitelji Milan i Mandica Sabljak pokreću nanovo kulturni život. Okupljaju omladinu u folklornu i dramsku sekciju. Probe se održavaju u školi pokraj crkve. Ubrzo im se pridružuju tamburaši Franjo Marić (Đukan), Ivan Marić (Starešina), Tomo Orešković (Tomac), Stjepan Kolak ( Žiža), Dane Kovačić (Trapan), Dragan Ostović i drugi. Uvježbavaju se kola i tamburaško pjevanje kao i pjevanje u muškoj klapi. Vrše se pripreme za prvu smotru folklora u Zagrebu 1947. godine. Kulturna skupina pod vodstvom Stjepana Kolaka (Kekljin) kreće na smotru folklora u Zagreb. Od muške pjevačke skupine istaknuti su pjevači Franjo Orešković ( Stipurina), Stjepan Orešković Ličko kolo - KUU Gacka - Ličko Lešće(Stipurina), Dane Kovačić (Trapan), Jure Marković (Bracan), Milan Jakšić (Jovan), Ivan Jakšić. Stjepan Orešković (Stipurina). Na smotri folklora u Zagrebu izvode pjesmu "Oj Livado zelena bujado", a Dane Kovačić (Trapan) pjeva pjesmu "Čuvam ovce i sjedim u ladu i studiram za koga da me dadu" Folklorna skupina odigrala je ličko kolo a tamburaši su zasvirali "Junak sam iz Like ja" U folklornoj sekciji istaknute su bile: Manda Kolak (Rođina), Francika Kolak, Kata Kolak, Mandica Orešković, Luca Orešković. Stvaranjem seljačkih radnih zadruga u Jugoslaviji započinje projekt izgradnje zadružnih domova po selima. Tako je i u Ličkom Lešću sagrađen dom potkraj 1949 godine. Gradnjom doma stvaraju se uvjeti za još bolji procvat kulturnog života u selu, kojeg u to vrijeme uistinu nije nedostajalo. Odlaskom učitelja Milana Sabljaka iz Lešća u Zagreb nastaje i vakum kulturnog djelovanja, ali nekolicina mlađih entuzijasta kao što su Dane Orešković (Tomac), Tomo Orešković (Tomac), Milan Kolak (Nanika), Ivan Marić (Miloš) i još nekih ipak se organiziraju plesovi nedjeljom u Domu u Ličkom Lešću. Ta skupina nije organizirana, već to rade samoinicijativno, sve do dolaska Stevice Uzelca za upravitelja škole i Mandice Šerić, koji podučava učenike u sviranju i igranju ličkih kola. Pod rukovodstvom Mandice Šerić učenici iz Ličkog Lešća sudjeluju na smotri (Slet) u Otočcu koja se odigravala na nogometnom igralištu. U Domu kulture Narodno sveučilište učenici osnovne škole iz Ličkog Lešća nastupaju s kolom "Ej mati, mati". Početkom šezdesetih godina u Lešće dolazi Željko Pavelić (Buban) učitelj iz Otočca. On odmah podučava učenike tamburanju i osniva veliki tamburaški sastav sastavljen od učenika. Iz ovog sastava izraslo je nekoliko vrlo značajnih tamburaša koji su njegovali tamburanje sve do osnutka KUD-a Ružica Brkljačić. Pod Vodstvom Stevice Uzelca i Mandice Šerić djeluje dramska sekcija.. Uz dramsku sekciju djeluje folklor i tamburaška sekcija. Oni uvježbavaju dramsku predstavu "Klupko" Pere Budaka i s tom predstavom uz folklornu sekciju i tamburaše ostvaruju niz zapaženih nastupa.U dramskoj sekciji istaknuli su se svojom glumom: Manda Kolak Ćuić, Stjepan Kolak, Nikola Bodlović (Režo), Katica Uzelac (učiteljica), Ankica Vukmanić (učitelj). Nastupaju u Lešću u prigodi svih većih Državnih praznika (1. maj, Dan Republike, Nova godina, Dan žena). Nastupaju u Donjem Kosinju Švici i Sincu. Potkraj šezdesetih godina dolazi do zamiranja svakog kulturnog djelovanja u selu. Ponešto se održava u školi i to zahvaljujući Mandici Šerić. 1972. nakon što je obnovljen Dom u Lešću odvija se akcija Saveza izviđača Hrvatske "Ništa nas ne smije iznenaditi" u selu. Tom prigodom Branko Ćuić, Živko Marić, Joso Marić, Dane Čop, Tomo Kolak, i Tomo Grčević s još nekoliko entuzijasta prikupljaju po selu preživjele tambure i organiziraju plesne večeri uz tambure. Od zarađenog novca kupuju tambure kod obrta "Stjepan Gilg" u Sisku. Rad tamburaša vraća novu nadu u oživljavanje kulturnog života u selu. Posijano je novo sjeme koje Joso Marić (Đukan) održava sve do osnutka KUD-a "Ružica Brkljačić". U svim vremenskim razdobljima koji su bili neaktivni, samo neki entuzijasti sviraju po prelima čijanama i tako se tradicija održavala. Nakon drugog svjetskog rata pa sve do osnutka KUD-a "Ružica Brkljačić" kulturni život odvija se pod pokroviteljstvom osnovne škole. Učitelji imaju vrlo zapaženu ulogu u tome jer su oni pokretači svih aktivnosti kulturnog života. Omladina sela Lešća preko svoje organizacije Saveza omladine također sudjeluje u javnom i kulturnom životu. Iako ponekad prilično neaktivna, Omladinska organizacija ipak je znatno doprinosila očuvanju tradicije baštine kulturnog života u selu. 1980. godine javlja se potreba organiziranja jednog KUD-a u selu. To je učinjeno 20. travnja 1980. godine u prostorijama osnovne škole u Ličkom Lešću. Okuplja se grupa entuzijasta koja je bila inicijativni odbor za osnivanje KUD-a. Na dan 20. travnja 1980. okupili su se sljedeći seljani radi osnutka KUD-a: Mićo Orlović, Dragan Orešković (Paja), Dragan Orešković (Belaš), Luka Orešković, Dane Čop, Tomislav Madžar, Tomislav Jergović (Trumba), Franjo(Mićo) Rupčić, Orešković Ivan (Buco). Na osnivačkoj Skupštini za prvog predsjednika izabran je Dragan Orešković (Paja), za tajnika Tomislav Madžar te za blagajnika Branko Vašarević. Okupljaju se u selu svi koji su znali svirati tambure i svi oni muškarci i žene koje su dobro pjevali. Uvježbavaju se pjesme u prostorijama Osnovne škole s kojim će KUD krenuti u prezentaciju narodnih običaja širom Like i drugih krajeva Hrvatske, kao i u inozemstvo gdje priređuju nastupe za naše radnike na privremenom radu. Od tamburaša okupljaju se: Frane Marić (Đukan), Joso Marić, Mate Kolak (Žiža), Dragan Orešković (Belaš), Tomislav Jergović (Trumba), Mile Polić, Tomo Kolak (Žiža), Mile Vuić, Dane Čop, Jurica Ostović, Ivan Orešković (Šinđa), Josip Žanić (Čiko), Biserka Tonković, Nevenka Bobinac, Ružica Marić Mandica Šerić, Ana Čop, Nada kraljić, Ivan Orešković (Buco), Milan Jakšić, Milan Orešković Drago Adamović, Josip Žanić (Čikin), Anka Kolak (Žižina), Jadranka Gomerčić, Janja Kraljić Franjo Rubčić, Nikola Kraljić, Tomica Kraljić, Ankica Dujmović (Vidova). 1982. godine snima se prva ploča s izvornim pjesmama koje se pjevaju u Ličkom Lešću. 1984. izdaje se i druga kazeta s pjesmama. KUD nastupa u dva puta Švicarskoj, Otočcu, Gospiću, Pašmanu, Ogulinu i drugim mjestima.. 1986. snimljena je emisija za Televiziju Zagreb: "Lički divani" na kojoj je sudjelovao i KUD. 1986. godine snimljena je prva video kazeta na kojoj je prikazana čijana, pjesme "Oj livado zelena bujado", "Oj medvjede gorska životinjo" i druge. Iste godine nastupa KUD u televizijskoj emisiji "Oj slobodo bistra vodo". Dragan Belaš osniva školu tamburanja i okuplja mlađi naraštaj školske dobi i obučava ih u sviranju tambura. 1994. godine Mato Čop direktor "Industrogradnje" iz Zagreba obnavlja Dom u Vrilu kojeg je sagradila Seljačka sloga 1936. godine. Nakon obnove Doma on postaje vlasništvo KUD-a. Dom u centru Lešća iz neobjašnjivih razloga uknjižen je na Poljoprivrednu zadrugu u Otočcu. Potkraj devedesetih godina prošlog stoljeća Poljoprivredna zadruga iz Otočca doživljava sudbinu kao i sve druge proizvodne tvornice na prostoru grada Otočca i biva likvidirana. Dom su gradili sami seljani dobrovoljnim radom i skupljenim prilozima mještana. Zahvaljujući Mati Čopu obnovljeni Dom u Vrilu omogućava mještanima i KUD-u da imaju svoje prostorije gdje se mogu nesmetano okupljati. Inače Mate Čop, od osnutka KUD-a 1980. godine glavni je sponzor svih većih nastupa, snimanja ploča i video kazeta. Mato Čop do kraja života bio je počasni predsjednik KUD-a. U vrijeme Domovinskog rata aktivnosti KUD-a su zamrle jer su se članovi KUD-a aktivno uključili u obranu sela i ostalih krajeva Hrvatske. 1994. godine ponovno se okupljaju članovi Kuda i započinju nanovo rad. Na sjednici Skupštine KUD mijenja ime iz KUD "Ružica Brkljačić" u novo ime Kulturno umjetnička udruga "Gacka" Ličko Lešće. Za predsjednika su izabrani Franjo Rubčić, Milan Matasić (Prća), Ivan Orešković (Šinđa), Darko Orešković (Mićanov), Tomo Jagodić (Tule), Julica Banić (Brižanova), Tomislav Jergović (Trumba), Tomo Jagodić (Tule) dva mandata te Đurđa Orešković od 2009. godine. Nakon uvježbavanja repertoara KUD nastupa na: Županijska smotra Folklora u Otočcu, Dani kruha u Gospiću, Karmenica u Kuterevu te Vinkovačke jeseni dva puta, Smotra folklora u Zagrebu 1998. godine, Međužupanijska smotra folklora u Gradišci, Ličke Večeri u Slavonskom Brodu 1997., ´98., ´99., 2000. u Slavonskom Brodu "Prošarica", 2003. i 2006. u Slavonskom Brodu, Grupno klapsko pjevanje za muške u Ivanić Gradu, nastupi u Otočcu prigodom Dana Grada, Perušić manifestacija "Ide jesen, ide ličko prelo", Ostrovački Lišani, Šibenik, Mirlović Zagora, Jalžabet "Šljingani dani", u Švicarskoj dva puta, Stuttgartu, KUD nastupa u Ličkom Lešću u prigodi crkvenih blagdana na svečanim euharistijskim misama i u Sincu. Tomo Jagodić -Tule pokrenuo je inicijativu putem Ministarstva kulture , za zaštitu kulturne nematerijalne baštine u pjevanju ojkanja i rozganja . Ministarstvo je poslalo prijedlog UNESCU, koji biva prihvaćen i KUU Gacka dobiva Povelju o zaštiti kulturne baštine (Oj medvjede gorska životinjo). Tadašnj Predsjednica vlade gđa Jadranka Kosor 20. veljače 2011. uručila je Povelju Tomi Jagodiću- Tuli. Ova povijest napisana je po sjećanju djece najstarijih kojih više nema među živima, po sjećanju autora na osnovi priče tih ljudi, kao i na osnovi sjećanja pojedinih članova KUD-a. Svi koji pročitaju ovaj tekst, a nešto znaju po pričanju svojih rođaka, očeva, djedova ili susjeda mogu svoje primjedbe i prijedloge za poboljšanje ovog teksta dostaviti na e-mail Društva slijepih i slabovidnih Ličko-senjske županije ili na adresu KUD-a Gacka u Ličkom Lešću. Nakon prikupljanja dodatnih podataka nastojat će se napisati knjiga o radu KUD-a što bi bilo po prvi puta da se pojavi jedna knjiga o Ličkom Lešću koju su sami lešćarani napisali. Adresa: KUU "Gacka" Ličko Lešće Hrvatska Predsjednik: Ivan Marković 098/302-037 Ažurirano (Ponedjeljak, 24 Studeni 2014 09:43)