REČICA MOJE RODNO SELO NJEZINA BAŠTINA, KULTURNE I PRIRODNE LJEPOTE

Rečica moje rodno selo njezina baština kultura i prirodne ljepote!

Tekst I foto.Josip Josef Mayer

Rečica,moje rodno selo smješteno u blizini Karlovca, pravo je kulturno i prirodno blago. Povijest Rečice i okolnih sela Luka Pokupska, Zamršje, i Karasi bogata je i zanimljiva. Ovdje djeluju brojna društva, uključujući Kulturno-umjetničko društvo "Rečica", nogometni klub "Mladost", nekoliko vatrogasnih društava i lovačko društvo, a Rečica je i sjedište župe sv. Ivana Krstitelja.

Povijesno gledano, najveći značaj ima dvorac grofa Janka Draškovića, koji je nekada bio dio većeg vlastelinstva i nosi priče iz prve polovice 19. stoljeća. Dvorac je nažalost danas u ruševnom stanju, ali bi njegova obnova mogla postati poticaj za razvoj kulturnog turizma, uz prikladnu spomen-ploču posvećenu grofu Draškoviću.

Kulturno-umjetničko društvo "Rečica", osnovano 1923. godine, njeguje izvornu baštinu kroz pjesmu, ples i bogatu pokupsku narodnu nošnju. Nošnja je posebno dragocjena zbog motiva divlje ruže, prepoznatljivog ukrasa koji se razlikuje od drugih pokupskih nošnji.

Jedan od bisera lokalne baštine je Etno galerija Žunac, koja očuvanjem drvenih kuća, narodnih nošnji i starih predmeta dočarava način života prošlih generacija. Galerija, nastala entuzijazmom Josipa Žunca, postala je simbol očuvanja kulturne baštine i pokretač ideja za razvoj ruralnog turizma. Uz projekte poput lađarstva na rijeci Kupi, može se ponovno oživjeti duh prošlih vremena, što bi turistima omogućilo autentično iskustvo života uz rijeku.

Razvoj turizma u Rečici mogao bi uključiti i tradicijske zanate, obnovu starih drvenih kuća te uzgoj životinja za vožnju kočijama i jahanje. Sve to, uz podršku Udruge Marshall plan za Hrvatsku,

može stvoriti novu priliku za gospodarski napredak i očuvanje jedinstvenog identiteta Rečice.

Rečica ima sve preduvjete da uz prirodne ljepote, bogatu povijest i kulturnu baštinu postane odredište koje će privući posjetitelje iz Hrvatske i svijeta.

Prevod:

REČICA, MY HOMETOWN, AND ITS HERITAGE: CULTURAL AND NATURAL BEAUTY

Rečica is located about 12 km from the city of Karlovac and is a social, artistic, and sports center. It is home to the Cultural and Artistic Society “Rečica,” the football club “Mladost,” volunteer fire departments “Dolnja Rečica,” “Rečica Kolodvor,” and “Rečica-Matica,” as well as the hunting association “Rečica.” Rečica is also the center of the parish of St. John the Baptist, which includes the villages of Luka Pokupska, Zamršje, and Karasi. These villages also belong to the Rečica Local Committee and are part of the community of Rečica.

Rečica was first mentioned in documents from the 15th century. Its most significant cultural and historical heritage site is the Janko Drašković castle, a remnant of a once much larger estate. The castle is best known for Count Drašković, who resided there in the first half of the 19th century.

The Cultural and Artistic Society “Rečica”

The Cultural and Artistic Society “Rečica” is the oldest society in the Karlovac County and has been continuously active since 1923. For decades, the society's members have preserved traditional songs, dances, customs, and folk costumes from Rečica, showcasing them at important events in Croatia and abroad. The society includes several sections: a children's tamburitza orchestra, a folklore section, a children's folklore section, and an ethnographic section. Rečica’s folk costume, belonging to the Pokuplje region, is unique for its intricate embroidery, vibrant colors, woven decorations, and sewn-on ornaments. Both men’s and women’s costumes feature the motif of the wild rose (hip rose).

This year, a kindergarten was also built alongside the elementary school.

Protection of My Hometown

In my first 12 years in Rečica, I became a member of the local volunteer fire department (DVD Rečica), becoming the youngest firefighter at the time. Shortly afterward, like many from Rečica, I left in search of work abroad. But that’s another story.

With the Marshall Plan Association for Croatia, Rečica and its surrounding villages could soon embrace a new, more promising future.

A Potential for Tourism

Rečica’s cultural heritage and natural surroundings—its forests, fields, and proximity to the Kupa River—could inspire various tourism development ideas. The Drašković estate, although the castle is now in ruins, was sold privately by the local government, which has been detrimental to the area’s historical wealth. However, if the current owner agreed to restore the neglected heritage site and erect a monument to Janko Drašković, this location could attract visitors, even those not originally from Rečica.

The restoration of the “Žunac Gallery,” which is located in the traditional family home of the Žunac family, exemplifies how dedication can preserve heritage, even without ample funds. Josip Žunac’s remarkable efforts ensured the preservation of old Rečica, capturing the history within a traditional wooden structure representative of this region. Today, modern buildings are replacing such houses, erasing traces of rural architecture. However, twenty wooden houses, some over 200 years old, remain. Built primarily from local oak, these houses are part of the original architecture and feature storage rooms for food and household items.

The Ethno Gallery Žunac has preserved traditional costumes, tools, and authentic interiors, providing insight into the lives of past residents. Josip Žunac’s collection of artworks further enriches the region with scenes depicting the village and surroundings, offering both artistic and informational value. Rebuilding old wooden houses could revive carpentry crafts and contribute to preserving rural architecture. The gallery is a truly inspiring place for rural tourism development.

As Mr. Žunac (now deceased) noted in a brochure: “Rural tourism in Croatia is still underrepresented, with only a few examples in Slavonia and Zagorje. The Karlovac region has everything needed to develop this type of tourism due to its location, natural beauty, and ethnographic features, including: traditional customs, architecture, historical sites, hunting and fishing opportunities, fieldwork, animal care, horse riding, and carriage rides, with accommodations (which need improvement) and local food—a requirement for rural tourism in our area.”

From the same sources, initiatives have been proposed for the revival of river barge navigation on the Kupa River, as described in a brochure from the Ethno Gallery Žunac titled “The Grain Barge Quietly Floats.” This barge, named the “Grain Barge Zora,” has been sailing for a few years now.

Udruga Marshall plan Hrvatska, budućnost uz dijasporu, 

On July 13, 1579, the foundations of the city of Karlovac were laid as a military fort, strategically placed along four rivers. The Kupa River played a significant role, transporting oak timber from the Pokuplje basin. Provisions for the fort were transported through settlements along the Kupa, as well as food and other goods needed by the town. In the 17th century, the boatmen's guild, known as the “Brotherhood of St. Nicholas,” was established. In 1706, they gained special privileges from a papal bull, becoming the “Noble Guild” with their own boat and flag. Goods were transported along the Kupa to Sisak, the Sava River, the Danube, and the Black Sea.

Today’s idea to revive the boatmen’s route, marking old paths along the Kupa, might inspire someone to follow this legacy. Reintroducing the “corablje” boats, historically drawn from land by horse or manpower, would add a significant tourist attraction to the area.

Given that this area is still sparsely populated, with the support of the Marshall Plan Association for Croatia and modern agricultural machinery, such efforts could enrich the rural economy. In Rečica, tamburitza music and folk songs have never ceased, even during the hardest times, showcasing the character and deep emotional connection of the people with their folk traditions.