Golden Bear - Sljeme

Sljeme, the top of Medvednica mountain is ideal for citizens of Zagreb for weekend sports activities. Also, Sljeme can boast of organizing the World Cup every year in early January. The Snow Queen Trophy is a race in which world-famous slalom skiers take part. The race is superbly organized, it is broadcast by all major world TV companies and the attendance is at the very top. The Snow Queen Trophy race has become part of the tradition and Zagreb's tourist offer. The Snow Queen Trophy races in Sljeme have been recording one of the highest ratings among the World Ski Cup races for years! Every year, the ski elite gathers on Sljeme, and night races and fans give the popular Snow Queen Trophy a special experience to which all competitors happily return from year to year.

It all started back in 2005. A group of ski enthusiasts decided to turn the hitherto world-famous Sljeme hill into one of the most anticipated World Cup races. The original name of the race in its first edition was Golden Bear, but it was changed in honor of Janica Kostelić. On January 5, 2006, on her 24th birthday, Janica Kostelić drove here perhaps her best race of her life, entering the legend of world skiing. From 7th place in the first run without a cane and gloves, she skied to 3rd place in the second, overtaking the current Olympic slalom winner Anja Pärson, which is an unparalleled feat in the history of world skiing. By winning 2nd place on Sljeme in 2007, Ana Jelušić became the first Croatian woman after Janica Kostelić to win a medal in the World Cup.

It is less known that the slalom on Medvednica was first run by skiers in March of 1932, and the descent only a year later. The great Ingemar Stenmark also competed on the slopes of Sljeme as part of the Golden Bear race - in 1986 he was fourth in the first run and did not finish the second.

Just below the TV tower on Sljeme, at 1035 m above sea level, there is the Golden Bear Restaurant. Golden Bear was founded in 1983 and to this day has maintained a top reputation throughout Croatia and the world. Golden Bear offers delicious food at affordable prices. It is known for its local food and warm ambience that pleases everyone during the ski season. It offers all dishes and drinks from tea to various spirits, local dishes like sarma, buncek with sauerkraut and potatoes. The restaurant is often visited by various celebrities. The interior of the building is very nice and harmoniously decorated. Here you can relax comfortably and feel like home.

Contact: 01 5613 985
Working time: every day from 9am to 9pm