Interpretive Exhibition – A 21st-Century Exhibition for All Generations

The interpretive exhibition is divided into the following thematic sections: In the Mountain, Home, Fascination, Inspiration, and From the Top of Učka.
With the help of modern technologies such as multimedia projections, sound installations, and interactive displays, visitors can experience Učka Nature Park in a completely new way – they can hear the voices of the forest, fly like bats, view panoramas of mountain peaks, or meet the wild animals that inhabit the area.

Interactive screens, fun games, illustrations, and audio-visual projections are complemented by numerous engaging texts and facts created by a team of recognized experts from various fields, gathered with the goal of conveying the park’s natural and cultural heritage in the most compelling way possible.

The purpose of this approach is to increase visitor engagement, encourage active participation (not just passive observation), and thus achieve a deeper understanding and connection with the values of this protected area. In museological terms, the interpretive centre pushes the boundaries of a traditional museum—it doesn’t focus on valuable artifacts displayed in glass cases, but rather on an experiential and educational multimedia concept that encourages exploration and personal discovery.

The interpretive exhibition is designed for all generations. Young visitors can learn about local plants and animals through play and fun, as well as about myths and legends that the Učka mountain has been telling for centuries. It is also a true treasure trove of data—texts, photographs, replicas, and other exhibits related to the natural and cultural heritage of the region. Rich in content, the exhibition allows each visitor to embark on an adventure—to “get lost” in the mountain’s features, expand their knowledge, or discover this fascinating region the very first time they visit it.

In the mountain

The interpretive exhibition walk through Učka starts from its underground – in its mysterious and still largely unexplored depths.
The karst landscape is rich in forms shaped by water acting on limestone terrain, and the animals living here have adapted to these specific conditions. On an interactive screen, you can explore various species, the evolution process, and even become an “underground creature” using a selfie option.
Special attention is given to the problem of waste in nature, which, due to the porous limestone soil, endangers the underground ecosystem.

Before leaving the depths, step into a bat cave and learn what echolocation is and how bats navigate and hunt through a fun game.

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Home

As you emerge from the underground, your “ascent“ up the slopes of Učka begins. The first step is discovering the cultural heritage of the region, the relationship between humans and the mountain, and the life with the mountain and on the mountain, both in the past and today.

Over centuries of inhabiting this area, humans have significantly shaped the landscape creating temporary or permanent settlements and developing unique ways of living in mountainous conditions through traditional livestock breeding and agriculture.

Explore the green slopes of Učka and discover traditional crops nestled in the mountain landscape. Along the way, you’ll meet the hardworking Istrian ox (boškarin), and next to the sculpture of the traditional Istrian sheep pramenka, you’ll learn how important sheep farming once was for the community.

On the mountain meadows you'll see headphones and screens that invite you to watch three short films about traditional crafts and the people who still practice them today: you'll see how to make authentic Učka cheese, build a dry-stone wall, or construct a charcoal kiln (karbunica).
After hearing the story of dry-stone wall building—recognized as UNESCO intangible heritage—try your skills in a digital wall-building game on the provided tablet.

The story of mountain life continues inside a traditional house. Each of the three “rooms” tells a story about the intangible heritage that has shaped local lives: religion, myths and legends, settlements, gastronomy, music, and language.
Here, you can meet Slavic gods and Učka fairies, learn how to cook pašta i fažol (pasta and beans), play the cindra instrument, and greet someone in the Istro-Romanian language.

After visiting the mountain dwellers, step into the central part of the museum, which features a kinetic 3D model of Učka Nature Park.
By selecting one of fourteen themes on the control panel, you will activate 30,000 moving pins that show how this area has changed over time, how it was shaped through history, and what can be found here today.

Fascination

Cultural heritage is only one aspect of the values that led to the designation of this area as a Nature Park in 1999.
The fascinating flora and fauna of Učka and Ćićarija, and the exceptional biological diversity within a relatively small area, make it one of the key biodiversity hotspots in Europe.

In the section called Fascination, you’ll discover what has captivated scientists and visitors from around the world for centuries. The section is divided into three parts, corresponding to three major habitats found here: ponds and meadows, forests, and rocky cliffs and screes.
In each habitat, you’ll encounter unique and protected animal species that call it home: frogs, snakes, butterflies, large carnivores, insects, and birds.

Summon butterflies by sliding tiles, listen to forest sounds by pressing buttons, rotate the screen hidden inside a tree hollow, explore the raptors display, pull out drawers and scrolls… and embark on an adventure through the most fascinating parts of the mountain.
Alongside the fauna, you’ll also learn about important plant species – how to identify them, why they are vital for biodiversity preservation, and what makes them unique.

Inspiration

The flora of Učka has not only fascinated but also inspired its visitors for centuries. Botanists were among the first to intentionally explore the area, as early as the mid-17th century. Soon after, writers, artists, mountaineers, and even royalty – kings, princes, and princesses – found inspiration here as well.
Some of them were captured through the camera lens of Antonio Adriani, who served for nearly fifty years as caretaker and host of the Poklon mountain lodge.

You can appear on Adriani’s “Wall of Fame” by stepping in front of his camera, while also reading interesting stories about the most famous visitors of Učka.

From the top of učka

From the earliest visitors to today, there have been many reasons to come to Učka, but the most common one has always been its highest peak – Vojak (1401 m).
From the top of Učka, one can enjoy a spectacular view, one of the most beautiful on the Adriatic coast. The final section of the exhibition is dedicated to this remarkable viewpoint.

On a large screen, you can experience panoramic views of the Kvarner Bay, islands, the Istrian Peninsula, and the peaks of Slovenian and Italian mountains.
To fully enjoy the 360° view, you’ll need a touch of magic – stand behind the illuminated console and use your hands to control the image by following the on-screen instructions.

As you admire the snowy Ćićarija range, the greenery surrounding Rijeka, or the star-filled night sky, your indoor journey from the underground to the summit comes to an end, inviting you to continue the adventure outdoors.
Take a bike ride, hike, or mountain walk along one of the many trails leading from the Poklon Pass through various parts of the Park and discover pieces of this “museum in nature” for yourself.

Preserving the natural and cultural landmarks of a region begins with awareness of their value.
We hope that, by exploring this interpretive exhibition, you’ve gained an appreciation for the treasures of Učka and Ćićarija, and that you will join us in the effort to preserve them for the future—so that we may always return to these mountains with joy.