Third ForestFest held in Radoboj: Doors open to nature, health and sustainable tourism

Positioning itself on the map of leading continental health tourism destinations, Radoboj hosted the third ForestFest in a row.

Through a three-day program that began with an expert conference in Zagorje Nature Center, the event successfully combined science, medical wellness, and outdoor activities.

This year's ForestFest offered the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, transforming the forest into a unique classroom, a place of relaxation, and the center of an international discussion on a holistic approach to health.

Radoboj was once again the center of meeting for experts, nature lovers, artists and numerous visitors from Croatia and abroad.

A recognizable project

The third edition of ForestFest that took place June 12-14 2026, once again confirmed that this unique event goes beyond the scope of a local event and is shaping up to be one of the most significant gatherings dedicated to forest therapy, health, sustainable tourism and spending time in nature in Croatia. The festival organizer is The Power of the Forest Association, led by the president Jasna Vukas.

Thanks to collaboration and a shared vision, ForestFest has grown over the past few years into a recognizable project that connects the natural values ​​of Radoboj, scientific research, the health sector, tourism, and cultural heritage.

The festival was opened at the Zagorje Nature Center with a media and international conference professional conference dedicated to medical wellness and forest therapy. At the opening, it was emphasized that Radoboj today represents an example of the successful development of health tourism based on natural resources.

Health tourism destination

It is here that certified forest bathing trails have been developed in recent years, research has been conducted into the effects of spending time in nature on health, and the prerequisites have been created for the development of new tourism products that meet modern human needs for preserving physical and mental health.

In collaboration with Dr. Kaliterna, owner of the Poliderma polyclinic, who leads the multidisciplinary team of the Snaga šume association, by decision of the committee Ministry of Health This type of forest bath develops into medical wellness, and Radoboj has thus become a health tourism destination.

At the beginning of the professional conference Danijela Medaković, the forest bath leader, presented the work of the Snaga šume Association and the activities that the association carries out in the field of promoting forest therapy, educating citizens and experts, and developing programs aimed at connecting people with nature.

A special focus was also placed on the currently ongoing Erasmus+ project, which proves how forest bathing and green skills help the assimilation of people with special needs into everyday life.

International professional conference

The opening ceremony and expert conference were attended by numerous guests from the fields of health, tourism, forestry and public administration. The festival was also supported by representatives of state institutions, including Tadimir Radobolja from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and Mladen Fruk from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Their participation further confirmed the significance of ForestFest as a project that transcends local borders and becomes an example of good practice at the national level.

The central event of the first day was an international professional conference that brought together prominent domestic and foreign experts from the fields of medicine, public health, forestry, tourism, and science.

The arrival of the Prof. Dr. Won Sop Shina from South Korea, one of the world's leading experts on therapeutic forests and former Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Korea.

In his presentation, he presented the Korean model of incorporating therapeutic forests into the public health system, emphasizing how nature can be used as an important tool in disease prevention and preserving the health of the population.

The beneficial influence of nature

Dr. Mellissa Lem, a physician and internationally recognized advocate of the concept of "prescribing nature", arrived in Radoboj from Canada.

During her lectures and media appearances, she spoke about the increasing role of nature in modern medicine and about programs in which doctors recommend regular exercise to patients. stay in nature as a supplement to a healthy lifestyle.

She pointed out that numerous studies confirm that time spent in nature reduces stress, improves mental health, encourages physical activity, and contributes to a general sense of satisfaction.

Academician Vida Demarin spoke about the influence of nature on the human brain and neurological health, Dr. Maurizio Droli from Italy presented the importance of scientifically based research in the field of forest therapy, Dr. Lorena Bašan spoke about the potential for development health tourism based on forest therapy, while Dr. Darija Cvikl presented examples of therapeutic activities in tourism practice.

Dr. Dinko Kaliterna spoke about healthy aging and quality of life, while Dr. Natko Beck, in his distinctive style, reminded us of the importance of stepping away from everyday hustle and bustle, digital content, and stress, and returning to nature as one of the simplest sources of health and balance.

Various contents

The HTZ London office recognized the value of a new type of slow tourism, and with their initiative and help, English women Bex Hamilton and Em Burnip, experts who deal with forest therapy, education and development of programs connecting people with nature, were hosted.

Their participation further demonstrated the international character of the conference and showed that interest in forest therapy and its application in everyday life is growing across Europe. In cooperation with the tourist agency Idilira, they visited a large part of Zagorje with the support of the Tourist Board of Zagorje and were enchanted by the beauty of the region and the warmth of the people of Zagorje.

All foreign lecturers and guests from England were given the opportunity to experience forest bathing under the expert guidance of the forest bath leader. Danijela Medakovic experience forest bathing in English.

After the professional part of the program, the festival moved to the open area, where numerous activities were held for visitors of all generations over the course of three days. The forest baths, for which Radoboj has become recognizable beyond the borders of Croatia in recent years, attracted particular interest.

Visitors also had the opportunity to participate in sound baths by the Sound Lab studio, yoga workshops by Alen Minić, creative workshops on making mandalas from natural materials by a colleague from Slovenia, Maja Šilc, and various educational content aimed at connecting humans and nature. Along with Danijela Medaković, forest baths were also led by Milla Triller and Katarina Alič Čretnik, also from Slovenia.

The combination of science, health and culture

Great interest was aroused by an expertly guided walk through Strahinjčica, during which participants learned about the wealth of natural heritage of this area, including the unique habitats of wild orchids for which Radoboj is widely known.

Visitors were also able to access the facilities of the Zagorje Nature Center, the Radobo Museum, and the Vine House, which further presented the rich natural, cultural, and historical heritage of Radobo.

The cultural program of the festival was just as rich as the professional part. A special place in the program was occupied by two musical events which completed the festival experience. On Friday evening, the audience enjoyed a concert by Lee Lovrenčić accompanied by Matija Krznar.

Her unique musical expression, which in a special way combines the Kajkavian soul and jazz sensibility, created a warm and intimate atmosphere under the open sky. On Saturday, the musical program continued with a performance by the Evergreen Trio consisting of Lidija Mišćin, Al Sitar and Saša Borovec, who took visitors through timeless domestic and foreign musical hits.

ForestFest 2026 once again showed how nature can be a meeting place for science, health, culture and togetherness. Thanks to the dedicated work of the Snaga šume Association, the Municipality of Radoboj, numerous partners, lecturers, volunteers and participants, the festival grows and develops year after year. a recognizable international eventRadoboj thus reaffirmed its status as a place where nature is not just a place for relaxation, but an important ally of health, quality of life and sustainable development.

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