The mountain village of Mrkopalj in Gorski Kotar is the birthplace of Croatian skiing. The famous ski centre Begovo Razdolje is only a few kilometres from the village. Nearby there are the natural phenomena of Bijela mountain and Samarska cliffs, strict nature reserves, and the oldest living thing in the municipality of Mrkopalj – an ancient yew tree that is over two thousand years old. Biking, hiking, the International School of Peace attract more and more tourists, and the four churches and traditional religious holiday Prošćenjem, which is held on the third Sunday of September, has for centuries made Mrkopalj a destination for the faithful from all over Croatia.