Looking for something authentic near Plitvice Lakes?
Cheese, stories and nature – what is the Cheese Experience?
Cheese Experience is a guided tasting held in my small dairy in the village of Saborsko – a place that partly lies within the borders of Plitvice Lakes National Park. The untouched nature around us isn’t a backdrop – it’s a living part of every bite.
You’re not stepping into a postcard – you’re entering a real space where life, work, and craft exist side by side. This is a farm where days begin with the scent of fresh milk and end with ripening cheese rinds. Everything is clean, thoughtfully arranged, and surrounded by flowers – but nothing is staged for the camera.
This is where I live with my family, and not everything is perfect – but it’s real.
I invite you to a gourmet experience – a moment of hedonism where flavors intertwine with stories, and cheese opens the door to places, people, and feelings. Through tasting and storytelling, I share with you what I create – and who I am.
What you’ll taste
At every tasting, I always serve three cheeses – Lička basa, Lički škripavac, and Kuhani sir – traditional flavors deeply rooted in this part of Lika. Alongside them comes a selection of my signature cheeses – whatever happens to be ready at that moment. I make them continuously, guided by inspiration, the seasons, and the stage of ripening.
Most of them are mold-ripened cheeses in the French-Italian style, developed through my own approach – made in small batches, with a lot of handwork and even more personal passion.
Instead of wine, I serve natural juices I make myself from herbs and fruits gathered in the surrounding nature. Just like the cheeses, the drinks change with the seasons. What you taste that day is unique – and never quite the same again.
Who is the Planinski Sirar?
Planinski Sirar is Hrvoje Kovač – an artisan cheesemaker crafting raw milk cheeses in the village of Saborsko, on the edge of Plitvice Lakes National Park. His cheeses are made without additives, colorings, or shortcuts – only milk, time, and skill.
Combining formal education with traditional European cheesemaking methods, particularly those from France and Italy, he creates natural-rind cheeses with noble molds and distinct character shaped by the local climate, landscape, and careful hands.
As Dobra hrana magazine wrote:
“Planinski Sirar successfully combines traditional recipes from Lika with a modern approach to cheesemaking and aesthetics.”
His work has been recognized by some of Croatia’s top chefs – and his cheeses are now served in Michelin-starred restaurants, where authenticity, quality, and individuality are truly valued.
In addition to making cheese, Planinski Sirar also leads cheesemaking workshops – both for passionate beginners and for future professionals. His mission is to pass on knowledge, promote cheese culture, and raise the level of artisan cheesemaking in Croatia.
