Croatia | The Best Travel Destinations

National Parks in Croatia

1. BRIJUNI ISLANDS

Brijuni is a group of islands that lies close to Istria’s western coast. Its most beautiful part was proclaimed a national park in 1983. The islands are 6 km from Pula and are separated from the mainland by the Fazana channel through which boats from the Fazana harbor to Brijuni operate on a daily basis.

The Brijuni archipelago consists of 2 larger islands – Veliki and Mali Brijun, as well as 13 smaller, well-indented islands that have been inhabited since prehistorical times. The islands are known for their mild climate and rich vegetation, while the National Park abounds with tree-lined walks, parks and gardens of tropical vegetation. The Brijuni Zoo is of the open type, meaning that animals can freely roam the island, and there is also a safari park. Brijuni offers many sporting activities: horseback riding, golf, tennis, sailing, windsurfing, bike and boat rental, diving, while guests have access to numerous sports terrains, fields and other facilities.

A holiday on Brijuni is ideal for guests looking for first class accommodation and an excellent variety of additional services. How to get there: from the Buje-Pula main road turn to Fazana, a tourist boat operates from Fazana to Brijuni.

2. PLITVICE LAKES

The Plitvice lakes are Croatia’s most famous national park and are among the most beautiful sights in Europe. Due to their natural diversity, they are part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Plitvice lakes consist of 16 connected lakes and numerous waterfalls, surrounded by dense forests. Many trails and small, wooden bridges, built just above the calm water, await you in Plitvice. Besides on foot, you can explore the National Park by tourist train or boat throughout the whole year. How to get there: on the Zagreb – Karlovac – Slunj – Gracac – Zadar main road, 80 km from Karlovac.

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The Wondrous Cultural Heritage of Croatia

The cultural heritage of Croatia is not as famous as are the cultural heritages of some large and mighty countries; it contains no grandiose monuments such as the pyramids of Egypt, Pompeii in Italy, or the Neuschwanstein Castle in the German Alps. Croatia was never the centre of large empires from the past, and many visitors will be surprised by the number of cultural heritage sites under UNESCO protection in relation to the country’s relatively small area. Compared to the size of her population that number is increasing and, additionally, there are many other precious cultural monuments which could also fi nd their place on the UNESCO list.

One of the reasons for this wealth is Croatia’s exceptional position on vital communication routes and that she sits on the crossroads of great civilizations, each of which wanted to leave its own mark. Th at is why this land boasts such an exceptional diversity of cultural heritage on so small an area, and a range of monuments dating from all periods of civilization: from the prehistoric to most recent times. In other words, we see monuments from ancient Greece and Rome, early medieval monuments, the Mediterranean Renaissance, Central European Baroque and the New Age Secession heritage. Just as there exist testimonies from earliest prehistory, such as one of the most important world localities of Neanderthal man, near the town of Krapina; the Vučedol Neolithic culture near Vukovar; pre-Roman Illyrian hill-forts, and many, many other examples.

Croatia is replete with works testifying to the skills of local people following the current trends of the great neighbouring cultures, but who also created autochthonous forms, such as the tiny medieval churches commissioned by Croatian rulers in Northern Dalmatia, or the palaces and manor houses of the old city of Dubrovnik. No small number of Croatian builders have bequeathed the fruits of their labours to the whole of humanity, one such being Juraj Dalmatinac (Georgius Dalmaticus) who, back in the 15th century, implemented the technique of prefabricated construction, unseen up to that point in time, while building Šibenik cathedral. Or Ivan Meštrović, whose statues adorn some of the most prominent sites in Chicago, U.S.A.

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