Newsletter06|2010

Contents

Pho

to: d

am

ir f

abi

jan

ićPh

oto

: ig

or

ziro

jevi

ć

EventsDraž – the Baranja bećarac, events organized of the

villages Draža, Gajić, Topolje and Duboševica 2Zagreb – City of acrobats, clown-jugglers, fire eaters and

magicians 3Starigrad – On the trails of Winnetou 4Rijeka – Sails on the Kvarner 5Zagreb – The Greats of Music on the lake of Jarun 6Višnjan – Festival of summer solstice 7Đurđevac – the Picokijada festival 8Čigoć – The First European village of storks 9

We in the worldVis – Among the top 10 undiscovered world’s dream

islands 10Poreč – Valamar Club Tamaris among the “10 best

secrets” 11

The projectsDubrovnik – A new attraction for tourists 12

We are presentingSkradin – Beauties hidden in a sheltered bay 13Mali Lošinj – Island of vitality 14

News Rijeka and Dubrovnik – First hostels with HI-Quality

certificate 15Zagreb – The Regent Esplanade, “old lady” recently

celebrated 85th birthday 16

Programme Top list of Croatia’s adventure programmes 17Daruvar – A Wellness oasis 23Senj – City of the red-haired Zora 24

June 2010 | 2

EventsDraž – the Baranja bećarac, events organized of the villages Draža, Gajić, Topolje and DuboševicaThe people of Baranja are known that each their gatherings are accompanied by total joy of everyone involved. There is no festival in Baranja where you could be bored. A proof for the fact is the Baranja bećarac, a festival of folklore being held each first weekend in June in Draž, a village in the north east part of Baranja. Beside performances of many folk groups, wheel dance and lush banquet of food and drink, in Draž you may also select the most beautiful girl and married woman, drive around in a horse cart, attend fashion shows of national costumes, exhibitions of old tools, embroideries and old furniture. At the Baranja bećarac, prominent folk groups from Baranja but also international ones show their traditional songs and dances.But beside this event and culture tourism, Draž is offering also numerous possibilities for holidays to fans of fishing and hunting, as the environment is clean and unpolluted and because of that a habitat to many plants and animal species. Those who love hunting during the whole year around may find a reason to come to the area of Draž which is one of the most valued fishing destinations not only in Croatia but in Europe. Out of forty four fish species living here, one of the most interesting by all means is the European catfish (Silurus glanis) which in Dunavac may grow up to 100 kilograms. The area is also an ideal habitat for game and particularly birds, and therefore for photo-safari and bird watching. Traditional horse carts are used for going about the fields and forests making the natural atmosphere perfect, and there is a possibility of riding around the area on horseback. The natural rich resources of Draž are offering rest and refuge from the hectic, stressed and stressful every day life. Draž is in immediate contact with the hill Bansko brdo stretching in the middle of Baranja from east to west and it is also known as a rich vineyard region. The wines are in the area of Draž kept in the traditionally built village cellars which are dug into the hill.A canoe ride on Dunavac, challenging trails on Bansko brdo for fans of mountain biking are one of the reasons to visit this region in whose villages many traditional gastronomic specialties are being prepared. Among the best known are fish stew with paprika, pike in uniform, smoked fish, sausages, kulen sausage, ćobanac stew, special game dishes and gibanica cheese cake.

Tourist Association of Baranja

www.tzbaranje.hr

Municipality of Draž

www.draz.hr

Pho

to: m

ari

o r

om

uli

ć &

dra

žen

Sto

jčić

June 2010 | 3

Zagreb – City of acrobats, clown-jugglers, fire eaters and magiciansFor fourteen years already a group of enthusiasts bring to the streets of Zagreb within the “Cest is d’Best” festival some novel ways of entertainment in the streets. They bring ardour, energy, culture and laughter for all the people in a good mood. This is a festival which turns the streets of the Zagreb centre for about ten days to a bright world of cirkus and street theatre. The town is never more colourful and there is never a brighter spirit spreading about then when there are clowns and entertainers walking about, many of them from the most remote parts of the world.These joyful happenings will be on from 3 to 13 June this year. In this period, in the heart of the city heartbeats of a festival filled with performance, music, drama, events for children, painting, sports and other events, by means of which hundreds of performers from all parts of the world on many stages will bring smiles to faces of curious passers-by, fans, and guest of the town. The “Cest is d’Best” festival is an international, multi-media street festival which, nurturing a Zagreb identity, makes city squares and streets alive, bringing them back charm and optimism. It erases the limits between established forms of culture and alternative, bringing all the generations of citizens closer through various tastes in culture, because literally everyone may participate in the programme. It is estimated that the street entertainers performances are accompanied by laughter, applause and interaction by about half a million of citizens and guests of Zagreb for free, their everyday lives being cheered up by performers.

Tourist Association of the City of Zagreb

www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr

Festival Cest is d’best

www.cestisdbest.com

June 2010 | 4

The emerald green Plitvice lakes, the impressive rocks of Paklenica, the glimmering waterfalls of the river Krka, the mystical mountain tops above the fascinating and deep canyon of the river Zrmanja in the nature park Velebit, the opulence of the most various beauties of nature were the reason why in the sixties these locations were chosen for shooting of legendary films on the Indian chief Winnetou, the most famous hero from adventure novels by the German writer Karl May. The beautiful shooting locations have been preserved until today in their original state and the visitors will get to know them in the best way at the beginning of June during the event called “On the trails of Winnetou”, an annual gathering of the Karl May fans and the famous Indian chief. Then they can socialize with some of the film crew members, try horse riding and archery, and spend unforgettable evenings in the open air by the camp fire, barbecue and country music. The adventure begins with Winnetou visiting the exhibition where the visitors get to know the person and work of Karl May. The exhibition is set up in the old part of the hotel “Alan” where the film crew was accommodated during the shooting of the Winnetou films, and where original bedrooms, documentary photographs from the shooting and original props are displayed and may be seen. Then follows a boat trip to the Zrmanja river canyon, a visit to the most famous Croatian national park Plitvička jezera among which is the lake of Kaluđerovac also known as the “silver lake” from the film “Treasure in the silver lake”, then a sightseeing of the national park Krka, a wonderful karstic river adorned with sizzling waterfalls and crystal clear little lakes. The national park tourist boats sail on the same river where once in their canoes Winnetou and Old Schatterhand have paddled in the films “Winnetou I” and Winnetou and Old Schatterhand in the valley of death”. The film battle scenes between the Indians and the American army were shot near the lush Roški slap waterfall. The river banks around the waterfall are decorated with old mills in which corn is still sometimes ground and home-made bread baked. Members of the former film crew accompany visitors around the most impressive shooting locations on the slopes of the Croatian mythical mountain Velebit. At Tulove grede, an impressive mountain ridge the most dramatic film scenes of death of Winnetou’s sister and father and Winnetou himself were shot. The impressive beauty of this place are so strong that almost all the most famous photographs of the main film stars were shot here – Lex Barker, Pierre Brice and Maria Versini, and also the legendary film poster for Winnetou I. Beside the visit to locations where legendary film scenes on the Indian hero were shot, the Winnetou fans have the opportunity to visit Zadar, a City of rich history which fascinates by its architecture in the old town centre, adorned with numerous churches and museums. The most recent

Starigrad – On the trails of Winnetou

attractions in the city include the Museum of antique glass and urban installations “Sea organ” and “Greeting to the sun”. Not far away from the small town of Starigrad is Pag, one of the rare preserved renaissance small towns and centre of the island bearing the same name, famous for the tradition of salt production, manufacture of lace and lamb as indigenous gastronomic specialty.

Tourist Association of the Zadar County

www.zadar.hr

Tourist Association of the City of Zadar

www.tzzadar.hr

Tourist Association of the Municipality Starigrad Paklenica

www.rivijera-paklenica.hr

Pho

to: m

ila

n b

abi

ć

June 2010 | 5

About in mid-June (10 – 12 June) the gulf of Rijeka will host the eleventh sailing boats regatta – the Fiumanka, a boat race gathering sailors from all over the world each year. This year, the Great Fiumanka regatta is being sailed in two categories and in two routes. Family cruising boats will sail to the sign set up off Kostrena and back to the finish line to the port of Rijeka, while regatta cruisers after the sign off Kostrena will proceed sailing to the signs being posted off Omišalj and back to the finish line, also in the port of Rijeka. This year, the same as last year within the Fiumanka race there will be held a regatta for media named „Press Fiumanka“. Fiumanka is an event not to be missed for all the fans of sports adrenaline. It is a free of charge competition where results are not the most important issue. Here, most of all goes the old saying „it is important to participate“. The peak of this unique sports event is fun and socializing of real sailing fans with extraordinary accompanying events. Fiumanka is a regatta which changed the image of Rijeka and is registered in many yachtsmen’s calendars not only in Croatia but in many more countries. Fiumanka is more than a regatta, it is a celebration of sailing celebrated by all those in love with the sea and this beautiful sport.

The Tourist Association of the Primorje and Gorski kotar County

www.kvarner.hr

Tourist Association of the City of Rijeka

www.tz-rijeka.hr

Fiumanka

www.fiumanka.hr

Rijeka – Sails on the Kvarner

Pho

to: d

am

ir f

abi

jan

ić

June 2010 | 6

Zagreb – The Greats of Music on the lake of JarunFor five years already, the Island of Croatian youth at the Zagreb lake of Jarun will host the world’s greatest names in music. During the two days in June (22 and 23 June) a large number of young people wishing a good party and music will arrive here, which is exactly what the open air T-Mobile InMusic Festival is offering. In the last few years the Jarun festival has made its way up to the list of key European summer festivals, due to guest performance list including many prominent names of the global music scene and to the relaxed atmosphere among the visitors.The festival is growing larger and „stronger“ every year, and also a lot is expected from this year’s event. The list of performers guarantees another great music show for visitors arriving to the Island of Croatian youth. These are Massive Attack, Billy Idol, The Flaming Lips, LCD Soundsystem, !!! (Chk Chk Chk), Pendulum (Live), Rise Against, Flogging Molly, Broken Social Scene, New Young Pony Club, Skindred, Caribou and The Bambi Molesters. T-Mobile INmusic festival will this year, in line with other great European festivals, enrich their contents with a programme of six-day camping, offering visitors a lot of interesting events. The camping will be on the southwest side of the Great lake and open for visitors from 19 to 25 June.

Tourist Association of the City of Zagreb

www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr

T-mobile

www.t-mobileinmusicfestival.com

Pho

to:

Serg

io g

obb

o

June 2010 | 7

Višnjan – Festival of summer solstice In the night in which according to myths and legends the worlds of the real and the unreal, and fairies and elfs meet, on the summer solstice (the 21 June), the festival AstroFest is traditionally held in Višnjan celebrating the shortest night of the year. On that date, for a long row of years already in this small Istrian place, on the hill near the world famous astronomical observatory of Višnjan, fans of sky and stars and amateur astronomers meet in order to wait together for the sunrise singing, talking, socializing and attending lectures the whole night long. With the whole-night-programme of music and performing arts, starting with the good-by to the last rays of sun in the evening and ending with the greeting to the first sun rays in the morning with hypnotic beating of drums, AstroFest represents a unique event attracting great attention of fans of the sky, stars and the spiritual new age music.In the beginnings, it was a closed-type-event, conducted in the yard of a Višnjan astronomic society member, where summer solstice was celebrated. From the beginning of time, people have celebrated the sun, the symbol of life and because of it the summer solstice is a holiday in many cultures of the north hemisphere. As this day is celebrated in the world in many ways, Višnjan wanted to create a unique event in many features different from all the others. Beside astronomy, the municipality of Višnjan is also famous for production of high-quality wines, olive oil, honey, grape, herb (biska) and honey (medica) brandy, herb teas and souvenirs, so they decided to connect all these attributes of Višnjan creating a unique event where the visitors will be offered astronomic-scientific, culture, but also a gastronomic-oenological experience.The astronomic observatory of Višnjan was established in 1976 by young enthusiasts-amateurs, and it is situated in the centre of the village. It has become a public observatory in 1993, and in 2005 it became an astronomic institute.By 2005, the observatory registered almost 750 discoveries of asteroids and according to these data it is one of the twelve most productive observatories in the world. Three comets were discovered from Višnjan, and two of them were given family names of persons discovering them. Višnjan lies in the west part of Istria, in the area being bordered by the river Mirna in the north and Limski fjord in the south. It is easy to reach by the Istria-Y-road, and it is connected with the City of Poreč with a 12 km long regional road.

Tourist Association of the Istra County

www.istra.hr

Tourist Association of the Municipality of Višnjan

www.istria-visnjan.com

Astrofestival

www.astrofestival.com

Pho

to:

mil

an

ba

bić

June 2010 | 8

The legend about the Picoki is one of the most interesting legends in Croatian history. It tells about the courage and inventiveness of people from the village of Đurđevac who have even in a helpless situation of a long lasting siege succeed to find a way liberate themselves from the grip of the Turkish army. Namely, after an unsuccessful attempt of the Turkish army led by the Ulama-bey to capture the fortress of Đurđevac in one charge, the general decided to implement the strategy of a patient siege to starve the inhabitants, forcing them in this way to surrender. In the moments when there was no more food left inside the fortress except one rooster, the people of Đurđevac made a desperate plan, counting on the surprise factor. They shot their last bite of food, a rooster, with a canon to the Turkish army. The Ulama-bey was tricked, convinced that if they had so much food to be able to shoot roosters like canon balls, they must have immense supply of food in stock to resist the siege. So he withdrew, cursing them and calling them Picoki – the chicken-people. Since 1968 the people of Đurđevac celebrate this legend by a unique open air performance, being increasingly impressive each year. It is played in the authentic location where the legend has actual originated and included hundreds of extras, amateur actors, horsemen and professional actors. The whole play is set in the way to present this glorious event from the Đurđevac past as credible as possible. Rifles and canons are really shooting, sables are flashing with a richness of light and pyrotechnical effects. But the play “The Picoki Legend”, an event which has been given a status of protected national non-material culture assets, is only a part of a three-day event called the Picokijada festival when about thirty more other culture and sports events are being held.The visitors of the Picokijada festival, which will be held this year form 25 to 27 June, will have the possibility to see also a real desert in Europe. The location “Đurđevački peski” (the sands of Đurđevac) is a Croatian Sahara, namely it really is an European desert, located nearby Đurđevac on a swampy soil with unique flora and fauna, in the middle of pine trees of the park-forest Bork.

Tourist Association of the of the Koprivnica-Križevci County

www.tz-koprivnicko-krizevacka.hr

Tourist Association of the of the City of Đurđevac

www.tz-djurdjevac.hr

Đurđevac – the Picokijada festival

Pho

to:

Serg

io g

obb

o

June 2010 | 9

Čigoć is a small village in which more white storks than people are living. According to the number of nests, this place has the most numerous population of storks in Europe. In 1994, the European nature preservation foundation, the Euronatur has proclaimed Čigoć the first European village of storks. Because of extraordinary good natural conditions in the village, white storks are nesting almost on each house or barn, and there are indeed more of them than people. Namely, in forty-five active nests live over two hundred storks, and in about seventy houses only about hundred and twenty villagers, speaking enough about the harmony of relations between men and nature in this area. The village is situated in the Nature park Lonjsko polje and there you can watch the white storks from immediate vicinity, listen to their communication by clacking of bills, see parent-storks protecting with their wings their babies from sun or a fight of the chicken storks for some tasty bite. Each year, the last Saturday in June, in the village of Čigoć is a big celebration of the Stork day, with rich culture, recreation sports, entertainment and gastronomy events. There is a wooden house in the village arranged for an information and education centre of the Nature park, with a restored small traditional carpenter workshop. There you can also visit an ethno-exhibition of traditional tools and objects related to peasant households in the 19th and first half of the 20th century. Čigoć is a winner of another very important prize. In 2003, the European association for flowers and environment, with the seat in Brussels, and in a competition of about 5700 European villages, awarded Čigoć a bronze plaque of “Entente Florale” for extraordinary atmosphere and environment.

Tourist Association of the Sisak and Moslavina County

www.turizam-smz.hr

Nature park Lonjsko polje

www.pp-lonjsko-polje.hr

Čigoć – The First European village of storks

Pho

to:

Serg

io g

obb

o

June 2010 | 10

We in the world

Pho

to: m

ari

o r

om

uli

ć

The island of Vis in central Dalmatia is on the list of the ten undiscovered dream island, together with the Italian Ischia, the Vietnam island Cat Ba, Fakarawa in French Polynesia, island of Yap in Micronesia and others, as it has been recently announced by the Yahoo Travel.

“ With its medieval villages, deserted beaches, ancient ruins, rambling olive groves, and the best vineyards in Dalmatia, Vis is poised to become the next “it spot” for sun and fun on the Adriatic, says the description of this Croatian island “ The winding streets of the two main towns – Vis and Komiža – are brimming with restaurants serving delicious seafood and Italian-style fare, while miles of sandy beaches, pebbly enclaves, and glittering shores attract sunbathers”, the text goes on, noting that Vis is just two hours by ferry and about little more than an hour and half by catamaran from Split. The bay of Srebrna is specially emphasized as one of the most beautiful beaches on Vis. Also the problem of hotel accommodation shortage on Vis is noted, so the visitors are recommended renting private apartments and villas. The list of undiscovered island paradises, where visitors do not need to share their part of the beach with innumerable other tourists, Yahoo has taken over from the tourist web portal Sherman’s Travel. On this list there are also: the island of Anegada, in the British Virgin Islands, the island Madeleine in Canadian Quebec, Lamu in Kenia, Monhegan in the US state of Maine and Terre-de-Haut in the island group of Guadeloupe.In order to get there, you have to invest a little bit of effort and travel longer, but those who succeed, will be rewarded with beautiful beaches, fascinating culture, exotic cuisine and the satisfaction to discover a fabulous island destination with pristine nature, they promise in the Sherman’s Travel.

The Tourist Association of the Split and Dalmatia County

www.dalmatia.hr

Tourist Association of the City of Zadar

www.tzzadar.hr

Yahoo Travel

www.travel.yahoo.com

Vis – Among the top 10 undiscovered world’s dream islands

June 2010 | 11

Pho

to:

vala

ma

r Cl

ub

tam

ari

S

Poreč – Valamar Club Tamaris among the “10 best secrets”The Poreč hotel for family and active holidays Valamar Club Tamaris has been elected by members of Trip Advisor to ten world’s best hotels insufficiently known among world travellers and which should be visited and experienced by all means (10 Best Travel Secrets).TripAdvisor (www.tripadvisor.com) is the most popular and largest social network of travellers in the world with over 32 million visits monthly and over 30 million reviews, reports, evaluations and recommendations of travellers on destinations hotels, camps, tourist guides and in general on tourist programme. The Hotel Valamar Club Tamaris is, according to evaluations of the travellers of that network in the first place among the 38 reviewed hotels in Poreč. It is situated in a green oasis of the Lanterna peninsula near Poreč, a four-stars-hotel, and three years ago it was totally reconstructed and air conditioned. The hotel has three swimming pools – a large one, activity pool with a water slide and waterfalls, a baby pool and a relax pool. From the selection of sports and animation programme, the guest have at their disposal a gym, bicycle tours, diving for beginners in the pool, sand volley ball, basket ball, small football, entertainment programme including thematic and folk evenings and dancing on the terrace. There is a disco club, play ground, kids play room, mini cinema, play station and other for teen agers and kids. From wellness services there is a Finnish sauna, steam bath, relax room and outdoor jacuzzi near the pool and all kinds of beauty services.On the “10 Best Travel Secrets” list, the Poreč hotel is flanked by the Greek Hotel Karkisia from Amorgos, the Montenegro Hotel Splendido, Pador de Canadas del Teide from Tenerife, the American White Swan Inn Hotel from San Francisca and the New York The Lucern Hotel, furthermore the Czech Leonardo Hotel, a small Portuguese hotel Albergaria el Rei Dom Manuel, Talisman Hotel de Charme from Cairo and the Slovenian Mons Hotel from Ljubljana.

Valamar is a company managing forty facilities on the coast of Adriatic with a large number of facilities in two main tourist regions, Istra and Dubrovnik. There are twenty three hotels in the company, eight apartment developments and nine camps with a total number of 39 000 beds out of it about 16 000 in hotels and apartments.

Tourist Association of the Istra County

www.istra.hr

Valamar hotels

www.valamar.com

June 2010 | 12

The projects

“Visia Dubrovnik5D museum”, is a new tourist attraction to be available for visitors of this Croatian tourist gem in the south of the country already since beginning of June. It is a museum which in an inventive way connects elements of amusement parks like Disneyland and Gardaland with elements of contemporary museums. Situated in the reconstructed monastery of St. Claire at the very entrance to the old town, the museum visitors will be guided in an exciting and unique way through history and culture features of Dubrovnik and Croatia with the aid of top 5D and Virtual Reality technology. From the devastation of Epidaurus, socializing with St. Blasius, through arrival of Slavs and Avars, fights with the Saracens, all the way to the Homeland war and procession of St. Blasius on Stradun the history entirety has been rounded up. The visitors will be put in the heart of fourteen key event from the town’s past with three-dimensional projections like those in multiplex cinemas, in the scenes of migration of Croats feel the wind from the mountain of Velebit and in the scene of the great earthquake of 1667, which is one of the most spectacular moments of the programme they will also feel the trembling

Dubrovnik – A new attraction for tourists

Pho

to: j

ura

j Ko

Pač

of the floor. This is the reason in the museum name the term 5D, instead of 3D is used. Holographic projections of Ivan Gundulić and other great persons are also very interesting. A holographic Gundulić, accompanied by laser and video projections, will teach the guests his poem “The freedom anthem”, remember on bombing of Dubrovnik and then lead them to an inter-active teaching of the dance linđo. A holographic pair of dancers is animated by hand clapping of visitors – the louder the hand-clapping the more pairs are dancing. But even before the visitors engage into adventure of discovering the history of Dubrovnik and Croatia, they will leave their track in the virtual creation “World network RM”. The visitors will, namely leave the photo of their palm, name and name of their country of origin and chose messages of peace, understanding and tolerance. The purpose of the organizers is to enter into the Guinness book of records with this creation, with the greatest number of participants.There are twenty three million Kuna invested in the project, and even Branko Lustig participated in it, a producer being several times awarded with an Oscar for best film.

Tourist Association of the Dubrovnik – Neretva County www.visitdubrovnik.hr

Tourist Association of the City of Dubrovnik

www.tzdubrovnik.hr

June 2010 | 13

We are presentingSkradin – Beauties hidden in a sheltered bay Skradin, situated about fifteen kilometres from Šibenik in central Dalmatia is one of the oldest Croatian cities. It is a town of rich heritage of culture and history lasting for more than two thousand years. Under the current name Skradin is mentioned already in the tenth century. It is located on the right bank of river Krka and all until recently has been hiding its beauty sheltered in a natural bay. Today, Skradin’s charms may be seen by any traveller making a stop at the most beautiful rest area of the Zagreb-Split highway and the beautiful bridge from which an unforgettable view may be admired. With its beauty, Skradin has been attracting many conquerors in the history, being devastated on several occasions. It was ruled by old Liburnian, Romans, Goths, Venetians and Turks.Tourists are more and more attracted by natural beauties of Skradin’s vicinity, most of all the Krka national park which spreads over 14 000 acres in the centre and lower flow of the river Krka.The Krka national park is a beautiful natural phenomenon of the river Krka with seven waterfalls, the Roški waterfall and Skradinski buk standing out as particularly grandiose. In the national park, there are two very attractive monuments of culture history: the Franciscan monastery on the small island of Visovac and the monastery Krka. Visovac is an island in the lake of the same name and situated in the middle of Krka’s wider flow, where the green waters have opened the karstic plateau giving birth to a harmonic connection of natural and historical heritage. On the island, there is a church from seventeenth century and a Franciscan monastery keeping a very valuable collection of books, objects of art and other important documents. On the north border of the national park there are medieval fortifications, built in fourteenth century, Trošenj and Nečven. For the beauty of Krka, every year many yachts and sailing boats from the whole world call to the marina of Skradin. One of the most visited marinas on the Croatian coast is situated in a natural environment and perfectly sheltered form wind, because in ancient times Romans had also their port in this spot.

Beside the beauties of nature, a rich gastronomy being served is also one of reasons for many guests visiting the Skradin area. In great restaurants and taverns their palates can enjoy the local prosciutto, bread baked under earthen bell, fresh shells, cold Skradin brodetto made of eels with polenta made of corn flour and ground in mills on the Skradinski buk or the Skradin cake being traditionally made of almonds, nuts and honey. Accommodation for tourists is available in the hotel “Skradinski buk”, small family hotels, apartments and private rooms.

Tourist Association of the Šibenik – Knin County

www.sibenikregion.com

Tourist Association of the City of Šibenik

www.sibenik-tourism.hr

National park Krka

www.npkrka.hr

Pho

to: S

erg

io g

obb

o

June 2010 | 14

Mali Lošinj – Island of vitalityThis year, Lošinj is celebrating a hundred and five years of health tourism. It is a unique island which may boast preserved natural environment in which clear and clean sea and air, mild climate, vegetation and aromatic scents along with relaxation and rest act beneficially on people making them more healthy and happy.Ever since the times of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, health tourism has been developing on the Lošinj islands, and Veli and Mali Lošinj have been already in 1892 proclaimed climate health resorts and sanatoriums, for their rich vegetation, quality of air an maritime aerosol. Health tourism on that island in the Primorje and Gorski kotar county, a hundred and twenty kilometres away from Rijeka, is based on extraordinary climate and natural conditions, making Lošinj in many ways different from other destinations on Kvarner or Adria. The island of Lošinj is situated in a subtropical-Mediterranean area, rich with vegetation and therefore very adequate for treatment of skin diseases and diseases of respiratory organs. The high quality of air, moderate Mediterranean climate with subtropical influences, over thousand and two hundred species of plants out of which even two hundred and thirty are medicinal plants, numerous larger and smaller island, clear sea with rich flora and fauna are only one of the natural factors which have determined Lošinj for a therapeutic climate resort.The scientists on the other hand, have discovered in the sea of the Lošinj islands two hundred and sixty two species of benthic algae, out of which the major part by their ingredients and various ways of application may have useful influence to human health. According to bio-climatologic analysis of the last thirty years, Lošinj has more than 2600 hours of sun yearly, which is on average about seven hours a day, putting it among the sunniest places in Croatia. Moderate daily oscillations contribute to reduction of stress. Lošinj is an ideal destination offering the pleasure of aromatherapy in open air, which creates the unique combination of aerosol from the sea and scents of ethereal plants of the island.

Pho

to: i

vo P

erva

n

Tourist Association of the Primorje-Gorski kotar County

www.kvarner.hr

Tourist Association of the City of Rijeka

www.tz-rijeka.hr

Tourist Association of the City of Mali Lošinj

www.tz-malilosinj.hr

June 2010 | 15

Rijeka and Dubrovnik – First hostels with HI-Quality certificateThe youth hostels in Rijeka and Dubrovnik are the first hostels in Croatia which have been awarded the certificate of HI-Quality, internationally acknowledged and the only system of quality insurance which is specially created and aimed for hostels.A detailed inspection of the hostel, from facility management, reception operation, cleaning, maintenance and kitchen, has been recently conducted by Iddan Kroll, the chief HI-Quality auditor of the Hostelling International, the largest global network of accommodation capacities gathering over eighty national hostel associations and about 4000 youth hostels. So, the hostels of Rijeka and Dubrovnik have been listed among the only four hostels in East Europe with a HI-Q certificate. It is exactly the organization of work and the quality of performance of the hostel staff in all the Croatian youth hostels in line with the system of quality insurance (the HI-Quality) which represents the strategic goal of the Croatian holiday and hostel association (HFHS) in the development process of youth tourism and service quality and programme for young people from Croatia and abroad.The plan of HFHS is to introduce the HI-Quality system in all their hostels in Zagreb, Zadar, Veli Lošinj and Pula by the end of 2011.

Croatian holiday and hostel association

www. hfhs.hr

News

Pho

to: j

ura

j Ko

Pač

Pho

to: d

am

ir f

abi

jan

ić

June 2010 | 16

Zagreb – The Regent Esplanade, “old lady” recently celebrated 85th birthdayOne of the most famous and most extravagant buildings in Zagreb, the hotel Regent Esplanade, has recently celebrated eighty and fifth birthday. The hotel was built in 1925 in order to provide luxury accommodation to passengers of the by now most famous train, the legendary Orient Express which travelled from Paris to Istanbul. The hotel is renown by the impeccable quality of service and top hotel standards, and hosted many stars who were guests of Zagreb and Croatia. A long list of celebrities who have visited the hotel Esplanade includes many persons who have greatly marked the 20th century. Josephine Baker, Charles Lindbergh, Orson Wells, Liv Ullman, Louis Armstrong, Woody Allen, Richard Burton, Elisabeth Taylor, Sofia Loren, Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones, and only some of the numerous guests who have entered their name to the hotel book of impressions, and many of them have taken with them a recipe for cooking of the famous Esplanade dish - štrukli.As a part of the luxury hotel chain, the Regent Esplanade has achieved the today’s glamour in the year 2004 after a total reconstruction which lasted for over a year. The hotel Esplanade has always been the central point of the Zagreb social life. Local businessmen, politicians, journalists and famous writers have always been meeting in this hotel in order to discuss contemporary political themes, up to date events and have fun.The Regent Esplanade Zagreb offers accommodation in two hundred and nine spacious and luxuriously arranged rooms and suites. Tradition and luxury of rooms and luxurious marble bathrooms have been completed with the state of the art technology like wireless High-Speed Internet. One of the prominent points of Esplanade is by all means the Oleandar terrace which has for decades already been one of the iconic and key places of public life of Zagreb. This magnificent garden, isolating you from the centre of the city, although you are sitting only few meters away from the main railways station is one of the most attractive and most lush out door restaurant spaces in Zagreb.

Tourist Association of the City of Zagreb

www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr

The Regent Esplanade Zagreb

www.theregentzagreb.com

Pho

to: t

he

reg

ent

eSPl

an

ad

ePh

oto

: th

e re

gen

t eS

Pla

na

de

June 2010 | 17

Top list of Croatia’s adventure programmesAdventure tourism in the world has been growing steadily in the last ten years. Due to the programme of adventure tourist packages offered, Austria achieves larger revenue from summer then from winter time tourism, the USA earn on adventure tourist arrangements over 120 billion dollar yearly, Germany has more registered climbers than football players, and rafting is the most lucrative industry in Nepal. The facts that Croatia has a lot to offer in this part of the tourist programme are being shown by increasing activities being offered in Croatian tourist destinations. Therefore, we are presenting an overview of the most significant activities making the Croatian adventure tourism programme and though through destinations in which they are present:

Programme

Mountain cycling1. IstraIstra has a large number of mountain bicycle trails, which are marked with tags and in tourist maps. They are spacious enough for long tours, and have enough variety in grade of difficulty and landscapes so that a cyclist will not be bored even for a moment. Depending on the wish and capacity, a cyclist may select trails from easy and interesting straight parts, to extremely difficult ones aimed only for the best, with transitional downhill and uphill courses (e.g. Lupoglav or the part north of Buzet).The trails pass all kinds of ground (rocks, earth, dirt road, narrow forest paths...) and through wild parts of pristine nature. They are at the same time offering a very good infrastructure and some less demanding sections for the

“easy going” adventurers. Their advantage is that not in a single moment a cyclist shall be too far away from some village, hotel or camp. From the highland north to the coast region, on two wheelsFrom north to south, from east to west coast of Istra, on almost 2600 kilometres there are about sixty registered bicycle trails. Smaller or larger, more or less arranged and all the other ones still unregistered bicycle trails have covered Istra like a spider web. About 70 % of them are mountain, or dirt, field or forest roads, while other are asphalted. The most difficult trails are at the highest points of Istra, in Ćićarija, and for riding them one need top fitness and driving skills „powered by himself“. In immediate vicinity, in the Labin region there are several other difficult trails and though from Gračišće to Rabac and from Rabac to Skitača. To conquer these trails not only good will is enough, because they are not recommended for recreational sports. However, for the heart and soul the easiest are recommended, along the Kamenjak peninsula, from Rovinj to the gulf of San Pol and around Vrsar and Poreč. A recommendation: “Parenzana” – a three-day race from Pola to Trieste being driven on previous railway tracks of the old narrow-gauge railway. The race is held in September.

Tourist Association of the Istra County

www.istra.hr

www.istria-bike.com

2. Gorski Kotar-Lika (Ravna Gora - Bjelolasica - Plitvice)Lika should be the number one choice for adventurers. It is a space of „wild beauty“, very much different from Istra, but extremely attractive for cyclists who want to enjoy pristine nature. Cyclists provide here food and accommodation on their own, and the programme offered includes bivoucing, mountain shelters and private accommodation and local bars and restaurants. For mountain cycling fans, there are about sixty kilometres of marked trails on Bjelolasica situated around the hotel of the Croatian Olympic Centre

„Bjelolasica“. In the Gorski kotar region which is equally beautiful, but more developed in the field of tourism, the adventurers going around that area by bicycles may enjoy beautiful, original-style apartments and small houses for rent.One rides mostly on marked trekking paths which are not so easy to walk on, so make the progress difficult. It is recommended to start this unforgettable adventure equipped with a good geographical map, but also with a guide.

Tourist Association of the Primorje-Gorski kotar County

www.kvarner.hr

Tourist Association of the Lika– Senj County

www.lickosenjska.com

Croatian Olympic Centre Bjelolasica

www.bjelolasica.hr

Pho

to: d

inKo

den

on

a

June 2010 | 18

3. PapukIt is an ideal place to dissuede all those who think that the rest part of continental Croatia – the tourist region Slavonia is only plains.This part is relatively unknown to a wider circle of cycling fans yet, but it is attractive for its beautiful nature – very interesting trails going through mixed forests with a lot of meadows. Briefly, this trail is a real gem exactly because of various and very beautiful nature. The nature park Papuk offers great possibilities of recreation and leisure and it is a perfect place for active holidays. Most of all this is trekking, with walks in the nature which are attractive in all the seasons of year. Because of the modest altitudes of the Papuk mountain which is up to 1000 m, anyone can try trekking here regardless of age. Beside trekking for everyone, those a bit more brave and courageous may try the until now only climbing trail in the nature park. The freeclimbing rock is near Velika, and it is made of quarcite, which means it is very strong. The total height of the rock exceeds 50m, but it is divided into several shelves. The sports climbing direction are in the south-west part of the rock which is about 15 m high.

Tourist Association of the Virovitica-Podravina County

www.tzvpz.hr

Nature park Papuk

www.pp-papuk.hr

4. VelebitThe breathtakingly beautiful environment of the nature park Velebit, without any doubt provides a unique experience for all visitors. For cycling, you may use numerous forest paths and dirt roads and partly some marked mountain paths. It is the best to combine a cycling excursion to Velebit with some other activity (trekking, flying, climbing), and stay overnight in mountain lodges or shelters. Recommendation: a four-day tour from Oltari to Karlobag. Attention: Velebit may be extremely dangerous and one must be very well equipped, have maps and be accompanied by an experienced guide or person knowing the area.

Tourist Association of the Lika-Senj County

www.lickosenjska.com

Nature park Velebit

www.pp-velebit.hr

5. MedvednicaMedvednica is the cradle of Croatian mountain biking. Although on this mild mountain north of Zagreb, called Zagrebačka gora there are no more surprises and unknown fact, the trails of Medvednica still provide a handful of possibilities and thrills to mountain cyclists. By the way, how may a downhill drive from the top to the valley station of the cable car for only eight minutes be boring in any way?By setting tracks and marking 110 km bicycle trails the Public institution „Nature park Medvednica“ has made the beauties of Medvednica nearer to leisure athletes, i.e. people who enjoy moving through the nature in a nature way - by the force of their muscles. The trails are aimed for mountain cycling. When setting the trails, the intention was to make as little as possible intervention into nature by using the existing forest roads, and to make the contact of cyclists and pedestrian to the lower possible measure, and avoid asphalt roads and the mere top of Medvednica as the most crowded and burdened part. The trails pass near almost all the mountain lodges, providing cyclists with possibilities of rest and refreshment any time they desire.

Tourist Association of the City of Zagreb

www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr

Nature park Medvendica

www.pp-medvednica.hr

Pho

to: r

enCo

Ko

Sin

oži

ć

June 2010 | 19

2. OmišThe town on the river mouth of Cetina is recently becoming a gathering place of various “outdoor” athletes. Omiš is offering to climbers a rare possibility to climb literally above the roof tops of the town. About 40 short and four to five long directions of various grades of difficulty both from the left and the right bank of the Cetina river with a beautiful view of the sea and the town. As the city is right nearby, there are no problems with accommodation.Briefly, everyone desiring an active holiday, should he/her decide to spend it in Omiš, is at the right place. Besides free climbing, the programme offers unforgettable rafting on the Cetina river, paragliding, diving, sailing, sand volley ball tennis etc. To conclude: in Omiš you may enjoy all the sports – on ground, in water and in the air.

Tourist Association of the Split and Dalmatia County

www.dalmatia.hr

Tourist Association of the City of Omiš

www.tz-omis.hr

Climbing1. PaklenicaThe national park Paklenica is an iconic place of climbers „big wallers“ from all over Europe, so over thirty per cent of the park visitors are climbers. The about 350 meter of vertical rock Anića kuk, over 300 long and about 90 sports climbing direction with nests of griffon vultures and eagles, and the fabulously beautiful wild canyon make the „addiction“ of climber to Paklenica completely understandable. The National park Paklenica is the most important Croatian climbing centre, known also outside of Croatian borders. A special charm to this climbing spot gives the vicinity of the sea shore, so the riviera of Paklenica is an ideal location for a combination of climbing and water sports.The history of rock-climbing in Paklenica begins as far back as 1938, and today there are over 360 equipped and arranged directions of various grades of difficulty and lengths so each climber may find something for his/her taste.The main climbing season in Paklenica starts in spring and lasts until late in the autumn.For the holidays of the First of May – Labour day, there is a traditional gathering of a large number of climbers in Paklenica. Since 2000, a competition Big Wall Speed Climbing is held here or speed climbing of big rocks, the first competition of such type in the world. It is a connection of two climbing disciplines: speed climbing, which is usually done in short indoor directions on a artificial rock and on climbing big, vertical cliffs which imply climbing in pairs which takes several hours, and sometimes even days.Beside the competition part, the climbing gatherings in Paklenica have their accompanying programme. So, there is a fair of outdoor equipment, numerous lecture, film projections of films on climbing and rock-climbing.

Tourist Association of the Zadar County

www.zadar.hr

National park Paklenica

www. paklenica.hr

3. Central VelebitIn the area of central Velebit, the site Ravni Dabar is a rock-climbing zone where sport climbing is permitted and though on the following rocks (kukovi):

-Visibaba/Agin kuk- Čelina kuk- Rujičin kukIt is interesting to know that when the most favourable sites for sports climbing have been established, one has taken account that the rock-climbing activities have no negative impact on the richness and variety of flora and fauna (in the first place birds’ nests). The area of endemic plant species is outside of or next to climbing directions.This site is a potential climbing hit, and although a little bit off the road, it certainly deserves to be visited. There are about twenty long directions of middle grade difficulty. Dabarski kukovi are still „undiscovered“, so it is very likely that a climber in the most beautiful environment will be completely alone. For romantics, this is a must site for climbing. In the vicinity of the climbing site, on a beautiful location is the mountain lodge „Ravni Dabar“, and one may also find accommodation in Baške oštarije (the trekking huts Vila Velebita and Prpa and the camp Velebit).

Tourist Association of the Lika-Senj County

www.lickosenjska.com

Nature Park Velebit

www.pp-velebit.hr

Pho

to: a

nte

zu

bovi

ć

June 2010 | 20

4. IstraBuzet with the legendary Raspadalica, Rovinj, Moščenička Draga, are the most beautiful climbing places in Istra. The basic characteristic of the Istrian climbing sites is their diversity, accessibility and good, high quality rock. Until now, there are in total nine climbing sites arranged in Istria for sport climbing: Zlatni rt near Rovinj, Limski kanal, Dvigrad, Istarske toplice, Raspadalica above Buzet, Vranjska draga at the Učka tunnel, then a site near Pazin, Mošćenička draga, Vintijan near Pole and Rabac. On nine climbs on the so called short rocks of twenty to thirty meters of height, there are 270 equipped climbs. On Istrian rocks, full of obstacles of all kinds, even top athletes but also beginners may get well tired. What makes Istra so appropriate for this sport is that beside her beautiful preserved nature increasingly valued by freeclimbers, her rocks are mostly oriented southwards, so even in colder weather conditions one may climb in short sleeves.

Tourist Association of the Istra County

www.istra.hr

5. Split regionWith about sixty beautiful, equipped directions on Marjan, where the first climbing competition ever in Europe was held, Split is probably the only city on earth where you can climb on a natural rock almost in the mere town centre, Beside Marjan, excellent climbing spots are in Trogir (about twenty directions in an interesting environment of red rock stalagmites) and Kozjak (about fifteen directions with a view of the bay of Kaštela).

Tourist Association of the Split and Dalmatia County

www.dalmatia.hr

Tourist Association of the town of Split

www.visitsplit.com

Paragliding, hang-gliding1. Istra - Buzet, UčkaThe central “flying” point of Istra is Buzet. From the start on Raspadalica, flights over all the directions are possible. The area is thermally active, and beside excellent possibilities for flying, meek rolling hills, plateaus and villages, it gives a beautiful bird’s eye view from the air. Good transport connections, many villages and hotels guarantee to the flyer be comfortable and well accommodated everywhere no matter where he/she has landed.The flyers are by all means recommended to fly over the Učka mountain with a view to the whole gulf of Kvarner, Grobnik field, Gorski kotar region and by good visibility even Pola and Trieste.

Tourist Association of the Istra County

www.istra.hr

2. BiokovoBiokovo has one of the most excising starts in Europe. When the flyer „takes off“ from the top, he/she is already 1200 meters above the ground and beneath his/her feet there lie Makarska, Podgora, island of Brač and Hvar on one side, and Herzegovina on the other side. Still, inexperienced flyers should resist this beauty, as Biokovo is significantly more demanding than for example Istra. One can also excellently fly in Omiš above the river Cetina canyon.

Tourist Association of the Split and Dalmatia County

www.dalmatia.hr

Nature Park Biokovo

www.biokovo.com

Tourist Association of the town Omiša

www.tz-omis.hr

3. TribaljIdeal for flying for all kinds of pilots: from beginners to skilled ones. A comfortable start and good landing grounds make relaxing flights with beautiful view to the whole Vinodol region, Crikvenica riviera, island of Krk and the gulf of Kvarner. Accommodation may be found in the area of the Vinodol municipality, in Crikvenica or in Novi Vinodolski.

Tourist Association of the Primorje and Gorski kotar County

www.kvarner.hr

Tourist Association of the of the town of Crikvenica

www.tzg-crikvenice.hr

Tourist Association of the Municipality of Vinodol

www.tz-vinodol.hr

4. BaškaThis „flyers“ destination is very popular with foreigners. There are several starts from the slopes above Baška with beautiful views to the islands of Krk, Rab and Cres.

Tourist Association of the Primorje and Gorski kotar County

www.kvarner.hr

Tourist Association of the municipality of Baška

www.tz-baska.hr www.climbinbaska.com

June 2010 | 21

The water1. Dobra

„The most exploited“ Croatian river for tourist purposes. The legendary Buk with „wild“ waters of the 5th degree, was an irresistible destination for all the rafters until it has been flooded for construction of the new hydro-electric power plant. The river Dobra canyon is characteristic for its thick forest from both sides of the river bank, and the most interesting part is upstream of the power plant „Gojak“ dam. Dobra is ideal both for rafting and kayak and a bit

„too wild“ for canoe. An iconic gathering point of the wild waters fans is the tavern „Zeleni kut“ (the green corner) on the river Mrežnica.

www.aktivni-odmor.com.hr

2. MrežnicaLying very near to Dobra, but completely different. Excellent for rafting and kayak and good for canoe. It is specific for numerous jumps from waterfalls, some of them being up to 10 meters high. The most interesting part for paddling is from the army exercise grounds at Slunj to Generalski stol.

www.aktivni-odmor.com.hr

3. ZrmanjaOne of the most beautiful canyons of Europe, beautiful karstic forms and waterfalls, clear and drinkable waters. It is good for rafting until end June and later there is not enough water, nut therefore ideal for tours with canoes and kayaks.

4. CetinaAs the water level is regulated by a power plant, the river Cetina is navigable during the whole year through. The canyon of Cetina although also a karstic canyon, is different from the one of Zrmanja. It has not so many waterfalls, but interesting Mediterranean vegetation. The upper canyon above Gubavica is excellent for kayak, while the lower flow is ideal for rafting, The restaurant „Radmanove mlinice“, six kilometres upstream of Omiš is a real base of all the wild waters fans.

5. UnaThe high water level is until June. It is excellent for rafting and kayak, very good for canoe. The most interesting part is from the twenty meter high waterfall Štrabački Buk to Loskun on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

SeekayakingThe Adriatic provides inexhaustible possibilities of seakayaking and the first recommendation is a seven-day tour from the National park Mljet over the Elaphiti islands to Dubrovnik, then Kornati and a tour around Cres, Lošinj and Brioni.

Pho

to: a

nd

rija

Ca

rli

Speleology1. VelebitVelebit is a speleologist’s dream, and after the discovery of Lukina jama which is 1392 meter deep and among the first twenty deep caves on the world, Velebit is becoming more and more interesting to numerous foreign expeditions. The reasons for this are many insufficiently explored caves and the probability that there are still more of them undiscovered. There is the recently discovered Velebita jama with the longest underground vertical shaft on the world (over 500 meters), then the Slovačka jama etc. Except in tents in base camps, one may find accommodation in the lodge on Zavižan or in some of the trekkers’ shelters.

National park Sjeverni (North) Velebit

www.np-sjeverni-velebit.hr

2. Istra Differently from Velebit, the caves in Istra have already been

„explored“, but that does not mean they are not interesting. Istrian caves are warm, with a lot of decorations and rather demanding, so it is good to have an experienced guide when one starts to explore Istrian caves and pits.Underground halls, lakes, creeks, gorges, vertical pits, cracks and fossils will delight every visitor. In Istrian caves and pit beside natural beauties there are also very diverse animals and plants (fish, frogs, doormice, little crabs, blind mice), and the most interesting is the “human fish”, Proteus anguinus, an endemic species living only in this karstic areas.Te cave of Pazin has become world famous, as it has been celebrated by Jules Verne describing it in his novel „Mathias Sandorf“. Until now, about 1500 caves are known, and every year about ten new ones are discovered. Ćićarija in the north of Istra is a separate karstic entirety where the deepest cave of Istra is situated, the abyss Rašpor, 361 meter deep.Near the small town of Roč there are the abysses Krkuž and Gragorinčići. The longest cave in flish is Piskovica in the central part of the peninsula, 1036 meters long. In the vicinity is also the 273 meter deep Marfanska pit consisting of 2045 meters of explored canals and is also the longest one in Istra. The largest hall adorns the Batluška pit, 200 meters long and 150 wide and 60 meters high. The north-western parts are special by a row of abysses in the contact area of flish sediments and limestone. A very picturesque abyss near Šterna is 231 meter deep, and it is especially beautiful in the rain period when at the bottom of the pit a waterfall is created, and before disappearing in the deep of the earth, it makes a small lake. There is also an abandoned old mill nearby. The karstic area of western

June 2010 | 22

Istria is very interesting as it is covered with red earth so dripstone and crystal underground are often expressively red coloured. Beside pits, caves are also very interesting speleological sites. For their accessibility, the staying f men and animals in them goes very far back into the past, so that many of them are today interesting archaeological and paleontological finding sites:Šandalja, Vergotinova, Romualdova, Trogrla… are only some of them.

Tourist Association of the Istra County

www.istra.hr

3. Biokovo The deepest pit on Biokovo is the 778 meter deep Amfora. Impressive, rough environment of Biokovo is characterized by dry pits, although in some places one may even in the middle of summer climb in ice. Recommendation is to use services of experienced guides.

Nature Park Biokovo

www.biokovo.com

4. Lika Speleologically extremely interesting area, as it has a lot of abysses, springs and unexplored areas of great potential. The most interesting pits are Punar in Luka and Munižaba near Gračac, and very interesting is also Đula Medvednica under Ogulin. This is the longest cave in Croatia, whose over sixteen kilometres of canals make a maze where one can be very easily be lost.

Tourist Association of the Lika – Senj County

www.lickosenjska.com

Important notice: All the above mentioned caves and pits are not equipped for a tourist visit and are accessible only for trained speleologists in registered and approved expeditions. Visiting, seeing, exploring and all other activities in speleological object or their parts above the ground is prohibited without a valid permission of the competent ministry and approval of competent institutions. However, „simple“ tourists should on their way to Split or Zadar, by all means stop for a while and visit Cerovačke špilje, near Gračac and the Manita peć in Paklenica which is also open for tourists. The oldest cave „equipped for tourists“ is the Modra špilja on the island of Biševo. Beautiful and exciting is also the Lokvarka near Lokve in Gorski kotar, while the most adventurous cave with a tourist concession is the Modrič špilja in Rovanjska, near the bridge of Maslenica. If you want to experience one of the most beautiful caves in Croatia, meet the County of Karlovac, that is the cradle of Croatian speleo-tourism. The Barać caves at Nova Kršlja in the vicinity of Rakovica, famous for their lush calcite decorations, were the first ones in Croatia open for tourist as far back as 1892. They were visited by carriages while travelling further to the lakes of Plitvice.

Festival “Vanka regule”For extreme sports fans one should emphasize the festival

„Vanka regula“ being for twelve years held in the small town Sutivan on Brač where in one place representatives of various

„outdoor“ sports gather. A group of Brač enthusiasts and adventure lovers has launched the festival with the desire to promote Brač as an ideal adventure destination. The festival is as an unsurpassable event of all adventure sports and great fun lovers mentioned in many international magazines and guides. Each year, on the third week in July (this year from 12 to 18 July) Vanka regule gathers all the best Croatian and many foreign representatives of “elite” alternative sports: surf boarding, skate boarding, sports climbing, mountain biking, breath-hold diving and many similar activities.

Festival Vanka regule

www.vankaregule.com

Pho

to: i

vo P

erva

n

June 2010 | 23

Daruvar – A Wellness oasis In the sanatorium hotel „Termal“ in the thermal spa resort Daruvar, and on the 30th anniversary of the hotel’s work, a new modern wellness centre has been opened. On a 1800 m2 surface there are two outdoor an two indoor swimming pools, a Finnish and an infrared sauna, a steam bath, aromatherapy, solarium, face and body care zone and the world of massage. This wellness oasis is harmonized into the natural environment of a centuries-old park next to springs of thermal water and healthy mineral mud.By opening the wellness centre, a new page in the programme of the thermal spa resort Daruvar has been opened, a place situated in the area which has a tradition in medical treatment and health care over two thousand years long. The thermal resort and spa is in Daruvar, a city in central Croatia situated on the slopes of Papuk mountain and in the valley of the river Toplice, on the altitude of hundred and sixty meter. For the importance of the thermal spa through history and even today, the undisputable credit have the geothermal springs, whose healthy influence is known since the beginning of settling this region. Since the Roman times, when a Pannonian-Celtic tribe was living here, called by Greek and Roman writers Iassi, in the meaning

„the Spa people“ or „the Healers“ all because of the great number of geothermal wells with therapeutic characteristics. The Romans established their settlement under the name Aquae Balissae meaning „very strong wells“ with is the today’s Daruvar.The thermal spa resort Daruvar is today a modern equipped centre for medical rehabilitation, rest and recreation and prevention in health care.The axis of the medical tourism is the sanatorium hotel “Termal“, situated in the heart of a large and beautifully arranged park, built 1980 with 288 beds in single and double rooms and suites. The thermal spa resort offers accommodation also in the facility „Arcadia“ with 32 beds and at very affordable prices.In the thermal spa resort Daruvar, there are several springs of warm water and they are also known for the site of therapeutic mineral mud – fango.In the last years the spa resort, in whose modernization has been invested several million Euro, has become very famous for sports rehabilitation and treatment of sports injuries, which is why it is being visited by an increasing number of top athletes. Their leaders were the famous Croatian skiers Janica and Ivica Kostelić.Two years ago, a new thermal water park „Aqua Balissae“ has been built, including 10 000 m2 of surface out of which 2200 m2 of water surfaces. In the water park, there is an outdoor and indoor swimming pool with all kinds of attractions from water slides, indoor and outdoor kid’s swimming pool, geysers, waterfalls and water showers, and a „still river“ 220 meters long.

The thermal water park has only geothermal water with an average temperature in the swimming pool of 32 degrees.The future development plans of the thermal spa resort Daruvar include a construction of another accommodation facility with hundred and forty beds, and reconstruction of the central mud bath from 1909.The thermal spa resort Daruvar represents an authentic and modern concept of a medical treatment facility with high standard in service provision in which the most modern wellness, spa and medical equipment is being applied under a steady hand of professional staff – medical doctors-specialist, kinesiotherapists and physiotherapists.The thermal spa resort Daruvar is 132 km away from Zagreb, 337 from Budapest, 495 from Vienna and 900 km from Prague.

Tourist Association of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County

www.tzbbz.hr

Thermal spa resort Daruvar - Daruvarske toplice

www.daruvarske-toplice.hr

Town Daruvar

www.daruvar.hr

Thermal water park - Termalni vodeni park “Aquae Balissae”

www.vodeni-park.com

Pho

to: m

ila

n b

abi

ć

June 2010 | 24

Senj – City of the red-haired Zora The City of the red-haired Zora is a new thematic trail being offered to visitors of Senj, a town under Velebit, visited before the Second World War by the Swiss writer Kurt Kläber under the nick name Kurt Held, after which he wrote a novel „Red Zora an her company“ inspired by real-life characters and events from the thirties of the twentieth century. In the book, first published in 1941, with many new editions ever since, the fourteen year old Zora is the leader of a company of orphans who call themselves uskoci and hide in the fortress Nehaj above Senj, and live of petty theft, but they steal only from rich people.In 1978 in Senj, in a German-Swiss-Yugoslav coproduction a TV series of the same name was shot, being a great success in the German speaking region and is still popular today. Three years ago, a feature-length film on the red-haired Zora and her adventures was shot, which was on in German cinemas in 2008. It is for this popularity of the Red-Haired Zora and the interest the tourists from the German-speaking countries show for Senj, that the project “ The City of the Red-Haired Zora” has been launched, within the framework of which a brochure and a thematic trail was designed, leading visitors to locations on which the series was shot, from the old City of Senj centre to the Nehaj fortress, introducing them at the same time to the rich history of Senj.The fortress of Nehaj, the symbol of the City of Senj, was built in 1558 under inspection of the captain and general of the Croatian military region Ivan Lenković. It was built fro the material of demolished churches, monasteries and houses which were previously outside of the city walls. On the first floor, there were rooms for officers and the fortress commander. On the second floor there was a canon battery of 11 heavy canons. Today, here are culture and music events, scientific congresses and other culture events. The top of the fortress is a belvedere. In the past, watches were from the top carefully observing access roads to Senj from the land and from the sea, and accepting smoke signals and light signals from their accomplices from islands and the shore. From the top of the fortress there is a beautiful view to Hrvatsko primorje and islands of Rab, Goli, Prvić, Cres, Krk, and mountains of the Gorski kotar, Učka and Velebit. The fortress Nehaj is open for visitors from May to November.Beside Nehaj and other historical heritage, the area of Senj can offer to visitors great many other things. In the vicinity of town is a mountain village Krivi Put, the pass of Vratnik (698 m), wherefrom a wonderful view may be taken, and in the surrounding woods there are rich hunting areas and ideal places for trekking and hunting. Senjska Draga is also worth seeing with a classicistic mausoleum from 1848. Those deciding for beauties of Velebit, it is the best they visit the mountain lodge Zavižan (with about 50 beds) which may be reached through Sv. Juraj and Oltari, and wherefrom one may with longer or shorter walks visit many rarities of nature – a botanical garden, Hajdučki and Rožanski kukovi, Lukina jama (pit) and others.

Senj is famous for many events of entertainment, and the most famous ones being the winter carnival in January and February, a festival of klapas small choir singing in July and the Senj summer carnival in August.

Tourist Association of the Lika-Senj County

www.lickosenjska.com

Tourist Association of the City of Senj

www.tz-senj.hr

Pho

to: S

erg

io g

obb

o

June 2010 | 25

Kroatische Zentrale für TourismusRumfordstr. 7, 80469 MÜNCHEN, DEUTSCHLANDtel: +49 89 22 33 44fax: +49 89 22 33 77e-mail: kroatien-tourismus@t-online.de

Kroatische Zentrale für TourismusHochstr., 43, 60311 FRANKFURT, DEUTSCHLANDtel: +49 69 238 5350 fax: +49 69 2385 3520e-mail: info@visitkroatien.de

Ente Nazionale Croato per il TurismoPiazzetta Pattari 1/3, 20122 MILANO, ITALIAtel: +39 02 86 45 44 97fax: +39 02 86 45 45 74e-mail: info@enteturismocroato.it

Ente Nazionale Croato per il TurismoVia Dell’Oca 48, 00186 ROMA, ITALIAtel: +39 06 32 11 0396fax: +39 06 32 11 1462e-mail: officeroma@enteturismocroato.it

Chorvatské turistické sdruženíKrakovská 25, 110 00 PRAHA 1, ČESKÁ REPUBLIKAtel: +420 2 2221 1812fax: +420 2 2221 0793e-mail: info@htz.cz; infohtz@iol.cz

Office National Croate de Tourisme 48, Avenue Victor Hugo, 75116 PARIS, FRANCEtel: +33 1 45 00 99 55fax: +33 1 45 00 99 56e-mail: infos.croatie@wanadoo.fr

Office National Croate du TourismeVieille Halle aux Bles 38, 1000 BRUXELLES, BELGIUMtel: +32 255 018 88fax: +32 251 381 60e-mail: info-croatia@scarlet.be

Oficina de Turismo de CroaciaCalle Claudio Coello 22, esc. B, 1°C, 28001 MADRID, ESPAÑAtel.: +34 91 781 5514fax.: +34 91 431 8443e-mail: info@visitacroacia.es

Horvát Idegenforgalmi KözösségMagyar u. 36, 1053 BUDAPEST, MAGYARORSZÁGtel/fax: +36 1 266 65 05; +36 1 266 65 33e-mail: info@htz.hu

Kroatische Zentrale für TourismusAm Hof 13, 1010 WIEN, ÖSTERREICHtel: +43 1 585 38 84fax: +43 1 585 38 84 20e-mail: office@kroatien.at

Chorvátske turistické združenieTrenčianska 5, 821 09 BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIAtel: +421 2 55 562 054fax: +421 2 55 422 619e-mail: infohtz@chello.sk

ContactCroatian National Tourist Office350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4003, NEW YORK 10118, U.S.A.tel: +1 212 279 8672fax: +1 212 279 8683e-mail: cntony@earthlink.net

Croatian National Tourist Office2 Lanchesters, 162-164 Fulham Palace RoadLONDON W6 9ER, UNITED KINGDOMtel: +44 208 563 79 79fax: +44 208 563 26 16e-mail: info@croatia-london.co.uk

Narodowy Ośrodek Informacji TurystycznejRepubliki ChorwacjiIPC Business Center, ul. Koszykowa 54,00-675 WARSZAWA, POLSKAtel: +48 22 828 51 93fax: +48 22 828 51 90e-mail: info@chorwacja.home.pl

Kroatiska TuristbyrånKungsgatan 24, 11135 STOCKHOLM, SVERIGEtel: +46 853 482 080fax: +46 820 24 60e-mail: croinfo@telia.com

Kroatisch Nationaal Bureau Voor ToerismeNijenburg 2F, 1081 GG AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDStel: +31 20 661 64 22 fax: +31 20 661 64 27e-mail: kroatie-info@planet.nl

Хорвaтckoe туристическое соовщество Краснопресненская наб. 12, подъезд 6, офис 1502 123610МОСКВА, PoCCИЯТЕЛ: +7 495 258 15 07ФАКС: +7 495 258 15 08e-mail: htz@wtt.ru

Hrvaška turistična skupnostGosposvetska 2, 1000 LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIJAtel: +386 1 23 07 400fax: +386 1 230 74 04e-mail: hrinfo@siol.net

Kroatische Zentrale für TourismusBadenerstrasse 332, 8004 ZÜRICH, SWITZERLANDtel: +41 43 336 20 30fax: +41 43 336 20 39e-mail: info@kroatien-tourismus.ch

Croatian National Tourist Bord JapanArk Hills Executive Tower N613Akasaka 1-14-5, Minato-kuTokyo 107-0052tel: 0081 03 6234 0711fax: 0081 03 6234 0712e-mail: info@visitcroatia.jp

Editor: Croatian National Tourist Boardwww.croatia.hr