Travel News for Your next Holiday & Vacation in Croatia | Croatia Blog » Inner Croatia http://www.croatia-blog.net/en Croatia Travel Blog provides everything you need to plan your holiday in Croatia including maps, list of beaches, accommodation, culture, transport and weather in Croatia. Learn about popular places to visit in Croatia. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:06:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Orahovica – The tourist pearl of Slavonija http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/orahovica-%e2%80%93-the-tourist-pearl-of-slavonija/ http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/orahovica-%e2%80%93-the-tourist-pearl-of-slavonija/#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:27:18 +0000 Filip http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/orahovica-%e2%80%93-the-tourist-pearl-of-slavonija/

Orahovica is a town of tourism and wine. Located at the foot of Krndija and Papuk because of its untouched nature, mountain streams and clean air, it has been called the «Slavonian Switzerland». With its location, cultural-historical heritage and preserved nature, Orahovica is made for tourism. This was realized a long time ago by the people living in this area, who in 1905. founded an association for the beautification of Orahovica.

The city has a rich monumental heritage. It is dominated by a baroque church Discovery of the Holy Cross, from 1756. A few kilometers south of the city, hidden among hills is a monestary with the church of St. Nicholas, an exquisite example of sacral architecture from the 16th century. In the nearby village Crkvari is the unique church of St. Lawrence from the 13th century.

The most famous cultural-historical monument of the Orahovica area is Ružica grad, one of the best preserved medieval manor forts in Croatia. It was built at the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century, 5 kilometers southeast of the city. This is a monument of the highest category, with a particular sacral, urban and fortification value, to which many legends are connected to.

At the foot of Ružica grad, 1,5 km from the centre of Orahovica is an artificial lake with a surface of 1,7 ha. Surrounded by a tame forest, it was created in 1961. by an artificial dam that was built. During hot summer days it is an ideal place for cooling down.
Source: Croatia.hr

]]> http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/orahovica-%e2%80%93-the-tourist-pearl-of-slavonija/feed/ 0 Kopački rit – Untouched nature close to the city bustle http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/kopacki-rit-%e2%80%93-untouched-nature-close-to-the-city-bustle/ http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/kopacki-rit-%e2%80%93-untouched-nature-close-to-the-city-bustle/#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:25:13 +0000 Filip http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/?p=351

Kopački rit is a nature park that stretches across 23.230 acres and is located only a few kilometers from Osijek. This is a unique area in Europe because in it is the biggest natural fish hatchery, habitat of roe deer, well know capital deers and does, beavers, otters, wild boars and feathered game, a real orinthological paradise. In Kopački rit there are 293 species of birds, that make up 78 percent of Croatia's orinthofauna. Here we also have 44 types of fish and more than 2000 different biological species of which many are rare and endangered at a world level. Especially interesting are the birds that nest in colonies and in the park a large number of endangered species such as the black stork or the White-tailed Eagle can be seen.

Kopački rit is a natural «laboratory» which is invaluable and which attracts year after year, more and more visitors, that can have long walks on miles long educational paths which have along them information stands with basic info on important plant and animal species. It is an extremely valuable, natural swamp area, one of the rarest in Europe that represents an extraordinary example of creation and evolution of swamp eco systems and flooded areas. Because of its preserved eco system , biological diversity and extraordinary scientific and biological value, Kopački rit was in 1967. protected with a status of a natural reserve. Nine years later a smaller area of the reserve, 7700 acres, got the status of a special zoo reserve, while the other part was proclaimed a nature park. The international value of Kopački rit was confirmed in 1989. by its inclusion in the ornithologically significant areas and in 1993. got the status of an internationally significant swamp area.

In the heart of the Park is the interesting castle Tikveš, where rooms can be rented.
Source: Croatia.hr

]]> http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/kopacki-rit-%e2%80%93-untouched-nature-close-to-the-city-bustle/feed/ 0 Varaždin – The city of baroque http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/varazdin-%e2%80%93-the-city-of-baroque/ http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/varazdin-%e2%80%93-the-city-of-baroque/#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:18:35 +0000 Filip http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/varazdin-%e2%80%93-the-city-of-baroque/

Varaždin has been famous throughout its history for being one of the central points of cultural life in Croatia. However, the 18th century was the turning point for the city's cultural life. In this period the city intensly progressed and from 1755-76. it was the capital city of Croatia, under the influence of all the richness of baroque and the aristocrat elite that were fascinated by it, it became the centre of unbridled balls and the luxury aristocrat life. To honor baroque and its richness, that has greatly marked this city and earned it the name «little Vienna», in Varaždin, every year there is a traditional festival of baroque music.

Varaždin baroque nights, every September and October turn back time to a period when in the rich city palaces you could hear indescribable musical creativity and witness the gracefull dances and cultural events.

The festival was founded in 1970., and through the years it has become a recognizable cultural manifestation, well known in Croatia and Europe. It has become an irreplacable part of the Varaždin tourist offer, promoting the city's history, not only through music but also through the unique architecture. The baroque churches and palaces and the Old Town are a part of Varaždin that give it its identity.

This festival of music brings every year many world famous artists, soloists, orchestra's and ansambles. It is an experience that cannot be described but has to be experienced first hand. The concerts take the audience a few centuries back in time, to a period when music was a highly aesthetic art. Many concerts of Croatian and foreign ansambles create a romantic atmosphere of a baroque town, but are also very important from a music point because in their program they sometimes preform just discovered or never before played pieces. Also, with the introduction of modern interpretations of already famous pieces , the Baroque festival achieves remarkable results in the professional approach to baroque music.
Source: Croatia.hr

]]> http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/varazdin-%e2%80%93-the-city-of-baroque/feed/ 0 Vinkovci – A place of culture, language and tradition http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/vinkovci-a-place-of-culture-language-and-tradition/ http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/vinkovci-a-place-of-culture-language-and-tradition/#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:15:53 +0000 Filip http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/?p=342

The people of Vinkovci often say : «Who experiences the atmosphere of Vinkovci in the autumn is sure to come back again!» And really, it is hard to describe all the events which take place in those ten autumn days that the people of Vinkovci, as tireless hosts, organize for their guests that come from all over the world. The whole town, along with its visitors is carried and lives in song and dance. The autumn days in Vinkovci represent folklore that does not only cherish the Slavonian traditions but also the traditions from all parts of Croatia, as to, in this way mark the coming of autumn, a season when nature awards the all year hard, unselfish work of peasants.

When Slavonia started adapting the busy rythm of modern life and when there was a danger felt of losing the special ways of Slavonians, there appeared a need of preseravtion of traditional culture of that area. It was brought to life by an original, folklore festival, first of Slavonija and Baranja, after which this manifestation went over the regional borders and began connecting everyone who loves and respects traditional culture, language and customs. Vinkovci, the heart of Šokadija, became a gathering place of original, national culture and way of life, with this unique festival, which year after year becomes enriched with new manifestations; science, tourism, economy, sports and fun . And it has been like this for 40 years. This year Vinkovci will accommodate lovers of folklore culture from the 10th to the 19th September.
Source: Croatia.hr

]]> http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/vinkovci-a-place-of-culture-language-and-tradition/feed/ 0 Sisak – Celtic night http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/sisak-%e2%80%93-celtic-night/ http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/sisak-%e2%80%93-celtic-night/#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:09:28 +0000 Filip http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/sisak-%e2%80%93-celtic-night/

In Sisak, every year in the first days of September at the time of the new moon on the promenade of the River Kupa the tourist-historical spectacle Celtic night is held. It is one of the most important and most impressive tourist manifestations in the Sisak-Moslavina county. On the rafts, Sisak legends are played out, and druids and priestesses hand out a magical potion to the audience. With the light of torches and spotlights images from mysterious Sisak legends come out from the night. On the 4th September visitors will see fairies and warriors dancing to the rythm of drums, Celts sailing their rafts on Kupa, tasting the magical druid potion and participating in the mystical rites of conjuring ancient warriors, beauties, bishops and their persecutors, warrior conquerors and defenders of life and freedom. On the rafts in front of visitors, scenes from the lives of Celts and Romans will be played out. This is a night where these rafts, moved only by the river, will show scenes from the history of Sisak and tell a three thousand year old story of wars, rebellion, magnificent moments from the past, successes and battles won and the rises and falls of mighty empires. The people of Sisak, in this one hour show, remember how their city used to look like once. Celtic night was last year proclaimed the best tourist manifestation in continental Croatia.

The Celts came to the Sisak area in the 4th century B.C. and conquered the old Ilyrian tribes with whom they etnically and culturally mixed and later formed the settlement Segestica. Ilyrian – Celtic tribes managed to resist the pressures of the Romans up until 35. B.C., when Octavian conquered and tore apart Segestica with 12.000 soldiers, after a thirty day siege. From the initial military camp, the Roman Siscia soon rose and got the status of a city with extremely strong military, transport and administration functions, developed trading and crafts and a famous mint that was used throughout the Roman empire.

The town Sisak is located in the southeast of Zagreb on the mouths of the Rivers Odra into Kupa and Kupa into Sava. Its geographical location and natural advantages influenced the development of the city, which beside the rich cultural-history offers its visitors many other interesting landmarks in its surroundings.

Downstream from Sisak, along the left bank of Sava, stretches the nature park Lonjsko polje. In most part it is a flood area of the River Sava, with an extremely preserved plant and animal world and picturesque villages located along the river. Lonjsko polje is well known for its indigenous breed of horses and pigs and also one of the biggest hatcheries of fish.

The unique architecture of the wooden houses with many stork nests on them represent an extra attraction, while the village Čigoč has been named the European village of Storks.

Here also is the archeological park Siscia. Protective archeological research resulted in the discovery of the urban complex of the Roman Siscija where visitors can see the city walls with the inner tower, a defensive moat and a part of the late Roman monumental building.

Sisak experienced its glory days in the times of battles with the Turks and the highlight was a magnificent victory of the Christian army over the Turks in 1593. The news of the first big Turkish defeat after hundreds of years of military dominance, spread fast and Sisak became the centre of attention for a short period of time, throught the whole of Europe.
Source: Croatia.hr

]]> http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/sisak-%e2%80%93-celtic-night/feed/ 0 Koprivnica – Renaissance festival http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/koprivnica-%e2%80%93-renaissance-festival/ http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/koprivnica-%e2%80%93-renaissance-festival/#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:07:58 +0000 Filip http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/koprivnica-%e2%80%93-renaissance-festival/

On the walls of the old city of Koprivnica in September of every year, a real historical event takes place. Under tents, the knights hone their swords as to win the hand of their maiden through a duel, hunting hawks circle the air listening to their masters commands, and merchants and craftsmen shout from the top of their voices to attract customers to their stands with their 'medieval' artifacts. The streets are filled with attractive fragnances of renaissance cuisine and exotic foods that were used in the past. This Renaissance festival takes place on the walls of the former magnificant fortress used in battles against the Turks.

This tourist-historic and educational event, the Renaissance festival is the biggest spectacle of live images from the past in this part of Europe, which has its stronghold in historical facts. Dishes made from nettle will take visitors back to the 13th century when Koprivnica was first mentioned and the manifestation starts with the staging of the arrival of King Louis of Anjou in 1356. and the handing over of the Charter of the Royal Borough.

Besides the scenic views of medieval life, chivalry, sieges, music and dance, visitors will be able to enjoy from the 4th to the 6th of September, dishes made from ancient recipes.
Source: Croatia.hr

]]> http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/koprivnica-%e2%80%93-renaissance-festival/feed/ 0 Karlovac: Meet the City on Four Rivers http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/karlovac-meet-the-city-on-four-rivers/ http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/karlovac-meet-the-city-on-four-rivers/#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:39:58 +0000 Filip http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/karlovac-meet-the-city-on-four-rivers/


The city of Karlovac has recently introduced an interactive guide, available to visitors on their mobile phones. Touring around this city on four rivers, visitors can find out everything about its cultural and culinary offering, events, accommodation possibilities, entertainment and get around the city with the help of an interactive map. Thanks to the mobiExplore, you will literally have in the palm of your hand all information about the history of Karlovac, its eminent figures, and its cultural and historical monumentsKarlovac is located around 50 km from the capital Zagreb. It is situated on four rivers ­ Korana, Kupa, Mreznica and Dobra ­ which certainly contributes to its special atmosphere. The renaissance city core is formed like a six-pointed star and would later develop into a baroque city. Out of the many monuments ­ historical buildings, museums and cultural institutions, a special place belongs to the old city of Dubovac, ruled by the counts Frankopan and Zrinski in the 15th and 16th century, and later by Karlovac generals. The tallest tower of the old city, located above the river Kupa, functions as a lookout spot and harbours an exhibition. The four rivers and surrounding forests have contributed to the development of active vacationing: visitors can enjoy hunting, fishing, biking trails, rafting, canoeing or the educational hiking trail Kozjaca, along which visitors can get to know the rich flora of this region.In this, the mobiExplore application will certainly be useful, as it informs visitors to Karlovac about its beauties and monuments through their mobile phones. MobilExplore, for which the experts of the Split-based company Gideon have received many international awards, has already conquered many European and world cities. Visitors to destinations in Great Britain, Italy and many other countries are getting around with the help of mobilExplore now.
Source: Croatia.hr

]]> http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/karlovac-meet-the-city-on-four-rivers/feed/ 0 Baroque Evenings and Spancirfest ­the Best Invitation http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/baroque-evenings-and-spancirfest-%c2%adthe-best-invitation/ http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/baroque-evenings-and-spancirfest-%c2%adthe-best-invitation/#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:23:38 +0000 Filip http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/baroque-evenings-and-spancirfest-%c2%adthe-best-invitation/


In the second half of August and beginning of September, the City of Varazdin will host two extremely interesting cultural events. Though extremely different in content, and most probably the audience, both traditional events will turn this beautiful baroque city, north-western of Zagreb, into a place of enjoyment for art enthusiasts: the 11th annual Spancirfest festival and the 39th annual Varazdin Baroque Evenings. Over the last ten years, the City of Varazdin Tourist Board has, with the help of the citizens of Varazdin, created the most important urban festival in the area. This year's Spancirfest will be held from August 21st to August 30th on the most beautiful open stage of them all: the streets and squares of the Varazdin historical city centre. During the festival, concerts will be held on a stage beneath the walls of the Stari grad (old part of the city), on the Stanci Square, the city boulevard, streets and other locations. The festival will also feature Vindiland, an entertainment park for the young, the Pan street festival with street performers from 16 countries from all over the world, children's plays from 10 am to 6 pm, plays for adults at 9pm, the Kreativfest festival with workshops on the Sloboda Square (Square of Freediom), traditional arts and crafts, a culinary square and many other events and surprises. You can find a detailed program of this year's Spancirfest at www.spancirfest.com, and in the official festival bulletin, to be published in August. The 39th annual Varazdin Baroque Evenings, to be held from September 18th to September 28th, are completely different in their artistic expression, representing another face of the city. This year's partner of this ten day festival of classical baroque music attracting increasingly more visitors each year is the Czech Republic. Concerts will be held in churches, music institutions, salons and facilities near the beautiful Castle Trakosan. Varazdin, a city ideally positioned with regard to Austria, Hungary and the Croatian Capital Zagreb, boasts an amazing historical and artistic heritage, with the most preserved and rich baroque urban centre.
Source: Croatia.hr

]]> http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/baroque-evenings-and-spancirfest-%c2%adthe-best-invitation/feed/ 0 Leave 2009 behind Before Everyone Else http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/leave-2009-behind-before-everyone-else/ http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/leave-2009-behind-before-everyone-else/#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:23:32 +0000 Filip http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/leave-2009-behind-before-everyone-else/


If you want to leave this year, financially difficult for everyone, behind in an original way and before everyone else, it may be the perfect time to start thinking about it today. Just the idea of the Croatian interior and the forested region of Gorski kotar will cool you down immediately and could ensure you a reservation in the tourist destination Fuzine, in which New Years has traditionally been celebrated at noon for the past eight years, 12 hours before the rest of Europe celebrates it. Originally, this was done because of the freezing nights, but the practice has become generally accepted and has turned into a tradition. As many as 3,000 visitors celebrated New Year's in this beautiful mountain tourist destination, featuring three amazing lakes. For some dates, reservations need to be made very early, even several months in advance. The new tourist train, Fuzine express, greatly contributes to an enjoyable stay, enabling visitors to get to know the picturesque mountainous landscapes even better. Visitors can take a tour of the three accumulation lakes, Bajer, Lepenica and Potkosa, and the cave Vrelo, a natural attraction estimated to be 3.5 to 4 million years old. The cave is 300 m long, and is exceptionally beautiful and rich in ornamental cave structures. It is open for visitors since 1998. Due to the mild configuration of the terrain, there is not one single step in Vrelo, making it the only tourist cave in Europe that can be visited by children, the elderly and, even, the disabled in wheelchairs. The town of Fuzine is located in the south-western part of the Gorski kotar region, 730 m above sea-level. Seeing as the motorway Zagreb-Rijeka runs past it and the sea is only a half-hour drive away, increasingly more visitors decide to stay at the seaside during the day and in the pleasant mountain air in Fuzine at night.
Source: Croatia.hr

]]> http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/leave-2009-behind-before-everyone-else/feed/ 0 Candidate for a world wonder of nature http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/candidate-for-a-world-wonder-of-nature/ http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/candidate-for-a-world-wonder-of-nature/#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:49:06 +0000 Filip http://www.croatia-blog.net/en/?p=240

Plitvice Lakes, a Croatian national park with a beauty that delights numerous visitors from the entire world, has entered the second round of the competition for the new seven wonders of nature. It was among a competition of 261 natural beauties from 222 countries and 77 natural attractions and entered the semifinals based on the votes cast by visitors to the www.new7wonders.com web portal. The campaign has begun in 2007 and votes can be cast via the above website until 7 July.

After the vote counting, an expert jury will elect 21 finalists and leave the final decision to another round of Internet, telephone and SMS voters who can make their final judgment on the seven world wonders of nature until 2011. Often referred to as the most beautiful European garden of preserved beauty, Croatia has eight national parks, Plitvice Lakes being the most popular among them. It consists of sixteen lakes connected by falls. Due to the characteristic karstic base, the waters of Plitvice Lakes are rich in calcium bicarbonate, which is decomposed into calcium carbonate due to water breaking on the barriers. Calcium carbonate is then deposited with the presence of algae, moss and other organisms. All this enables growth of gypsum barriers with magnificent falls splashing over them, their beauty leaving no one indifferent.
The national park, located in the interior of the country but easily accessible from the coastal area thanks to the modern roads, stretches over almost 30 thousand hectares, its prehistoric dense forests accounting for over 22 thousand hectares. The exceptional beauty of the lakes and falls, strolls around the forest paths and over wooden bridges, comfortable hotels and restaurants offering local delicacies attract visitors from across the world throughout the year. Plitvice Lakes are on the UNESCO’s list of world heritage.

Source: press.croatia.hr

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