:: Croatia Blog ::

Mystic stories, fairy tale settings, indigenous food and fascinating events that along with thematic happenings offer excellent possibilities to meet with the local inhabitants – this is all just a small part of the interesting story of tourism in continental Croatia – the country’s central region presented in the latest image brochure from the Croatian National Tourist Board.

The Palace With a View brochure – featuring an offer based on tradition, natural beauty and new tourism trends – features the tourism value of several of Croatia’s continental counties: Bjelovar-Bilogorje County, Karlovac County, Sisak-Moslavina County, Varazdin County, Medimurje County, Krapina-Zagorje County, Koprivnica-Krizevci County and Zagreb County and is a synthesis of their rich natural and cultural heritage.

Under the moniker “A Walk Through the Year” – today’s reader and tomorrow’s guest – will get to know this truly fascinating region in all seasons of the year and also through mythology, customs, beauty and attraction.

Spring, summer, autumn and winter – each season is coloured with “its own colours”, to which is added the specific ways of life, customs and myths – in short, a real wellspring of experiences that are a real draw for tourist visits.

Are you interested in a tale of a miner’s garden, a witch’s dance, the imaginative depiction of Croatian fairy tales, do you want to literally live the ancient stories of Croatian legends or enjoy a wealth of scents and flavours? Do you want to experience the unexplored regions near Zagreb, get to know the wealth of the fertile Moslavina valley, give your eyes a rest in the stunning scenes of green Zagorje, Prigorje and Medimurje, enjoy the baroque image of the city of Varazdin or the mystical legends that still “live” in the environs of Karlovac and Ogulin – all this is but a small part of what Central Croatia offers by way of tourist attractions. The experience would not be complete if the tourist offer did not include the rich offer of wines and cuisine – along with the quality wines of this area there is also ecologically produced health food the flavour of which will – just like this entire region – take you back to a somewhat already forgotten time. The hospitality is, of course, also evident in the wealth of accommodation on offer in hotels and private estates, always in the right measure of professionalism and sincere welcome.

If you want to head out into this, to many tourists still unknown, part of Croatia take some time to read Palace With a View. The 120-page brochure has been printed in 120,000 copies and in eight languages – Croatian, English, German, Italian, French, Hungarian, Slovene and Czech.

Source: ?Croatia Tourist Board?

Croatia is a destination for faith tourism with a number of shrines, visited each year by millions of pilgrims. In the direct vicinity of Zagreb is Marija Bistrica with its shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary, where pilgrims have been coming for over 300 years now. The first written documents relating to Marija Bistrica date from back in the year 1209, while the worship of the Mother of God of Bistrica started in the 16th century when a statue of the Virgin Mary became known by its miraculous healings and answered prayers. Nowadays the shrine consists of St. Mary‘s church, the open-air church of the Blessed Aloysius Stepinac and the remarkable Way of the Cross – the Calvary. Marija Bistrica is also the heart of Croatian honey and gingerbread making.

In Ludbreg, a small town in the Podravina region not far from the Baroque town of Varaždin is the unique shrine dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. The Ludbreg parish of the Holy Trinity is mentioned in historical sources in 1334, while the church itself was constructed in 1410 – it was a year later that the priest leading holy mass noticed true blood in the chalice and notified the Vatican of the event. Ludbreg was proclaimed a shrine in 1512 by Pope Leo X.

In the heart of Split-Dalmatia County, in Solin, the Virgin Mary has been worshiped from as far back as the 6th century. The Croatian Queen Jelena built a basilica there in the 10th century with naves and four-cornered columns in which the coronations of Croatian Kings were then held. In Sinj, the centre of the Cetina region, is the shrine of Our Lady of Sinj, of which it is believed that she was crucial in the 1715 victory over the Turkish army. Ever since then this triumphant battle has been marked every year by the renowned chivalric tournament – the Alka of Sinj. In the environs of Knin is the shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Biskupija, in the foundations of which five churches are to be found, dating from the period of the Croatian kings from the 9th to 11th centuries. The area was a religious and church centre in the medieval Croatian state.

On Rijeka‘s Trsat is the ancient shrine to the Mother of Mercy, the Mother of God of Trsat, which is arrived at by a climb of 561 steps. The church of the Mother of God of Trsat was built in 1419. Later Croatian Ban (vicegerent) Duke Nikola Frankopan I built a larger church, in which Franciscan monks have lived since 1453.

The youngest shrine in Croatia is that dedicated to St. Joseph in Dubovac near Karlovac, proclaimed in 1987.

Source: ?Croatia Tourist Board?

Britain‘s Guardian recently proclaimed Zadar the world cool destination.

In the report the Guardian ran on its pages says that Zadar is a favoured tourist destination with a rich history, easily reached by land, air or sea. They made special mention of the Ryanair flights out of London as a way to get to Zadar. On the tourist rout of the town they point out the church of St. Donat as a not-to-be-missed spot, where the Zadar Evenings of Music are staged, the Sea Organ, the only one of their kind in the world and a stroll and coffee on the Kalelargo. The report also says that Zadar has of recently been promoted as the gateway to four national parks – Kornati, Paklenica, Krka and the Plitvice Lakes. Besides numerous cultural events and top-notch accommodation in hotels and other tourism facilities and a thriving nightlife, the Guardian makes special mention of the natural beauty of the Zadar archipelago. They are the reason the magazine highly recommends a visit to the Kornati islands; while for history buffs it recommends a tour of nearby Nin and a visit to the smallest cathedral in the world. And everyone will have their share of good fortune if they just touch the big toe of the bronze statue of Grgur Ninski (Gregory of Nin).

Source: ?Croatia Tourist Board?

The newly renovated Hotel Frankopan recently opened its doors in Ogulin, a town of fairy tales and mystery. This small four-star hotel situated in the very town centre is housed in a building that was built in the 18th century for the local administration. It was expanded in the 19th century, and converted at the end of that century as a hotel and hospitality area and has now been renovated once again, respecting all conservationist regulations.

In the direct vicinity of the hotel is the 16th century Castle Frankopan and so it has itself been declared a cultural monument and judged to be a building of exceptionally urban architecture and historical significance. It is surrounded by a stunning landscape and a view shoots out from it over the picturesque valley of the Dobra River and the mystical Mount Klek, the inspiration of many fairy tales and stories.

Ogulin is the right spot for people looking for a quiet vacation.

Pleasant strolls in the town where Croatian writer Ivana Brlic Mažuranic – the Croatian Andersen – was born on April 18th of 1874, leave a deep impression on visitors any time of the year, but especially during the Ogulin festival of fairy tales, traditionally held for two days in June. Old legends and tales of the mystical land under Mount Klek come to life then.

During your stay in Hotel Frankopan an active outdoor holiday can be organised, with extreme sports, exploration of the natural beauty and whatever else you desire.

There is also an offer of mountain biking on mapped cycling trails, horseback riding, diving, hiking, speleological excursions and mountain climbing. A trip to nearby Lake Sabljaci, to the valley of the Dobra river or to the 20 kilometre distant Bjelolasica with its ski trails, is something that will certainly provide for collecting some strength from nature – earth, mountains, fresh air, healthy food and hospitable people.

Source: ?Croatia Tourist Board?