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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

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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

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It is believed that a few centuries ago the Paulines brought lace to the Croatian area. Recognizing its beauty, village folk accapted the knitting of lace as their own tradition, cherished to this day. It was most accepted by the inhabitants of the town Lepoglava, where the Pauline monestary was located. Proud of their lacing skills, the people of Lepoglava, every year in September organize an International festival of lace, where they promote lace as part of their ethnographical treasure. At the festival, which will be held from the 16th to the 19th September this year, exibited will be rich lace works from other European countries but visitors often find most interesting the domestic lace works from Croatian lace centres, which are next to Lepoglava, Pag, Sv. Marija and Hvar. Lepoglava lace had its boom at the end of the 19th century and the first part of the 20th century, when production was encouraged, courses, workshops and lacing schools were opened.

The skill of making lace became the source of extra income because lace was sold at fairs and exibitions in Zagreb, but also accross western Europe.

Lepoglava lace has won medals in many competitions. In Paris in1937. It was awarded a gold medal, and in Berlin in 1939. a bronze one. This period was the most flourishing for Lepoglava lace.

Lepoglava is a town located in the spectacular landscape of Zagorje, beneath Ivanščica, not far from two European motorways Zagreb – Vienna and Zagreb –Budapest. Here, after 1683. the first secondary school and the first university in Croatia was founded, with the right to give academic titles. The parish church, convent and chapel in the area were decorated with frescoes by the famous Pauline Ivan Ranger and are well known monuments of baroque artistry.
Source: Croatia.hr

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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

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In the Museum of the Town of Kastela, an exhibition was recently opened on the occasion of celebrating 100 years of organized tourism in this town. The exhibition is organized by the Town of Kastela Tourist Board, the Town of Kastela, the Split-Dalmatia County and the Split-Dalmatia County Tourist Board. The important anniversary has also been marked with the publication of the book "A Chronological Survey of Tourism in Kastela ­ 100 Years of the Soulavy Pension", by Sanja Acalija. The dawn of tourism in Kastela is considered to be the opening of the first tourist pension with a developed beach in Kastel Luksi. It was opened by the Czech physician Henrik Soulavy in 1909, who bought the castle Tartaglia there. 1909, therefore, is the year when the development of tourism officially begins on the Kastela Riviera. Almost two decades later, Petar Kamber opened the Hotel Palace in Kastel Stari, a representative tourist facility for the time. To raise the quality of the tourist offering even more, in 1936 a Municipal Bathing Committee was established for the "Lower Kastels" (Kastel Stafili, Kastel Novi, Kastel Stari and Kastel Luksi). Located to the northwest of Split, the town of Kastela is comprised of what used to be seven villages ­ Suurac, Gomilica, Kambelovac, Luksi, Stari, Novi and Stafili. Each one of these is specific in its own way. Though they are connected, they differ in the mentality and interests of its inhabitants, and all boast a rich cultural heritage and numerous monuments. The Kastela Riviera features many private accommodation facilities and a couple of hotels. Yachtsmen can use the marina located in Kastel Gomilica. Characteristic for the entire area is its rich park architecture. The most renowned park is the Park Vitturi in Kastel Luksi, the oldest park on the Riviera, built in the second half of the 18th century. It is spread over 7,450 square meters and was proclaimed a nature park in 1968. Also well known are the Botanical Garden of the Ostrog Elementary School and the Bibilical Garden, built in the honour of the second visit of Pope John Paul II to Croatia and located in the Marian sanctuary Lady of Stomorija. The garden features numerous plant species mentioned in the Bible and sculptures of eminent Croatian sculptors Vasko Lipovac, Kazimir Hrasto and Matko Miji. The arrival of the Czech physician Soulavy to Kastel Luksi, which he never left, intrigued the great Czech director Jiij Menzel enough to put the story in his documentary filmed in Croatia. Menzel is shooting the film, entitled "My Croatia", in cooperation with the crew of the Croatian national television, and wants to show through it that it is precisely the Czech who were the very first tourists in Dalmatia. Apartments Ciovo
Source: Croatia.hr

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To everyone who has already visited Sibenik and taken a tour of its cultural and historical sights, as well as those visiting it for the very first time, this northern Dalmatian city always has a new face to discover, as well as numerous natural sights, attracting visitors. Though, after its renovation, the medieval monastery garden Sv Lovre (St Lawrence), located in the city centre, has been open for visitors for the past two years, it still attracts tourists with the same intensity. The renovation of the medieval Mediterranean garden was completed at the end of 2007, after an entire century of neglect. It was led by the renowned landscape architect Dragutin Kis, who received the millennium Flora award in Japan in 2000. The garden is a rare monument, the only one of its kind in Croatia and one of very few in this part of Europe. It is conceptualized in line with a medieval layout, comprising a cross path with a small well at its centre. The entire garden is enclosed by bushes and old scented roses. At the centre of the rich Mediterranean greenery is the collection of decorative thyme. Another special feature of the garden are its capers, which, according to legend, were brought to Sibenik by the well-known architect Juraj Dalmatinac. The entire garden is open to the public, and features educational programs for both schools and visitors. As it is part of a monastery, visitors can also visit the Gospina Spilja ("Cave of the Lady") and the St Lawrence Church, both part of the St Lawrence monastery. Visitors can also enjoy a café, restaurant and souvenir shop. In the summer, the garden is open from 8am to 11pm, and in the winter, until Easter, from 9am to 4pm. Sibenik also attracts visitors on account of its proximity to the national parks Kornati and Krka and its many cultural and historical monuments, the most important being the St Jacob cathedral, under the protection of UNESCO. Interestingly, the cathedral was built for longer than a hundred years, and is a testimony to the perseverance and faith of several generations of Sibenik's citizens. The cathedral is unique in many ways, not only in Croatian, but European architecture, as it is entirely made out of stone, without the use of any other material. According to experts, it is also unique on account of its bold construction: stone plates and frames have been put together without the use of bond. Other singularities, when compared to other renaissance churches, include its trefoil-shaped front and the harmony of the architecture and the series of 74 realist portraits on the apses.
Source: Croatia.hr

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In the search for interesting indigenous souvenirs from Medimurje County our trail has lead to a family farmstead in Kotoriba where they make a very practical and attractive edible souvenir.

The souvenir, namely, is the very healthy oil extracted from the seeds of the pumpkin. The bottles are decorated with motifs of the Medimurje region.

Pumpkin oil made from naturally cultivated pumpkins are rich in substances that reduce cholesterol in the bloodstream, while the braver have dubbed it an aphrodisiac.

Pumpkin oil contains unsaturated fatty acids, a great quantity of beta-carotene, vitamin E and potassium. The lecithin in this oil helps prevent atherosclerosis (gathering harmful plaques on the walls of blood vessels which lead to heart disease), and contributes to reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood.

100 grams of pumpkin oil has 900 calories. If you are calorie wary, remember that only a small spoon of this oil is enough to impart its wonderful flavour to salads. And just like with olive oil, the best quality is extracted when using the cold pressing method of production.

Source: ?Croatia Tourist Board?

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