History, Culture and Nature- CROATIA
Stretching along the Adriatic Sea, just a stone’s throw from Central Europe, Croatia is a country defined by a rich cultural legacy. Breath-taking natural beauty, endless coastlines, diverse gastronomy, adventure, sports and wellness can be enjoyed all year round. Whether exploring the old city of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, island-hopping around the Split archipelago, truffle hunting in Istria, walk the meandering pathways around Plitvice Lakes, delving into Zagreb’s streets and hidden passages, birdwatching in Kopacki rit, there truly is something for everyone in Croatia.
Croatia is a land of rich historic, cultural heritage, and natural beauty. A land whose rich cultural heritage cannot only be found in numerous museums, galleries, churches, national and nature parks, of which many are inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List, but also in many places all around Croatia. Croatia is a land with one of the longest list of protected cultural heritage in Europe.
One of Croatia’s greatest advantages is the fact that, despite the long tourism tradition, it is still one of the last unspoiled parts of the Mediterranean in its authenticity, ambience and lifestyle. At the same time, Croatia is a sophisticated country that boasts many cultural and natural sites and activities, including camping, nautical sports, culture, wellness and adventure tourism.
Croatia is situated in South Eastern Europe, where Middle Europe meets the Mediterranean. It is composed of ten geographic regions, including the capital city. The highest mountain peak in Croatia, Dinara (1,831 meters), is located in the central mountain belt. Wedged between the Dinaric Alps to the east and the Adriatic Sea to the west, its 1,800 km of coastline are fringed by more than 1,100 islands and islets.
Croatia has borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, and it is separated from Italy with the Adriatic Sea. Croatia has a very good geopolitical position, which makes it very popular with many European tourists.
Croatia is world-renowned for its hospitality, diverse hotel industry and exceptional accommodation – from large global 5-star hotel franchises to unique boutique hotels and sustainable luxury.
Natural, Cultural and Historical Sites
Croatia is a land rich with cultural sites and natural beauty. Therefore, guests are never too far away from one of the incredible cultural or architectural sites – cathedrals, historic squares and many forts as well as castles, which can be found all over the country.
Croatia is full of thousand-year-old cities whose origins are often related to different legends, such as Zagreb, Rovinj, Pula, Zadar, Nin, Šibenik, Trogir, Split, Hvar, Korčula, Dubrovnik, and many others. Traces from the past, especially antiquities, are visible in places, starting from magnificent Roman amphitheatre in Pula, to Zadar and its Forum Romanum – the largest excavated forum on the eastern side of the Adriatic – and of course, including the magnificent palace of the Emperor Diocletian in Split.
Croatia is a jewel of pure natural beauty with its 8 national parks: Risnjak, Paklenica, the Plitvice Lakes and Northern Velebit in the mountainous area, and with the Kornati Archipelago, the island of Mljet, the Brijuni Archipelago and the Krka waterfalls in the coastal area.
Adding to two arboretums, one in Trsteno, near Dubrovnik, and one in Opeka near Vinica, as well as numerous historical parks and protected nature parks, it is indeed a green land with as many as 4,300 plants and many more animal species. In addition to the 8 national parks, Croatia has also 12 nature parks.
Croatia is one of Europe’s richest countries when it comes to flora and fauna. A special bird reserve and the Crna Mlaka area have 230 species of birds, and it is under protection.
Preserved nature is an ideal destination for those who love to walk, hike and camp in truly stunning natural surroundings. Continental Croatia is perfectly suited for mountain biking, climbing, hiking, adventure racing, camping, riding, hunting, fishing, rafting and cave exploration.
Caves and gorges are truly extraordinary natural phenomena in Croatia. More than half (53%) of Croatian gorges are as deep as 250 meters or more, and they are mostly situated in Velebit mountains. The best-known caves that are more than 1,000 metres long are located in Kordun, Lika, Velebit and Dalmatia. In addition, Istria, Medvednica, Gorski kotar and Zumberak are also known for their deep caves.
Regardless of visiting continental or coastal part of Croatia, adrenaline lovers can enjoy rafting, parachuting, or paragliding across Croatia, discovering a country with many possibilities throughout the year.
Ancient Croatia
Croatia is a true revelation for archaeology lovers, especially in the three unavoidable sites: Krapina fossil site which was discovered in 1899, together with the rich and valuable collection of the Neanderthal remains, scientifically referred to as the Homo Sapiens Neanderthals. Other two sites include Vučedol near Vukovar, and the largest complex of ancient Roman monuments in the centre of Roman province of Dalmatia in Salona.
It is interesting to know that the oldest European calendar was found in Croatia. It was drawn on a ceramic pot created around 2600 BC in Vučedol near Vukovar. This was a period when the Mesopotamian cuneiform letter and an Egyptian hieroglyphic letter were used.
UNESCO Protected Monuments
UNESCO recognized the extraordinary value of Croatian natural and cultural beauties in 1979, when it inscribed two of today’s best-known tourist symbols, Dubrovnik and Plitvice Lakes, on its World Heritage List. Currently, there are ten sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, 8 are cultural and 2 natural.
