ABOUT CROATIA

GENERAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL DATA:

Surface: 56.542 km2
Surface of the territorial sea: 31.067 km2
Population: 4.381.352 inhabitants
Capital: Zagreb, 770.058 inhabitants
Coastline: 5.835 km, 4.058 km being the coastline of islands, cliffs and reefs
Number of islands, cliffs and reefs: 1.185; the largest islands are Krk and Cres; there are 67 inhabited islands
Highest peak: Dinara 1.831 m above the sea-level
Climate:

* in the interior: moderate continental climate with hot and dry summers and cold and humid winters
* mountainous regions: fresh summer and sharp winters with a large amount of snow
* coastal regions: Mediterranean climate with hot and very dry summers, and mild but humid winters
* average temperature in January:
the interior -1 to 3° C; mountains -5 to 0° C; coast 5 to 10°C
* average temperature in August:
the interior 22 to 26° C; mountains 15 to 20°C; coast 26 to 30°C

Composition of population: the majority of the population are Croats; national minorities are Serbs, Slovenes, Hungarians, Bosniaks, Italians, Czechs and others
Religions: the majority of the population are Roman Catholics, and in addition there are a number of those of Orthodox faith, as well as Muslims and Christians of other denominations
Official language and alphabet: Croatian language and Latin alphabet

BASIC HISTORICAL DATA:

around 400 BC - the first Greek colonies are founded on Adriatic islands
around 100 BC - Romans rule over the east coast of the Adriatic
305. - Roman emperor Diokletian starts to live in his palace in present-day Split
around 600. - Croats start moving to what is today's Croatia
852. - Duke Trpimir issues the charter in which the name Croatia is mentioned in official documents for the first time
925. - Tomislav, the first Croatian king, is mentioned, unifier of Pannonian and Dalmatian Croatia
1102. - after the death of Petar Svacic, the last Croatian king, Croatia enters into a union with Hungary
1527. - because of the danger of the breakthrough of Turks, by the decision of the Croatian Parliament, the Habsburg dynasty ascends to the Croatian throne
1699. - Croatia is largely liberated of Turkish rule
1815. - after the short-term rule of the French, almost all of today's Croatia is included within the Habsburg monarchy
1847. - Croatian becomes the official language of Croatia
1848. - Ban (Vice-Roy) Josip Jelacic defends Croatia against attempts of Hungarian occupation and unites all Croatian provinces ban Josip Jelacic
1918. - after the downfall of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in World War I, Croatia becomes a part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians, later proclaimed Yugoslavia
1941. - German and Italian forces occupy Yugoslavia; the Partisan resistance, which was put up by Croatian antifascists within Yugoslavia, started to be organized
1945. - the Federative Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia is proclaimed, and within this, today's Croatia is a federative republic
1990. - the first multi-party elections after World War II are organized in Croatia
1991. - Croatian declared independence; after which the Serbian rebellion supported by the Yugoslavian People's Army started from Belgrade
1992. - the Republic of Croatia becomes a member of the United Nations
1995. - the Croatian army quenched the separatist rebellion
2001. - Croatia signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL INHERITANCE:

Croatia abounds with cultural-historical monuments from all periods, thanks to stormy historical events and the intertwining of influences of different cultures. Influences of the Mediterranean culture, numerous monuments from Antiquity, the Roman period and early Middle Ages, Romanesque sacral heritage, and a series of preserved Mediterranean urban complexes characterize its seaside. Continental Croatia is part of the middle European cultural circle and its prominent because of numerous prehistoric finds of world importance, old towns, fortress and castles of the Middle Ages and cultural monuments and architecture of the baroque period.

BELEC - the church of St. Mary of the Snow, from 17th and 18th centuries, with valuable baroque artifacts
DUBROVNIK - one of the best-preserved medieval fortified cities on the Mediterranean; built mainly from the 13th to the 16th century; completely preserved city walls with towers, Rector's palace, the Cathedral, Sponza Palace, the Franciscan Monastery and Lovrijenac fortress; the old town is the part of UNESCO's World Heritage List
DJAKOVO - monumental cathedral of the bishop J. J. Strossmayer from the 19th century
HLEBINE - village near Koprivnica, a cradle of Croatian naive art
HVAR - preserved historical complex from the 15th century, encircled by walls; Hvar Theater from 1612. is the oldest city theatre in Europe
KNIN - medieval fortress above the city; surroundings are the richest architectural finds of the early Middle Ages in Croatia
KRAPINA - paleontological site, Husnjakovo, one of the most significant finds of Neanderthal Man in the world
LEPOGLAVA - the spacious Paulist monastery complex with the Church of St Mary, where the first college in Croatia was founded
MARIJA BISTRICA - the main Croatian pilgrimage center with the votive Church of St Mary
MOTOVUN - picturesque medieval town-museum on top of the hill
NIN - old Croatian churches of St Kriz and St Nikola from the 11th century
OSIJEK - historical urban center, Tvrdja, with a series of valuable buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries
OSOR on island of Cres- historical little town where there are many buildings from the classic and medieval period and well preserved medieval walls
OTAVICE near Drnis, town in the region of Dalmatinska zagora (Dalmatian Hinterland) - mausoleum of the Mestrovic family
PAG - well-preserved urban complex of a planned city, built in the15th century
POREC - historical urban complex; Euphrasius' Basilica from the 6th century, one of the most important early Byzantium monuments on the Mediterranean, inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List
PULA - Roman amphitheatre from the 1st century, the third largest in the world; the Roman Golden Gate
RIJEKA - a castle on Trsat and the sanctuary of St Mary of Loretta
ROVINJ - historical urban complex with the Cathedral of St Euphemia from the18th century
SOLIN - archeological area with remains of the large roman town of Salona and a number of early Christian monuments
SPLIT - historical city center with the Antique Diokletian's Palace, one of the most important preserved late Roman historical monuments and a part of UNESCO's World Heritage List; the Cathedral of Saint Dujmo, the old Croatian church of St Trinity and other significant locations
SIBENIK - historical urban complex with the famed Renaissance Cathedral of St Jacob, the work of famous sculptors Juraj Dalmatinac and Nikola Fiorentinac, and a number of palaces and churches, a part of UNESCO's World Heritage
TRAKOSCAN - a Romanesque castle above the Trakoscan Lake
TROGIR - historical town on a small island; a Cathedral from the 13th century, with the famous portal of the master Radovan; the town is inscribe into the UNESCO World Heritage List
VARAZDIN - well preserved baroque urban complex; a number of valuable palaces, churches and monasteries; monumental Old town; city cemetery from the 19th century with its unique horticulture
VELIKI TABOR in Hrvatsko zagorje - the best preserved Renaissance fortress in Croatia from the 16th century
VUKOVAR - prehistoric archeological find, Vucedol, one of the most significant Neolithic finds in Europe; Eltz castle was hardly damaged during Serbian aggression on Vukovar in 1991.
ZADAR - historical urban complex with well-preserved walls; several antique and early medieval monuments, including a Roman forum and the unique pre-Romanesque circular church of St Donat from the 9th century
ZAGREB - historical urban complex of the medieval Upper Town and Kaptol; planned Lower Town from the second half of the 19th century, with a series of parks in the shape of horseshoe; the Zagreb Cathedral is the most prominent in the country

THE MOST IMPORTANT MUSEUMS:

DUBROVNIK - Archaeological Museum, Ethnographic Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Maritime Museum, Treasury of the Cathedral, Marin Drzic House
CAKOVEC - Medjimurje Country Museum
GOSPIC - Country Museum of Lika, in the nearby Smiljan is the biographical collection of Nikola Tesla in his birthplace
HLEBINE - Gallery of Naive Art, Museum Collection of Ivan Generalic
KARLOVAC - Karlovac Country Museum
KLANJEC - Gallery of the sculptor Antun Augustincic
KRAPINA - Museum of Evolution located next to the site of Neanderthal Man; the birthplace of Ljudevit Gaj
KUMROVEC - The Old Village - the unique Ethno-museum with original village houses including the native house of Josip Broz-Tito
MAKARSKA - Malacological Museum (collection of shells)
OSIJEK - Museum of Slavonia, Gallery of Art
PAZIN - Ethnographical Museum of Istria, Pazin Country Museum
PULA - Archeological Museum of Istria, Historical Museum of Istria
SPLIT - Museum of Old Croatian Archeological Monuments, Archeological Museum of Split, Gallery of the sculptor Ivan Mestrovic
TRAKOSCAN - Castle-Museum Trakoscan where with a huge collection of old weapons
VARAZDIN - Town Museum in the Old Town- Historical Section and Entomological Section (collection of insects)
ZADAR - Archeological Museum, National Museum, Maritime Museum, the Permanent Exhibition of Sacral Art
ZAGREB - Archeological Museum, Ethnographic Museum, Croatian Museum of Naive Art, Modern Gallery, Museum of the City of Zagreb, Mimara Museum, Museum for Arts and Crafts, Natural History Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Strossmayer's Gallery of Old Masters, Technical Museum

IMPORTANT CULTURAL EVENTS:

DUBROVNIK - Dubrovnik Summer Festival - theatrical and musical performances (July-August)
DJAKOVO - Djakovo Embroideries - festival of Slavonian folklore (July)
GROZNJAN - in central Istria - Groznjan Music Evenings (July-August)
DJURDJEVAC - Picokijada - folklore festival (June)
KRK - Krk Summer Festival - concerts of classical musicians (July-August)
OSOR - island of Cres, Osor Music Evenings (July-August)
SINJ - Sinjska Alka (Sinj Tilting at the Ring) competitions of chivalry (August)
SPLIT - Split Summer - theatrical and musical performances (July-August)
SIBENIK - International Children's Festival (June-July)
VARAZDIN - Varazdin Baroque Evenings (September-October)
VINKOVCI - Vinkovci Autumn Festival (September)
ZAGREB - Zagreb Summer Festival (July-August), International Festival of Experimental Theatres (June-July), International Folklore Festival (July), Biennial Festival of Contemporary Music (April), International Puppet Festival (August-September), World Festival of Animated Films (June)
CRIKVENICA, DUBROVNIK, LASTOVO, NOVI VINODOLSKI, RIJEKA, SAMOBOR, SENJ - Carnival (January-February; Novi Vinodolski and Senj, also in July and August)

NATIONAL PARKS:

BRIJUNI - a group of two larger and 12 smaller islands along the west coast of Istria; preserved Mediterranean vegetation, zoo in the nature, cultural heritage of Antiquity. Due to its extraordinary beauty, the Brioni Islands have been, for over a hundred years now, a favorite tourist destination of world statesmen.
KORNATI - the most indented archipelago on the Mediterranean with 140 uninhabited islands, islets and cliffs- it looks like a labyrinth of rocks and the sea. The Kornati islands are known for their varied unusual forms and extraordinary relief structure, and especially the high cliffs. It is also a very popular destination among the sailors, there is a marina Piskera in the national park and eight other marinas nearby.
KRKA - the most beautiful karstic river in Croatia, occupies the area between Knin and Skradin; deep canyons are carved in limestone plateaus; among many waterfalls, the most famous are Skradinski Buk and Roski Slap; between these two wonderful waterfalls is located Visovac Lake and the Franciscan monastery, which is located in the point where river enter the lake.
MLJET - an island of the Southwest of Dubrovnik; the west part of the island is a national park characterized by two deep bays which are called lakes due to their very narrow passages to the open sea; lush and diversified Mediterranean vegetation, valuable monuments from classical period and Benedictine monastery from the 12th century on islet in the midst of the lake.
PAKLENICA - a national park on the southern side of Velebit, the largest mountain massif of Croatia. Two impressive canyons of Velika and Mala Paklenica, vertically cut into the mountain from the sea to the peaks are the main attraction of the park; there are several unusual carstic forms, several caves, and extremely rich and varied flora and fauna; monumental steep rock Anica kuk is the most popular destination for Croatian alpinists training
THE PLITVICE LAKES (PLITVICKA JEZERA) - the most beautiful and the most popular Croatian national park, part of the UNESCO's World Heritage, situated at the main road from Zagreb to Dalmatia; 16 little lakes interconnected with waterfalls created by deposition of travertine, dense forests of beech and fir, partly in the form of primeval virgin forest, many animal species (including the brown bear); there is a special vehicle for transporting visitors (panoramic trains and electric boats).
RISNJAK - a wooded mountain massif to the north of Rijeka; due to its position at the junction between the Alps and the Dinarides, almost all types of forests, as well as many plant and animal species are gathered here, in a relatively small area, including brown bear, lynxes, leaps, dears, eagles; the beauty of the forest, carst phenomena, beautiful springs and magnificent views attract many hikers.
NORTH VELEBIT (SJEVERNI VELEBIT)- due to its natural beauty is the most valuable and the most attractive peak part of Velebit. It includes nature reserves Hajducki and Rozanski kukovi with attractive Karst forms and Luka's cave, one of the deepest in the world and the famous Velebit Botanical garden.


PARKS OF NATURE:

Nature parks are wide natural or cultivated areas with high esthetical, ecological, educational, cultural-historical and tourist-recreation values.

BIOKOVO - a grandiose mountain above Makarska Riviera; various flora and fauna, beautiful sights
KOPACKI RIT - an extensive wetland area located at the confluence of the Rivers Drava and Danube; rich in plants and animals, particularly wading birds, deer and wild boars
LONJSKO POLJE - one of the largest swamps of Europe, located by the river of Sava, east from Sisak; huge oak forests, rich bird fauna, particularly storks
MEDVEDNICA - a mountain massif above Zagreb; recreational area where there are beech and fir-tree forest, attractive caves and deep stream valleys
TELASCICA - a spacious narrow bay on the island of Dugi otok, near the National Park Kornati; a navigators' destination; a small lake next to the sea and the biggest croatian cliffs (up to 800 m)
VELEBIT - the biggest and the most beautiful Croatian mountain; due to its unique relief and its plants and animals, it's declared the World reserve of Biosphere; the greatest protected area in the country, it includes both National parks North Velebit and Paklenica
ZUMBERAK-SAMOBOR MOUNTAINS - north of Zagreb; spacious meadows, picturesque villages with well-indented relief and deep canyons
PAPUK - the largest mountains in Slavonia; significant due to its forest cover and partly eruptive relief
UCKA - a mountain on the east of Istria, above the Kvarner Riviera; interesting relief and flora, magnificent sights
LAKE OF VRANA - the largest lake of Croatia, near Zadar; due to its vicinity to the sea, there are both sea and freshwater fish in it and itis also famous for variety of birds

OTHER PROTECTED AREAS:

* two strict reserve
* 73 special reserve (botanical, geomorphologic, hydrological, ichthyologic, ornithological, maritime, zoological), 27 park-forests, 28 significant landscapes, 75 natural phenomenon (geological, geomorphologic, hydrological, paleontological, rare trees examples) and 120 horticultural locations (arboretum, botanic gardens, parks, trees and groves)
* a total surface of protected areas is 4.585 km, or 8 per cent of the Croatian surface; 380 animal species and 44 plants are protected

Other natural sights to visit:
RIVER DRAVA - one of the largest rivers of Europe a significant part of which is in its natural condition; proposed as a World Biosphere Reserve
RIVER DOBRA - at Karlovac; known because of its cleanliness, richness of fishes and attractive canyons and rapids; it's a perfect place to go rafting, kayaking or canoeing
RIVER MREZNICA - at Karlovac, with a series of waterfalls on gypsum barriers; attractive canyons and favorite bathing sports
WHITE ROCKS (BIJELE STIJENE) AND SAMARSKE ROCKS (SAMARSKE STIJENE) - on Bjelolasica mountain in region of Gorski Kotar; a multitude of bizarre karstic forms in the wild and wooded landscape; strictly protected nature reserve
DEVIL'S PASSAGE (VRAZJI PROLAZ) - at Skrad, a small town in the central part of Gorski Kotar; a picturesque narrow canyon with a scary footpath in the rock passing through it; at the entrance of the canyon is the attractive waterfall Zeleni vir
LIM GULF (LIMSKI ZALJEV) - the picturesque deep sea bay at the west coast of Istria; it's very narrow and sharp, so it looks like a Norwegian Fjord
RIVER GACKA - in Otocac, town in region of Lika; with series of picturesque springs and old water mills, known as one of the most significant fishing sports for trout in Europe
GOLDEN CAPE (ZLATNI RAT) at BOL, a town on island of BRAC - it's probably the most beautiful beach on Adriatic; it's a pebble cape, surrounded with pine forest; the cape changes the form according to the direction of waves
BLUE LAKE and RED LAKE - lakes at Imotski, town in region of Dalmatinska zagora (Dalmatian Hinterland); the unique deep karstic phenomenon of two exceptionally deep holes (Red lake is 500 m deep)
BLUE CAVE - a famous cave on island of Bisevo, near the island of Vis; prominent because of its blue color; according to many, much nicer than the similar but better known cave on Capri
DELTA OF NERETVA - in the south of the country, the unique swampy area with specific vegetation of reed, famous for its gathering of a large variety of birds

SPORTS, RECREATION, FUN:

Sports grounds: next to most hotels and campgrounds on the Adriatic are numerous grounds for tennis, basketball, beach volleyball and other sports. Tennis is especially popular, and Umag in Istria and Zagreb host the ATP tournament and Bol on Brac hosts the WTA tournament.
Water sports: in bigger tourist centers, it's possible to rent boats, fishing and diving equipment, and there are numerous scuba diving schools and schools for wind-surfing. Rafting is organized on rivers Cetina and Dobra. You can experience a wild kayak or canoe riding on rivers Kupa, Korana, Mreznica, Cetina and Una.
Climbing: marked mountain trails, mountains hut and shelters are on all larger mountains, and especially in Gorski Kotar, Velebit, Ucka, Mosor, Biokovo, Medvednica, Zumberak, Ivancica and Papuk.
Stadiums: for Olympic sports and large sports hall are found in Split and Zagreb, where Students World Championship (Universiade) and Mediterranean Games were held. Large stadiums and sports halls are also found in other major towns.
Entertainment: most highly rated hotels have casinos and nightclubs, especially in Zagreb, Opatija, Umag, Porec, Rovinj, Pula and Dubrovnik.
All larger cities and major tourist resorts on the Adriatic have disco clubs, while in summer, dancing evenings under the open sky and various entertainment events are regularly organized