My beautiful Croatia! (Part 5)

Day 1,488, 10:34 • Published in Croatia Croatia • by dRobi1990


Hi there, dear readers.

My goal is to make 50 articles about our small country and show the world all the beauty Croatia has.

So far, I`ve noted that foreigners have great interest in Croatia.

I`ll do my best to show you Croatia most honestly and with great honour.

! Notice: These article is only made to promote Croatia and Croatian nature, culture, cities, heritage, history, art, cuisine, sports and people (either born in Croatia or others) and is not made to usurp, tease or start any sort of controversy, so please have this on your mind when you post comment.

Part 6 will be published after holidays (13th or 14th January 2012.)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Enjoy!













Skradinski buk is one of the most attractive parts of the park. It is a massive, clear, natural pool with high waterfalls at one end and cascades at the other; the lowest of the three sets of waterfalls formed along the river.



The sixth cascade on the Krka River - Roški slap, is exceptionally interesting due to its waterfalls, the lush vegetation and water mills, some of which have been restored. Unlike Skradinski buk, Roški slap, 27m high waterfall, is less explored.



Visovac Island is the cultural pearl of the Krka NP, an island of peace and prayer, framed into extraordinary horticultural environment. There is a Church of Our Lady of Visovac and Roman Catholic Visovac monastery that treasures rich artistic, historical and archaeological collections.

Krka National Park is the seventh national park in Croatia, named after the river Krka that it encloses.

It is located along the middle-lower course of the Krka River in central Dalmatia, in Šibenik-Knin county, downstream Miljevci area, and just a few kilometers northeast of the city of Šibenik.

River Krka is a karst phenomenon; while making its way to the Adriatic sea, it forms many lakes, falls and water currents.

Originating from the base of the Dinara Mountain, by the town of Knin; because of the natural beauty and geological characteristics around the Krka River was declared a National park in 1985.

The park encompass' and area of 109 square km and follows along the river Krka about 2 km down river from Knin to Skradin.

The area is exceptionally rich in endemic flora and fauna, containing 220 types of bird and 860 species and subspecies of plants, including several endemic.

Did you know?

The Jaruga power plant was the first alternating current (AC) power system in Croatia, the first commercial hydro power plant in Europe, and second in the world. It was set in operation three days after the Adams Power Plant on the Niagara Falls.

It was designed to power the street lights in Šibenik, making it the third city in the world with street lights powered by a polyphase system of alternating current (AC).

! Video: Krka National Park in HD
! More info on: Krka National Park on Wikipedia
! More info on: Krka National Park Offical Website
! Tourist info: Krka National Park on Croatian National Tourist Board











The Park’s largest area is covered by wetland and grassland vegetation. Wetland conditions are favourable for a large number of amphibians, fish, birds and mammals and for that reason the south part of the Park was designated a special zoological reserve.





Kopački rit is especially interesting for its birds and known as one of the largest spawning grounds for Danube river basin fish. Until now 282 bird species were recorded. On the photo: Wild Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)



Red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Kopački Rit (Kopački Tršćak), is a nature park located northwest of the confluence of the Drava and the Danube, in the Osijek-Baranja county, eastern Croatia.

It is located northwest of the confluence of the Drava and the Danube.

It comprises many backwaters and ponds along the Danube.

It is one of the most important, largest and the most preserved intact wetlands in Europe characterised by outstanding beauty of landscape and rich biodiversity.

Due to the importance of Kopački rit as a wetland habitat and habitat of a large number of birds, in 1986 it was included in the List of European Important Bird Areas (IBA), and in 1993 to the List of Wetlands of International Importance under the Convention on Wetlands (RAMSAR)

! Video: Kopački Rit Nature Park - intro movie (on Croatian)
! More info on: Kopački rit Nature Park Official Website
! More info on: Kopački rit Nature Park on Wikipedia
! Tourist info: Kopački Rit Nature Park on Croatian National Tourist Board











Zadar is a city monument, surrounded by historical ramparts, a treasury of the archaeological and monumental riches of ancient and medieval times,



Zadar Roman Forum - a municipal square from the Roman era, built from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD, founded by the first Roman Emperor Augustus
On the photo: St. Donatus' Church (in the center), St. Anastasia's Cathedral (Cro: Sv. Stošija) (above St. Donatus) and St. Mary's Church (on the right)



St Donatus' Church (A monumental round building from the 9th century in pre-Romanesque style) with St. Anastasia's Cathedral (Basilica in Romanesque style built in the 12th to 13th century, the largest cathedral in Dalmatia) on the right



The Sea organ is an architectural object located in Zadar and an experimental musical instrument which plays music by way of sea waves and tubes located underneath a set of large marble steps - Listen to the sea music



The Greeting to the Sun consists of 300 multi-layered glass plates placed on the same level with the stone-paved waterfront in the shape of a 22-meter diameter circle.

Under the glass conduction plates there are photo-voltage solar modules through which symbolic communication with nature is made, with the aim to communicate with light, just like the Sea Organs do with sound - Watch the light show


Zadar is a Croatian city on the Adriatiac Sea with a population of 75,000.

It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region.

Zadar is a historical center of Dalmatia as well as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zadar.

Zadar gained its urban structure in Roman times; during the time of Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus, the town was fortified and the city walls with towers and gates were built.

On the western side of the town were the forum, the basilica and the temple, while outside the town were the amphitheatre and cemeteries.

The aqueduct which supplied the town with water is partially preserved.

Inside the ancient town, a medieval town had developed with a series of churches and monasteries being built.

! Video: The Greeting to the Sun and The Sea organ sound and light performance Must see
! Video: Zadar HD promo
! More info on:Zadar on Wikipedia
! Tourist info: Zadar Tourist Board









Death of the Last Croatian King, by Oton Iveković



Croatian Kingdom during Petar Svačić reign.

Petar Svačić (Snačić) was the last king (c. 1093–1097) of Croatia.

It is assumed that he began as a ban serving under king Demetrius Zvonimir of Croatia and was then elected king by the Croatian feudal lords in 1093.

Petar's seat of power was based in Knin.

His rule was marked by a struggle for control of the country with Hungary. During his reign he was able to expel Prince Álmos from Slavonia, and unite Croatia to the river Drava.

He died in 1097 and was the last native king of Croatia.

After his death Croatia formed a personal union with Kingdom of Hungary that lasted until 1918.

His heroism was commemorated in the renaming of Mount Gvozd to Petrova Gora (Peter's Mountain).

! More info on: Petar Svačić on Wikipedia
! Tourist info: Knin on Croatian National Tourist Board









Stone cubes from rocks from different parts of Croatia recall the Croatian coat of arms



Glass elements shaped like tears which symbolize the difficult history of the Croatian people

Altar of the homeland (Croatian: Oltar domovine) is a monument to all fallen in the Croatian War of Independence.

The Altar of the homeland, situated below the southern tower of Medvedgrad, was erected by Franjo Tudjman, president of the Republic of Croatia on the Day of Statehood, on May 30 1994 to commemorate Croatian heroes deceased in the war.

The monument, work of the sculptor Kuzma Kovacic, is located in front of the south wall at the Zagreb Medvedgrad.

Carved on the cubes are motives from the reign of Prince Branimir, a large cross and the lyrics of the Croatian anthem.

! Tourist info: Ancient Medvedgrad - Croatian National Tourist Board











Janica with her brother Ivica Kostelić

Janica Kostelić, born January 5 1982, in Zagreb, is a retired alpine ski racer from Croatia.

She is the only woman to win four gold medals in alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics (in 2002 and 2006), and the only woman to win three alpine skiing gold medals in one Olympics (2002).

Kostelić was the World Cup overall champion in 2001, 2003, and 2006.

Did you know?

On January 15, 2006, Kostelić became only the third woman in World Cup history to win World Cup races in all of the sport's five disciplines.

On February 5, 2006 Kostelić became the second female skier to win all five disciplines in one season.

She also holds the record for the highest number of points in one season (2005-2006).

Kostelić is winner of five World Championships gold medals and three Overall Alpine Skiing World Cup titles.

She has won a total of 30 World cup races.

! More info on: Janica Kostelić - Official website
! Video: Janica Kostelić Best Moments









Quantities of Dingač wines are always extremely limited and make the wine highly sought after



Plavac Mali is known for producing rich, flavorful wines that are high in both alcohol (typically 12% but up to 17😵 and grape tannins



Like the neighboring Postup region, the land is very rugged karst with little top soil.

Dingač is the name of the best known Croatian premium quality red wine of controlled origin.

Only wine made from autochthonous Croatian Plavac Mali grapes that were grown on the famous vineyard named "Dingač" may be called Dingač.

The distinguished vineyard Dingač lies on a steep hillside on the Pelješac peninsula dramatically dropping into the Adriatic Sea just a few miles from the famous medieval city of Dubrovnik in the southern tip of Croatia.

This attribute, in addition to the level of sunlight (2800 hours annually), 45 degree slope, and weather make for ideal red wines growing conditions which are planted from sea level up to 300 m.

Did you know?

Inaccessible southern slopes of the Peljesac peninsula even in ancient times adorned vineyards, and historians note that the wine from that region still harbored the emperor Diocletian.

The wine region was established in 1961 and was the first protected Croatian wine region.

The trademark symbol is the donkey, who has for centuries helped agricultural workers in the processing and transport of grape vineyards and wineries.

! More info on: Dingač on Wikipedia











Its costal part is a spacious pebbly surface which can fit several thousands of tourists during the season peak.



Atmosphere in one of the clubs



The beach has numerous facilities and three popular open-air clubs offering entertainment until wee-wee hours

Zrće is a long pebble beach on the Adriatic island of Pag in the northern part of the Croatian coast.

It is located near Novalja, about 4 kilometers from the town's center.

Zrće, a well-known Croatian summer party`s destination, is a phenomenon of Croatian tourism, known as Croatian Ibiza, where the party lasts for 24 hours with several discotheques and beach bars operating during summer months.

It regularly features gigs by internationally known house and trance DJs at the peak of the Croatian summer season in July and August.

Zrće is particularly popular among young people, while other pebble and sand beaches on the island are more family-oriented.

It is one of over 100 Blue Flag beaches in Croatia, having been given the award in 2003.

! Video: Zrće day party atmosphere
! More info on: Zrće on Wikipedia
! Tourist info: Zrće, Novalja -Official











Slunj is famous for its little waterfalls and the well-preserved corn mills (dating back to the 18th century) in the picturesque lower part of the town, called Rastoke (referring to the branching of the rivers)



At Rastoke, similar natural phenomena are occurring as at the Plitvice Lakes. This location is therefore often being referred to as "the Small Lakes of Plitvice"

Rastoke is the historic center of the Croatian municipality of Slunj.

This old part of Slunj is known for its well-preserved mills and the picturesque little waterfalls along the Slunjčica river, which flows into the river Korana at this place.

Rastoke is a place of autochthonous ecologic and ethnographic significance due to its symbiosis of natural and civilizational features.

The town of Slunj emerged around Rastoke and the branching of the Slunjčica and Korana rivers.

The watermills erected at this place largely contributed to the economic development of Slunj as the center of the region of Kordun.

! Video: Rastoke
! More info on: Rastoke on Wikipedia
! Tourist info: Touristic Association Slunj









No parts of the statue were missing, though its head was disconnected from the body. 1.92m long, the statue is currently thought to be a Hellenistic copy of Lysippos’ Apoxyomenos from the second or first century BCE; it is conserved in Zadar Museum as the 'Croatian Apoxyomenos



Covered with thick encrustations and algae the statue was discovered on the sandy bottom off the islet of Vela Orjula in the Lošinj Channel.

Croatian Apoxiomen (Apoxyómenos) is a statue of a young athlete shown scraping the dust and oil from his body with a strigil.

The Croatian Apoxiomen is one of the eight preserved Hellenistic copies from the second and first centuries B.C.

Its integrity and fine workmanship make it one of the best copies of the prototype produced about 300 B.C.

! Video: Croatian Apoxiomen
! More info on: Croatian Cultural Heritage

PART 1 * PART 2 * PART 3 * PART 4