| ABOUT
CROATIA |
 General and geographical
data |
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|
 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
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| Basic historical data |
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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 |
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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 |
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 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
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| Important cultural events |
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 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)
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| Some important Croats |
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BOSKOVIC, RUDJER (1711-1787.) the physicist, mathematician
and astronomer; one of the most recognized scientist of
his time, predecessor of modern physics, founder of dynamic
atomistic
BROZ-TITO, JOSIP (1892-1980.) politician
and statesman; organizer of the antifascist rebellion
in Yugoslavia during the World War II
DRZIC, MARIN
(1508-1567.) writer; chronicler of Dubrovnik Republic,
one of the greatest comedians of the Renaissance (predecessor
of Moliere)
GENERALIC, IVAN (1914-1992.)
naive painter; founder of the world renowned Hlebine painting
school
GETALDIC, MARIN GHETALDUS (1566-1606.)
mathematician; he used algebra in geometric; pioneer in
making of conic lenses
GUNDULIC,
IVAN (1589-1638.) writer; famous for his epic "Osman"
where he celebrated a freedom-loving spirit of Dubrovnik
Republic
KLOVIC, JULIJE (1498-1578.) painter;
the greatest European miniaturist of his time, he painted
for the Roman Pope and for the Medici family in Florence
KRLEZA, MIROSLAV (1893-1981.) the greatest modern
Croatian writer and also one of the most significant Middle
European writers of the first half of the 20th century;
founder of Croatian lexicography
LISINSKI, VATROSLAV
(1819-1854.) composer; he wrote the first Croatian opera
"Love and Malice" in 1846
LUPIS, IVAN (1813-1875.)
nautical officer from Rijeka; inventor of the torpedo,
which was manufactured for the first time in Whitehead's
factory in Rijeka in 1866
MARIN (4th century)
stonecutter from the island of Rab; founded Republic of
San Marino, the first republic in Europe
MESTROVIC, IVAN (1883-1962.) famous Croatian sculptor;
he created monumental sculptures with national thematic;
he worked in the USA where he made his best known sculpture
is "Indians" in Chicago
PENKALA, SLAVOLJUB
(1871-1922.) inventor of the mechanical pencil and fountain
pen in 1906 and of the first Croatian two-seater plane
POLO, MARCO (1254-1324.) Venetian adventurer and
explorer; meritorious for his explorations of China; according
to tradition, born on Korcula island
PRELOG, VLADIMIR
(1906-1998.) chemist; he worked in Switzerland, in 1975
he won a Nobel price for chemistry
RADIC, STJEPAN
(1871-1928.) politician; founder of the Croatian Peasant
Party, he was democrat leader and champion of Croatian
liberation; he was assassinated at the Assembly of the
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
RUZICKA, LAVOSLAV (1887-1976.)
chemist, he worked in Switzerland, in 1939 he won a Nobel
price for chemistry
SCHWARTZ, DAVID (1852-1897.)
constructor of air ship with a metal frame; Ferdinand
Zeppelin bought out his work and, based on them, built
the aircraft which bears his name
STARCEVIC, ANTE
(1823-1896.) politician, founder of the Croatian Party
of Rights, advocated the policy of complete independence
of Croatia; named "the father of the nation"
STEPINAC,
ALOJZIJE (1898-1960.) archbishop from Zagreb, cardinal
and theologian; publicly condemned fascist persecution
during the World War II; after establishing of the Communist
rule, was imprisoned. He died in confinement. Beatified
in 1998.
TESLA, NIKOLA (1856-1943.) physicist;
he worked in USA; one of the greatest scientist in the
fields of electrical engineering; he projected the first
hydroelectric power station at Niagara Falls using alternating
current; laid the groundwork for the making of radar equipment;
the measuring unit for magnetic induction (Tesla - T)
was named after him
TUDJMAN, FRANJO (1922-1999.)
politician and historian, he participated in antifascist
movement. He came into conflict with Communist regime
because he represented Croatian national interests. He
founded Croatian Democratic Party (HDZ), which won the
first multiparty elections in 1990, he was the first president
of independent Croatian state
VRANCIC, FAUST
(1551-1617.) inventor, philosopher and lexicographer;
he anticipated a number of technical inventions, the parachute,
among others
VUCETIC, IVAN (1858-1925.) one
of the inventors of dactyloscopy, the method for identifying
persons by their fingerprints |
| National parks |
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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.
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| Parks of nature |
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 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
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| Other protected areas |
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- 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
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| Sports, recreation, fun |
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  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 |
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