Places
Zagreb
Today’s Zagreb has grown out of two medieval settlements that for centuries developed on neighbouring hills. The first written mention of the city dates from 1094, when a diocese was founded on Kaptol, while in 1242, neighbouring Gradec was proclaimed a free and royal city. Both the settlements were surrounded by high walls and towers, remains of which are still preserved.
During the Turkish onslaughts on Europe, between the 14th and 18th centuries, Zagreb was an important border fortress. The Baroque reconstruction of the city in the 17th and 18th centuries changed the appearance of the city. The old wooden houses were demolished, opulent palaces, monasteries and churches were built. The many trade fairs, the revenues from landed estates and the offerings of the many craft workshops greatly contributed to the wealth of the city. Affluent aristocratic families, royal officials, church dignitaries and rich traders from the whole of Europe moved into the city. Schools and hospitals were opened, and the manners of European capitals were adopted. The city outgrew its medieval borders and spread to the lowlands. The first parks and country houses were built. Zagreb confirmed its position as the administrative, cultural and economic centre of Croatia.
When Kaptol, Gradec and the surrounding settlements were administratively combined into the integrated city of Zagreb in 1850, the development accelerated still more. The disastrous earthquake of 1880 sparked off the reconstruction and modernization of many shabby neighbourhoods and buildings. Prestigious public buildings were erected, parks and fountains were made, and transportation and other infrastructures were organized.
In the 19th century the population increased tenfold. The twentieth century brought the Secession style to Zagreb. The city lived in the plenty of a civil society, with firm links with all the central European centres. With an increase in wealth and industry from the 1960s on, the city spread out over the wide plains alongside the Sava River, where a new, contemporary business city has develop, ready for the challenges of the third millennium.
Park Maksimir
Park Maksimir is a unique object of park architectural heritage of City of Zagreb and Republic Croatia. It was raised on the final southern foothills of Medvednica at the end of 18 th and the first half of 19 th century. Clearing autochthonous forest of common oak and hornbeam formed it. It is the first public park in southeast Europe, and one of the first in the world. At the time of forming it was one of the most important park accomplishments of Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Until than only private parks were formed, which were located next to noblemen’s castles and royal residences, and not accessible to general public.
In this new surrounding Park Maksimir still represents a shelter for many plant and animal species, despite its small area of only 316 ha. Its value for the protection of endangered species connected to old hollows is significant because of preserved hundred-year-old oak forests. In Park Maksimir more than one hundred bird species are recorded, of which specifically significant are hole-nesting birds. Interesting data is that population density of middle spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius) in Park Maksimir, an endangered species in Europe, is one of the largest in the world. Other animal species connected to old forests are significant as well, like squirrels and some bat species, otherwise globally endangered animal species. Besides forests, in Park Maksimir we can find meadows, lakes and streams, which also represent important habitats for various plants and animal, and in that way contribute to its biological diversity.
During the times Park Maksimir was formed, it was the most modern, elite and popular enterprise in the city and further, and to it many famous names and politics of that time were connected to. Today it represents a first rate antique living part of the city area with which we should keep and preserve a prestigious place among European historical sights with a modern approach to protection and ways of utilization.
Park Maksimir is to Zagreb as Bois de Boulogne is to Paris, Tiergarten to Berlin or Regents Park to London, and for that reason its values should be acknowledged, and it should be used in an appropriate way.
National Park Plitvice Lakes
In the basin between high forested mountains of Plješevica and Mala Kapela lies Croatia’s oldest (proclaimed in 1949) and largest (area of 29685 ha) national park – Plitvice Lakes. One below another, a string of sixteen beautiful lakes are fed by many small streams and brooks and spill over into each other in foaming cascades and thundering waterfalls ranging in colour from azure to green, grey and blue.
The legend says the lakes were formed from the rain the Black Queen gave to her people in a time of great drought and thirst.
On a more scientific note: Over the millennia the waters of these lakes have dissolved the limestone rock and carved out the valley in which they now lie, through the process of tufa formation under specific ecological and hydrological conditions. Tufa or travertine is a porous carbonate rock formed by the sedimentation of calcium carbonate from water by the action of moss, algae and bacteria. As it is deposited, the tufa coats the beds and banks of the lakes, petrifying trees and stones which fall in and creating dams, barriers, sills and other forms in krast rivers and streams. The travertine formation is an ongoing continuous dynamic process which constantly changes the appearance of waterfalls, dams and lakes.
Apart from the lakes the National park has a rich forest and meadow habitats, of which virgin beech-fir forest ‘Čorkova uvala’ is of special interest. Biodiversity of the area is very high with 75 endemic plant species, 321 species of butterflies, 161 bird species, 21 species of bats and some of the most interesting mammals of Europe like brown bear, wolf, martens, lynx, fox, deer, wild boar and many more.
The park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. in recognition of its “outstanding natural beauty, and the undisturbed production of travertine (tufa) through chemical and biological action”.
Zadar
Close your eyes and imagine this…The scent of the sea in the air, the music of waves in your ears, winter wind “bura” refreshing your loungs and sometimes blowing so strong that you could recline on it with your back….Then, you open your eyes and see the most beautiful sunset in the world (like Hitchcock said). Now you know where you are! It must be Zadar, Croatia!
This is 3000 years old city in the Adriatic coast, with the population of 70 000 citizens. Zadar had been the capital city of Dalmatia for centuries and a lots of museums and old architecture can prove that. Today, Zadar is the place where old and new meet. The old part of town is especially nice, so when you come to Zadar you mustn´t fail to take a walk through the Kalelarga street, listen to the sound of unique Sea Organ, see how “Pozdrav Suncu” (“Greet the sun”) looks like during the night, enter the St. Donat’s Church, climb to the top of St. Anastasia Cathedral belfry (the view is amazing!) and visit the Archaeological museum.
People in Zadar are nice and friendly, so you can ask pretty girl or boy there to show you around the city! We recommend to take a ride in the rowing boat “barka” to come from the new part of town to the Old town. After walking through the sea promenade called “Riva” take a cup of coffe in the Arsenal club. Just explore the city and fill yourself with Mediterranean spirit. Don´t forget to bring home a bottle of Maraschino liqueur for your friends!
And then,come again during the summer, Zadar leaves an absolutely new impression when it transforms in touristic centre of Dalmatia!
Youth Hostel Zadar (member of Hostelling International network) is situated at the seafront of the marina in Borik – a tourist area of Zadar. It is located around 4 km from the historic city center and 5km from the main bus station. There is a bus line connecting Borik with the city center, but if you prefer nice walks and healthy sea-flavoured air, you might as well get a bit of a sun tan walking to the city center.
The hostel has nice and clean rooms, a friendly staff, a small outdoor stage and a bar that serves not only a great cappuccino but also a nice cold “pivo” just when you need it. There is also a small pebble beach at crawling distance from the hostel for a dip in the Adriatic or watching the stunning Croatian sunsets.