Croatia: Forget the Islands, Explore Inland

travelezeuk
Mar 10, 2015
2 min read

Picture courtesy - http://medberths.com

Each year, many people flock to the idyllic Croatian beaches and islands, and explore the historic towns and settlements along the coastline. But Croatia is far more than coast and islands. Spectacular as they are, there is a wealth of beautiful scenery, historic sites and varied geographical areas to explore away from the Adriatic that is all the better for being less frequented by tourists.

Picture courtesy - http://www.telegraph.co.uk

The areas of inland Croatia are extremely varied. To the north of the country, the mountain ranges that run down from the Alps to the Adriatic sea flatten out into the Pannonian plain which stretches out from Zagreb towards Hungary.

Just north of Zagreb, between that city and the Slovene border, is the Zagorje region. The land here is like southern Austria, with densely wooded, lumpen hills and castles. It is like something pictured on a chocolate box. Streams tumble down through lush vineyards and little villages cluster, filled with geese, turkeys and clucking chickens. Everywhere, there is a profusion of historic houses and churches, surrounded by vegetable plots and cornfields which are perfect for gentle rambling excursions.

Picture courtesy - http://vueling.com

South west of Zagreb you will find the famous Plitvice Lakes, the countries most visited natural attraction and one of incredible scientific interest and scenic beauty. This eight kilometre stretch of sixteen connecting lakes with water flowing down one to the other through dense vegetation is one of the most beautiful sights in Croatia. There are a series of breathtaking waterfalls, and the lakes are turned a vivid turquoise by the mineral content of the water.

Picture courtesy - http://misadventuresmag.com

South east of Zagreb are the much less well-known Lonjsko polje wetlands, an enchanting area that floods seasonally and is a perfect spot for bird watching. This area is also notable for the many ancient timber-framed houses that can be found here in greater preponderance than anywhere else in the country – one good way to see them is on a cycling trip, for which the dyke-top roads in this area are perfect. On a more sombre note, this region was also the site of the notorious concentration camp, Jasenovac, during the Second World War. The site has now been turned into a dignified memorial park.

Picture courtesy - http://spalatiumtravel.com

Though the region of Slavonia, between Lonjsko polje and the Serbian border, is rather unvarying and has a reputation for being the least interesting areas in terms of the scenery, there are some captivating places in this very flat region. Kopački rit Nature Park is another fascinating wetland area with varied birdlife, and the small villages and farmsteads scattered across the plain do have a certain charm.

Picture courtesy - http://www.exploro-travel.com

The hill-top town of Slunj, on the old road that headed south from Zagreb to Split, is situated on the confluence of the Korana and Slunjčica rivers, and is a picturesque spot with a number of pretty waterfalls, rushing rapids and lovely views down into a scenic gorge.