The routes of Croatian rulers lead you on a journey through time, through the old Croatian capital towns of Nin, Knin, Biograd na Moru and Šibenik, and the beginning of Croatian sovereignty (7th-12th centuries), evoking the ghosts of ancient Croatian warrior-rulers. The trail begins in the north, on the vivid white cliffs underneath the Velebit mountain, where the view of the surreallandscape of Croatia's most indented island, Pag, stretches before you. Pag offers beautiful coves and beaches with unspoiled nature, as well as centers of modern tourism. The lace of Pag is
very famous, as well as Pag cheese, and its secret ingredients, the wind "bura" and salt which give it a specific and recognisable flavour. To pass the routes of Croatian rulers means to feel a notable diversity of experiences given by thousand-year-old towns, such as the 3,000-year-old Zadar, whose defensive systems have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In Nin, you will find the smallest cathedral in the world, and the modern and lively tourist centers such as Biograd na Moru and picturesque places of the Dalmatian hinterland, Ravni Kotari, and the islands
The routes of Croatian rulers
NORTH DalmatiaN ROUTE. ZADAR.
Nature
National Park Paklenica, nature parks National Park Paklenica, nature parks Telašćica, Lake Vrana and Velebit, special reserves Lun, Velo and Malo Blato and special reserve Kolanjsko Blato (island of Pag) and significant landscape - the river Zrmanja canyon, eight areas of the Natura 2000 ecologicalal network, areas of the Nin Lagoon with a natural eco-botanical garden and medicinal mud, shallow shores, wetlands, ornithological reserve containing 200 bird types, sandy beaches and eco saltwork. The significant landscape - the northwest part of Dugi Otok (the beach of Sakarun - included in 'The most beautiful beaches in the World' association, the Veli Rat lighthouse). Saljsko Polje olive grove - special botanical reserve, Strašna Peć cave, Brbišćica - geomorphological site. The canyon and mouth of the Karišnica river with a Franciscan monastery and medicinal mud.
Architectural sites
The town-monument of urban architecture (Pag), remains of Roman architecture and the biggest Roman temple on the Adriatic, examples of early-Croatian pre-Romanesque architecture (Nin), Roman structural elements - the 'cardo' and 'decumanus' type of streets, Roman forum, the most beautiful examples of Romanesque architecture in Croatia, city walls, urban installations such as the 'Sea Organ' and 'Greetings to the Sun', the oldest Gothic church in Dalmatia, the Church of St Francis (Zadar), the popular building style of island stone houses (Ugljan and Pašman), salt from the Nin saltworks. The remains and megalithic walls of ancient Asseria, Leonardo da Vinci's cannon on display at the Regional Museum in Benkovac, the traditional stone holiday houses of Bukovica and Ravni Kotari. Mirila - unique stone memorials along Velebit trails. Novigrad - a picturesque ambient town with partially preserved city walls whose medieval architecture has been mostly preserved until today. The urban
complex of Novigrad was declared a cultural monument in 1972. The cultural and historical urban complex of Novigrad was declared a cultural good in 2011. Novigrad - the fortress Fortica where Mary, the Queen regnant of Hungary and Croatia, daughter of Louis the Great and wife of Sigismund of Luxembourg, was imprisoned with her mother, Elizabeth of Bosnia.
Gastronomy
Posedarje prosciutto, 'Ninski Šokol' - a smoked and cured meat product, 'mišni' cheese (a type of sheep's cheese), Pag cheese and lamb, 'prisnac' from Benkovac, high quality red and white wines from Ravni Kotari, Gegić white wines and Paška žutica, Maraschino liqueur, Novigrad mussels, olive oil, fish products from Kali; salted and marinated anchovies and sardines (island of Ugljan - Kali).
- Cycling trails: Zadar County can meet all your expectations with its diversity, from MTB to road cycling and pleasant family trails. Zadar Bike Magic recommends cyclists explore the 96 standardised, classified routes in three segments with more than 3,000 km long trails. Website: www.zadarbikemagic.com Hunting: Southern Velebit, island of Pag, Ravni Kotari.
- Fishing: Zrmanja river, Lake Vrana
- (Biograd na Moru), Dugi Otok - sea sport fishing.
Riding: Polača, Zaton, Lake Vrana. Adventure tourism: canoeing, kayaking, rafting (Zrmanja river), bungee jumping (Maslenica bridge), off-road Velebit, Bruška-Medviđa thematic ancient road, surfing, kitesurfing, and paragliding in Nin.
Dugi Otok (Sakarun) - windsurfing, paddleboarding, climbing, hiking, caving - National Park Paklenica / Nature Park Velebit.
1. Church of St Donatus, Zadar
Zadar Archaeological Museum Trg opatice Čike 1, 23000 Zadar Tel: +385 (0)23 250 542 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.amzd.hr
The symbol of the city of Zadar and the most famous monumental edifice in Croatia dating from the early medieval period, unique in Europe. Due to its superb acoustics, it is a popular venue for musical events.
2. National Park Paklenica
- Public Institution "National Park Paklenica"
- Dr. F. Tuđmana 14a
- 23244 Starigrad-Paklenica
- Tel: +385 (0)23 369 155, +385 (0)23 369 202
- (Administration and Camp)
- +385 (0)23 369 803 (Front desk)
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Web: www.np-paklenica.hr
Located between the highest peak of Velebit and the sea, this national park offers its visitors the option of swimming in the sea and mountaineering, all in the same day. The highlights are the striking canyons of Velika and Mala Paklenica, as well as the richness of its flora and fauna, which attract mountaineers, scientists, and nature lovers. Following their protection and entry on the World Heritage List in 2017, beech forests in the area of the Paklenica National Park and the Northern Velebit National Park have become part of world-famous heritage sites.
3. Telašćica Nature Park
Sali X 1, 23281 Sali Tel: +385 (0)23 377 096 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.pp-telascica.hr
The most indented archipelago in the Mediterranean, the Kornati are the continuation of the Telašćica Nature Park that boasts the safest, most beautiful, and largest natural port of the Adriatic, where cliffs (called "strmci") rise from the sea to a height of 160 metres from a depth of up to 80 metres, plus the lake 'Mir' - the only saltwater lake in the Adriatic.
4. Lake Vrana
- Public Institution Lake Vrana Nature Park
- Kralja Petra Svačića
- 23210 Biograd na Moru
- Tel: +385 (0)23 383 181, +385 (0)23 386 452
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Web: www.pp-vransko-jezero.hr
Visitors to the park can enjoy birdwatching, with equipment such as binoculars, bicycles, and kayaks available for rent, or they can try out the different rides in the adrenaline park, with the option to sail on the lake with an electric boat and take in the spectacular views from the Kamenjak lookout. As the largest lake in Croatia, it is rich in fish and a favorite destination for sport fishermen.
5. Church of the Holy Cross in Nin 5a, the smallest cathedral in the world
- Nin Tourist Information Centre
- Trg braće Radića 3, 23232 Nin
- Tel: +385 (0)23 264 280
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Web: www.nin.hr
The old Croatian royal town of Nin is about 15 km away from Zadar. One of the oldest towns in the Mediterranean, inhabited for 3,000 years, it is one of the most important archaeological sites in Croatia. The visible remains of the largest Roman temple in the Adriatic, a Judas silver coin, mosaics, a church called the smallest cathedral in the world, a unique romantic coronation church, an original old Croatian boat Condura Croatica and others bear witness to ancient times and the period when the town was the seat of the bishop and the Croat's first capital.
6. Saltworks in Pag and Nin 5b
Pag saltworks
Zadarska ulica 66, 23250 Pag Tel: +385 (0)23 611 051 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.solana-pag.hr
Nin saltworks
Ilirska cesta 7, 23232 Nin Tel: +385 (0)23 264 021 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.solananin.hr
Known as 'white gold', salt was also a strategic product without which life was unimaginable for centuries. The salt pans in Pag 6 stretch over an area of 3.01 square kilometres and even today, they have significant importance. Nin saltworks cover an area of 55 ha and are located in the shallow lagoon of Nin Bay. Since ancient times, life has been linked to the sea, and so salt is a part of all of us. The salt from Pag and Nin contains all the minerals that, apart from water, are the basic ingredients of the natural sea. The Nin saltworks uses a traditional ecologicalal method of producing salt which was used in Roman times and remains of Roman floodgates have been found in the salt pans.
Dalmatia. ZADAR.