THE FOUR BEAUTIES
The Four Beauties: Dobra, Kupa, Korana, and Mrežnica
Come on, jump!
I looked down. To tell the truth, I'm not that old, but the flower of my youth is not so young anymore that its petals wouldn't fall apart when it hits the water.
The sun is high. The temperature is rising and the glare from the surface is blinding.
The Cener Diving Platform – A Local Favorite
"May that friars' beer save me from misfortune, if my own crazy head won't," I thought, and the very next moment I was flying (falling) through the air. It all took a little less than a second, but in my head it seemed like at least a few. In the blink of an eye, it was all over. I emerged on the surface and thought that the highest dive this
Dalmatian guy had ever jumped couldn't have been the one into the sea but -into the river.w
You can't come to Karlovac in summer and not jump off the cener - they told me. "Cener", "cener". What is "cener" - I wondered. In the end, it appeared in front of me - a diving platform at Fogin bathing area, the most popular gathering place for the inhabitawnts of Karlovac and their guests. They have always bathed on the green beauty of the Korana river, and generations have experienced their first paddles, jumps, dives, and even kisses in the area of today's Fogin bathing area.
Although, the continent is in question, so to speak, the "state of mind" is equal to that on the coast. We visited Karlovac at the end of June, and the beach was full until sunset. We believe that this
was also the case with other beauties of Karlovac - the Dobra, the Kupa and the Mrežnica rivers.
Just like everybody on the coast has a favorite beach, everyone in Karlovac has their favorite river to enjoy, either in summer or winter. In my case the Korana proved to be an excellent host. The emerald green water was benevolent to the mad head that dived into it from a height of ten meters. As for the temperature, it was - just right. Bathers are careful that the Korana is not too fast, but not too slow either.
Franciscan Monastery Beer – A Local Delight
Summer in Karlovac, therefore, besides being green, is refreshing as well. And, in addition to the rivers, which refresh the bodies, the palate will be "refreshed" by the above-mentioned beer. Craft pale
Karlovac is not near the highway; it's the highway that is near Karlovac. And it is an absolute pity not to get off it and make a tour of everything that is worth a visit - Zvijezda (the historic core of the town), Aquatika (the freshwater museum) and Turanj (the Homeland War Museum), parks, sacred heritage, the town museum and the old town of Dubovac and beer!
ale beer. It is made by the friars from the Franciscan monastery situated next to the Church of the Holy Trinity.
You will easily find them, precisely because of the mentioned church which is in the center of the old Karlovac Zvijezda as one of the main signposts. It is an unavoidable part of the sightseeing tour of the town, which quite unfairly serves as a GPS tag and is most often mentioned in the context of a motorway. For, "when you have reached Karlovac, you are almost in Zagreb" or "you have barely left the metropolis" when you pass the exit for the town on four rivers.
But here is the news. Karlovac is not near the highway; it's the highway that is near Karlovac. And it is an absolute pity not to get off it and make a tour of everything that is worth a visit - Zvijezda (the historic core of the town), Aquatika (the freshwater museum) and Turanj (the Homeland War Museum), parks, sacred heritage, the town museum and the old town of Dubovac.
Oh yes, and beer. If you are lucky and arrive when the Franciscans, led by the guardian and priest Krunoslav Albert, have already poured beer into bottles and left it to cool, then do not hesitate for a second. Book a tour of the monastery immediately (there is a lot to be seen, trust me) and ask them to offer you beer rolls and pretzels as refreshments.
The Franciscans produce about 600 bottles of beer four times a year, and in addition, there are also souvenirs, such as beer mugs, salt shakers. All for a symbolic donation. Somehow it is logical that the Franciscans decided to make beer. After all, that is what Karlovac is also known for. At the end of August and the beginning of September, a visit to the Beer Days is a must. As they say in Dalmatia, then all the šušur (high-spirited atmosphere) is in Karlovac. Good performers, festival beer, gastronomy and great vibes guarantee an unforgettable experience of the Zvijezda (Starry) Summer (zvijezda is star in English) - a series of events that make
- Karlovac lively every summer.
- However, other seasons should not be
- neglected either. Thus, Karlovac tries to make an even better and more attractive Advent every year, and winter it is also the season of good food.
- In the gastronomy, therefore, the main stars are the fruits of the forest - mushrooms, chestnuts, as well as game (wild boar,
- bear, deer). Of course, freshwater fish
- is indispensable on the plate, and our
- recommendation is perch in a crust made of corn flour with seeds, as well as the queen of rivers and rapids - trout.
Jaškovo: The Strudel Village and Guinness World Record
Međimurje has Međimurje gibanica, and Karlovac has - strudel. This dessert is a symbol of the area, and only 16 kilometers away is Jaškovo - the village of strudel and the proud holder of the Guinness World Record for the largest apple and grape strudel. Calories should be burnt and a walk through Zvijezda is perfect for that. It is best accompanied by an expert guide. Because, you will find yourself in front of a building, and you will have no idea about history that took place in it. You also won't wonder what "schaufenster" actually means.
During the tour, be sure to take a selfie with a sculpture of a frog. Why it is right there and which tourists consider it irresistible are the questions to which Morana from the nearby Katzler pavilion has the answers. The Katzler may be small, but it houses an entire city. How? It is best to see for yourself. Everything we have mentioned so far is ideal for Instagram. And, although it may no longer be in fashion, what is a good trip without a great panoramic photo.
And, to take it, you should climb the prehistoric mound above the Kupa, where there has long been a place of defense. And on which the old town of Dubovac was built in the 13th century. The view from the Branič kula (defence tower) to which the creaking stairs lead clearly explains why this location is strategically important, and in the inner courtyard there is a restaurant whose specialties are worth tasting and which takes every visitor back to the glorious past. After lunch, the best thing to do is to go back to the river. The waterfall on the Korana is calming, and coffee on the terrace of the hotel "Srakovčić" will be just what you need. You need to rest for new experiences that Karlovac has yet to offer. You just have to dare and jump.
Turanj: The Homeland War Museum
If you drive along the old road from the direction of Lika to Karlovac, four kilometers before the town, on the historic plateau next to the Korana, Turanj is its name, proudly stands a bullet-scarred brick building, armored with steel and glass. It is the Museum of the Homeland War Karlovac - Turanj, which tells the story of resistance,
courage and sacrifice of Croatian defenders, all in the service of promoting peace. No one who sets foot there remains immune to the horrors of war documented in a superbly equipped and modern museum.
| 1. Karlovac/ Tourist board of Karlovac | 2. Karlovac/ Ivo Biočina | 3. Karlovac/Tourist board of Karlovac | 4. The Mrežnica River/ Stipe Surać | 5. Dubovac Castle/ Zvonimir Tanocki | 6. Karlovac County/ Vedran Metelko | 7. Karlovac/ Aleksandar Gospić
Aquatika