Croatia

SOME FACTS ABOUT CROATIA

Area: 89 738 km2 (56 538 km2 land + 33 200 km2 waters)

By size, Croatia ranks 20th among 43 European countries.

Population: 4 784, 265 inhabitants according to the 1991 population census

Countries with comparable population: (Denmark 5,135,000; Finland: 4,991,000; Norway: 4,226,000, Ireland: 3,555,000)

Natural population increase : 0.7% per 1000.

Ethnic structure : Croats 80%,

Serbs, Muslims, Slovenes, Hungarians, Italians, Albanians, Czechs and others

20%

Bordering Countries: Italy (maritime border), Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia (Voivodina), Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.

ZAGREB & ZAGORJE

Today's Zagreb has grown out of two medieval settlements that for centuries developed on two 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.
Zagorje, a small territory with a great tradition! Beautiful castles and manor houses - some 40 castles and mansions deriving from the middle ages had been preserved in the region, one of the best known ones being Veliki Tabor and the castles of Trako�can and Miljana - exceptional archeological sites, the monument of Matija Gubec representing the begining of the Peasant's Revolt (16th century)numerous churches and shrines including the famous pilgrimage site of Marija Bistrica, abundant thermal springs with the finest quality medicinal water and excellent local cuisine, should be a reason to visit Croatian Hihglands. And all of this is encirceled by the beautiful green hills of Zagorje.

PLITVICE

The Plitvice Park is a spectacular place. The colour of its 16 lakes is an unbelievable emerald blue-green. Walking through this UNESCO protected site is a magical experience, whatever the season.

DALMATIA
Croatia�s landscape is made up of three geographical components: the Pannonian Basin, the Dinaric Alps Mountain Range and my personal favourite, the Adriatic coast (total coastline including islands : 5 835km).

DUBROVNIK AND CAVTAT

Everybody knows Dubrovnik, but let me say it again: it truly is �the Pearl of the Adriatic�! Every time I walk down the main street (�Placa� or �Stradun�) I have tears in my eyes. If you haven't been there, make sure you visit soon. Beside being extraordinarily beautiful, it is also home to the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, and the the venue for scientific, scholarly and literary conferences (PEN in 1933 and 1993) and world tourist congresses (ASTA, FUAAV, DRV, SNAV, etc.). Cavtat is a wonderful village located about halfway between Dubrovnik and the Montenegro border. It is perfectly unspoiled, has the most beautifully crystal clear sea , and an incredibly fragrant pine forest. I call the Cavtat bay �the most beautiful swimming pool in the world�!