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Continental Croatia

This part of Croatia may indeed be a typical continental region, but in many ways its beauty is quite untypical. Taking to the road running through the Slavonian plain the visitor is greeted by golden fieldsof sunfl owers and an undulating sea of wheat. They wave to him: this is a land of plenty. Should he decide to roam the mellow hills and along the meandering rivers of central Croatia, he might feel encouraged to take respite from the rush and stress of everyday living.

The landscape of Hrvatsko zagorje is a delight with its medieval and Renaissance fortifi cations and Baroque castles, its manor houses and curias. The 16th-century burgh of Veliki Tabor seems to still be awaiting the arrival of armour-clad horsemen. Rising on a hill above a lake and set within a park is Trakošcan Castle. The same is true of the Renaissance burgh of Varaždin, the Baroque Maruševec Castle, Zajezda Castle near Zlatar, the manor houses of Miljana and Bistra... The atmosphere of days of yore can be felt in the town of Cakovec, in the Baroque museum-town of Varaždin, and in Sisak whose fortifi cations defended Western Europe against Turkish incursions. Karlovac was born thanks to a remarkable Renaissance six-pointed star fortifi cation system which today is marked by moats now transformed into parks and footpaths between centuries-old five-line avenues of chestnut trees. There are ample opportunities for an active holiday on the Rivers Korana, Kupa, Dobra and Mrežnica: swimming, rowing, fishing, rafting, canoeing and kayaking is possible both in the town and in its surroundings.

Or one can simply abandon oneself to enjoying the combination of rural landscapes and rich cultural and historical heritage. Slavonia is not lacking either where romantic atmosphere is in question. The city of Osijek captivates with its mighty fortifi cation, the Tvrda, its Baroque main square and its Secession architecture. In Našice the noble family of Pejacevic had its mansion; the Eltz Palace inVukovar is also in Baroque style, as are the mansion houses in the centre of Požega. Ilok, a town in the region of Srijem, takes pride in its mighty fortifi cation on the Danube, as does Slavonski Brod, on the River Sava, where the largest Baroque fortress in Europe is located. And if castles, palaces and fortresses can be regarded as cultural events, the same can most certainly be said for the phenomenon like the naive paintings of Podravina. Offering an artistic insight into village life of bygone years, its name was made famous by artists such as Krst Hegedušic, Ivan Generalic, Ivan Rabuzin, and Ivan Lackovic Croata. As for Slavonia - come the traditional folklore events and festivals, she becomes herself an unrivalled cultural event. And what can compare with the scene presented by young women attired in traditional folk costumes, strutting their stuff during events such as Ðakovacki vezovi (Embroideries of Ðakovo) and Vinkovacke jeseni (Autumns of Vinkovci).

A rich folk costume calls for an equally rich table, and this is something which generous hosts throughout the width and breadth of Slavonia regard as a matter of honour. And that is why their tables are laden with Slavonian delicacies such as kulen, pepper sausages, smoked bacon, and many delectables, with wines from the cellars of Kutjevo, Ðakovo and Ilok. For those who like to bring something to the table themselves there are hunting grounds on the mountains of Bilogora and Papuk. Anglers along the Slavonian rivers can pit their wits against European catfish and carp.

The Kopacki rit Nature Park offers a different kind of enjoyment. An excursion along the Danube delta takes one to the largest bird reserve in Europe, an ideal location for an exciting photo safari.

croatia-small-hotels.com 2008