Trakoscan Castle © Milan Babic/Croatia Tourist Board
Trakoscan Castle
Trakoscan is a legendary 13th-century Gothic castle that was
home to various influential families for centuries before finally
falling into abandoned disrepair in the second half of the 18th
century when it belonged to the Draskovic family. In the 1950s the
castle was taken over by the state and turned into a living museum,
reconstructing life in a medieval castle. Visitors can explore four
levels, including the dungeon, and finish their exploration by
enjoying the surrounding parklands.
Telephone: (042) 796 281 or 796 422;
Website: www.mdc.hr/trakoscan;
Opening time: 9am to 3pm (summer); 9am to 6pm (winter);
Admission: 20 kn (adults), 10 kn (concessions)
Plitvice Lakes National Park © Judith Duk
Plitvice Lakes National Park
The Plitvice Lakes have been declared a world heritage site and
it is the natural beauty of the 16 green and turquoise lakes linked
by waterfalls and surrounded by forests and bush that attracts
thousands of visitors every year. Wooden walkways meander over,
around and across the watery setting that was formed by mineral
deposits in the water creating travertine barriers within the
constantly changing limestone landscape. The lakes are divided into
lower and upper lakes and trails are well marked. Visitors can
cover the 11 miles (18km) of walkways on foot, but the park entry
ticket also includes the use of buses and ferries to cover certain
sections.
Website: www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr;
Transport: Buses between Zagreb and Zadar stop at Plitvice (2.5hrs);
Admission: April to October: 110 kn (adults), 55 kn (children 7-18). November to March: 70 kn (adults), 40 kn (children 7-18)
