Discover Kvarner
KVARNER PLUS
LUNGOMARE
The 12 km long seaside promenade, «lungomare», extends from Volosko to Lovran. Its construction began at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, following the initiative of the Company for Opatija's Embellishment (Abbazianer Verschönerungsverein). The project managers were Heinrich Gintl, Alfred Manussi and Konrad Rubbia.
The first stage of the project, from Volosko to Slatina, was completed in 1889, while the second stage, the one to Lovran, together with some sub-stages was brought to completion in 1911, thanks to the engagement of the physician, dr Julius Horteanu.
Even today the «lungomare» offers extraordinary psychophysical recreation opportunities for people of all ages, all year round. With no steep climbs and descents, away from roads and street traffic, the promenade offers not only the therapeutic, healing sea air, but it also narrates the story of the Opatija Riviera, all along its length. This story is reflected in the historic and secession facades of the many hotels and villas, with numerous monuments, in gardens, gazebos and parks. All this is situated along the lungomare. The most important sights of Opatija, and all the other things that are mentioned in guidebooks: colours, sounds, fragrances, all the remarkable sights that have to be discovered and experienced.
OPATIJA PARKS
The Opatija parks are some of the best known park architecture monuments in Croatia.
On a surface of 3,64 ha, between the main town road and the sea, there are some 60 gardens surrounding the best known monuments of Opatija's history: villa Angiolina, Amalija, hotel Kvarner, St. James' s (Sv. Jakov) Church.
Today, this park complex is divided in two parts, one, near the church, leads to St. Jakov’s Park and the other, near villa Angiolina, leads to Park Angiolina. Park Margarita is a separate park located on a slope overlooking the Slatina.
It all started in 1844. That year is recorded as the beginning of tourism in Croatia and in Opatija. The patrician and merchant Iginio Scarpa (1794.-1866.) from Rijeka, set up and arranged a garden in memory of his wife, full of rare and exotic plants and trees. In 1882 the Imperial Royal Southern Railways Private Society from Vienna purchased villa Angiolina, and the park development was entrusted to Carl Schubert from Vienna, President of the Imperial Royal Society for the development and embellishment of pleasure gardens.
Today the park has in fact retained its original architecture. Two styles prevail: the English one (winding paths ) and the French one (flowery surfaces, according to the season). Care is devoted to the park on a daily basis. Although it is adorned with more than 150 plant species, it should be mentioned that up to fifty years ago there were more than 220 species.
The most prominent are: laurel (Laurus nobilis), the leafless magnolia (Magnolia yulan, Magnolia grandiflora), the tall and small Chamaerops ecelsa, Chamaerops humilis, the caucasian fir-tree (Abies nordmanniana), the Pančić spruce (Picea omorika), ceddar-trees (Cedrus), Australian laurel (Pitosporum tobira), pines ( Pinus pinea), cherrylaurel (Prunus lauricerasus), olives (Olea sativa), wood date-palms (Phoenix sylvestris), sequoias (Sequoia) and camellias (Camelia japonica), that have become recognised symbols of Opatija.
„MEA Festival a.k.a. K.u.K
It is a costumed manifestation evoking the years when noble gentry strolled along the Opatija promenades; the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I, the German emperor Wilhelm, Emperess Sissi, the Archduke Ferdinand, the Swedish-Norwegian king Oskar II, Emperess Mary Ann, the Romanian king Karlo and his wife Elizabeth, the composers Gustav Mahler, Giacomo Puccini, the Nobel Laureates Henryk Sienkiewiecz…. with the assistance of costumed members of numerous cultural societies and children, it will be possible to see again the writer James Joyce in Opatija, enjoying his cup of coffee on the terrace of hotel „Imperial“, Anton Pavlović Čehov while he is writing or the famous ballerina Isadora Duncan whose dancing movements were inspired by the palms swaying in front of Villa Amalia. Most of the events take place in and around villa Angiolina, the construction of which - in 1844 - marked the beginning of tourist development, as well as in Opatija's oldest hotel: „Kvarner“. There passers-by will hear recitals by famous writers and musicians playing concert compositions of composers who once stayed in Opatija. We invite the most curious spectators to meetings where the upper classes solve political issues for the Monarchy of that time, sign charters and study geographical maps while drinking the customary cognac and smoking cigars. While the ladies walk along the famous Lungomare sheltered by parasols, training instructors demonstrate exercises resembling rowing movements, that in the past were thought to cure body and spirit. Bathers in original costumes and hats on the beach Lido present comic bathing scenes of the time; when frightened non-swimmers used to tie themselves to pillars with ropes, and gentlemen demonstrated swimming techniques to the ladies.
Date: 12th– 14th June 2009
«THE PATH OF THE DOLPHINS” - PROMENADE ON THE ISLAND OF LOŠINJ
The orientation to health tourism puts an emphasis on walking as an important form of recreation, promoting healthy life in nature and environmental protection. The whole Kvarner area is full of walk-ways, and particularly attractive are the 130 kms of promenades on the island of Lošinj: (once they were just untended paths and shepherds tracks). Pedestrian paths have also been marked, and the best known is the new net of walkways called «The Path of the Dolphins» encompassing the southern part of the island of Lošinj so that now, if you start from Mali Lošinj heading southwards by coast, you'll reach your starting point from the other side of the island. Owing to the possibility of recreation walking all year round through areas of rich vegetation that have an irreplaceable importance on health, the beautiful paths have an important impact on season prolongation. Moreover, one of the biggest attractions of the island of Lošinj is located in the Lošinj maritime zone with the natural dolphins' reserve, where dolphins can be frequently seen from the «Dolphins' path» promenade. The goal of «The Lošinj Educational Marine Centre» (www.plavi-svijet.org) is to protect the only resident bottlenose dolphin's population in the Adriatic, safeguard the marine environment, promote sustainable development of natural attractions of the island of Lošinj and the Adriatic. The Centre is linked to the maritime protected zone, the Lošinj dolphins' reserve, the first of this kind on the Adriatic and the Mediterranean, and its key role is interpretation and education on natural values and the marine eco-system of the archipelago and the Adriatic Sea, with special emphasis on the dolphins, as the brand of this area. The Centre supports further research and will develop new multidisciplinary protection and management methods, of the Lošinj dolphins' reserve in the first place.
APOXYOMENOS (second- first century B.C.)
The antique bronze statue of an athlete, 192 cm tall, recovered from the sea bed between the islet of Vele Orjule and the island of Lošinj on 27th April 1999, is the only big bronze found so far on the eastern coast of the Adriatic. It is assumed that it was thrown overboard by the beginning of the first century, in the course of bad weather, to avoid the overturning of the vessel, or as a sacrifice to the gods to ensure safe voyage through the Osor channel towards some rich port of call in the north Adriatic. The statue represents an athlete, a young sportsman, using the strigil (a curved scraping instrument) to scrape oil, dust and sweat from his body after a competition. In the course of the restoration that lasted almost 7 years, with the analysis of the material and the execution style, the statue was dated back to the second or first B.C., while the prototype on the basis of which it was made is much older, from the middle of the fourth century B.C.
Of the eight currently known variations of the Apoxyomenos prototype, (among which the best known is the bronze statue from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, excavated in Ephesus in 1896), the Lošinj statue is the most complete and best preserved one. The statue’s author is unknown, but its classical beauty and workmanship quality suggest he was an extraordinary artist.
A museum is currently being renovated in Lošinj, where - starting from 2009 -Apoxyomenos will be permanently displayed to the public and thus give another contribution to the cultural heritage, as an important segment of tourism of the island of Lošinj, the Kvarner region and Croatia.
ECO CENTRE “CAPUT INSULAE”, ISLAND OF CRES
In the ecological centre “Caput Insulae” (www.supovi.hr) situated in the locality Beli, care is being devoted to the protection of griffon vultures, and other bird species are scientifically monitored in the reserves "Kruna" and "Podokladi", as well as in the entire surrounding area. Griffon vultures are one of the four species of vultures still living in Europe. The griffon vultures nest on steep cliffs above the sea, sometimes only some 10 meters above the sea surface, where they can be easily observed, but are also more exposed to various dangers at the same time. Scientists from the ecological center mark the young birds, to be able to identify them later on. The eco-centre has a special role in rescuing young vultures that fall into the sea, or are found ill and wounded. Therefore behind the Centre's headquarters a healing resort for griffon vultures has been established, where injured vultures recover before being released again. The Eco Centre as a specially tended area in the northern part of the island of Cres, is a destination for numerous visitors, nature lovers and birds watchers. In order to get to know better the varied heritage of Tramuntana (northern part of the island of Cres), the first educational eco-path was established as early as in 1995. A 12 km long educational path "Staza Tramuntana I", (3-4 hours of slow walk), with ten main stations (eco-centre, exhibition, small church, Illyric castle, oak and chestnut forests) and ten intermediate stations marking the most valuable natural and cultural-historic localities of the area crossed by the path. A great number of local and international volunteers participate in programmes implementation, through ecological camps and summer nature protection schools. All interested are included in the projects, whereby they contribute considerably to the achievement of the association's mission, i.e. to the safeguarding of the natural and cultural-historic heritage of the island of Cres, Tramuntana and the locality of Beli. At the same time, while volunteering, they acquire precious experiences and new knowledge about the wealth and the values of these areas.
„NATURE PARK UČKA“
Učka, one of the most beautiful massifs on the sea, has been proclaimed Nature Park in April 1999, and thus ranks among the youngest Croatian parks, i.e. protected natural areas. It covers the area of the massif Učka and part of Ćićarija, occupying a total surface of 160 km2, with the highest peak Vojak (1396 m).
It is very rich in plant and animal species, and particularly prominent are the centuries-old forests of sweet chestnut (marun), various species of herbs and some endemic flowers. It has developed 50 mountain paths and 8 paths for mountain biking, the total length of more than 200 km.
Učka Outdoor offers the possibility for organized practicing of:
- mountain-climbing
- trekking
- free climbing
- free flying by means of suspended gliders and para-gliders
- backpacking
- mountain biking
- speleo-adventures
- recreative riding
- bird-watching
- adventure races
with professional explanation, interpretation and education www.pp-ucka.hr
NATIONAL PARK RISNJAK
Unique flora and fauna on a small surface, 6.400 hectares of extraordinary forest area with more than thirty specific plant communities, with some ten different forest associations and sub associations, an educational path 4.200 m long, a mountain chalet, a restaurant for the most demanding gourmands, and premises for guests accommodation. The straight-line distance from the highest peak in the National Park, Veliki Risnjak (1528 m) to the sea amounts to 15 km, and 8 km to the source of the river Kupa (313 m). So, there are significant climatic variations in a distance of less than 23 km. This is what makes Risnjak so specific, a mountain overlooking all areas between the land and the sea encompassed by the National Park, where the Alps' biting breath interweaves with the mild Adriatic climate, with the Pannonian Valley's continental features and the mountain freshness of the Dinara. Everyone should visit the quiet and picturesque valley of Leska, Suha Rječina, the interesting Viljska ponikva (sink-hole), the Lazac meadow, Mali Risnjak, the dense and vast space covered by spruce woods – Smrekovac and Bijele stijene ..., and of all the numerous accesses to the national park the only «right» way to get to know the National Park is the one leading from the Administration building, where, with professional assistance and guides and the aid of topographic maps we can choose what we want to visit. www.risnjak.hr
«RAB FAIR»
The manifestation was organized for the first time in 2002, as a three-day long Medieval festival. It is held in the old town nucleus, several hundred participants take part – local population and the Monte Giardino group from the Republic of San Marino (60 persons). It is a presentation of medieval craftsmen and trades: Rab crossbowmen, town guards, coopers, shoe-makers, goldsmiths, stone-masons, basket weavers, dress-makers; washers “in the old way”, fishermen (nets repairing and live-coal candles), ship repairers (kalafati), bakers, wood-engravers, silk-painters, artists, blacksmiths, coin minters, lace-makers; with the participation of Glagolitic shops, ethno households spinning and processing wool, as well as a rural household demonstrating flour processing under the grindstone, bread preparation and baking under the baking lid; cooking on the open fire or grill; then porcelain welders, all accompanied by medieval music melodies, rich dishes cooked from ancient recipes, with the whole town adorned in ancient style. www.fjera.hr
Date: 25th – 27th July 2009
Knights games in Rab
Both participants and spectators are requested to be fully concentrated and quiet when the crossbowmen compete at the tournament for the «Felix» prize that is awarded by the Rab prince. This is the culmination of a whole series of manifestations held in the framework of the «Medieval days». These celebrations represent an old tradition dating back to the year 1634, when the Venetians were invited to celebrate the island's liberation. For already six consecutive years Rab has been restoring this tradition, and together with its guests it travels several centuries back to the past for three days. In the old town streets women in mediaeval costumes comb the wool, weave, grind flour, knead bread, coins are minted, ceramic pots made, baskets woven, stone processed and many other things. It is all completed by authentic music and dancing manifestations. www.fjera.hr
Date: 9th of May, 25th of June, 27th of July and 15th August 2009
RUŽICA VINODOLA
The manifestation Ružica Vinodola was created on the basis of a story, preserved and traditionally passed down, about the custom dating back to the centuries when the Croatian noble family Francopan ruled. The story speaks about the end of grape harvesting in the Vinodol valley, when the most beautiful and most diligent girl harvester was chosen. She was crowned with grape vines and brought to town, at the head of the procession and to the sound of old folk instruments. According to the records, this event took place for the last time in the 19th century, in 1880.
Today «Ružica Vinodola» is a contemporary festivity inspired by the Vinodol past. Inspired by the traditional Ružica election and following ancient forms of entertainment. Games for the Ružica contest are organized and a fair is held of contemporary ecological or hand-made products, all accompanied by music and dance and it lasts for several days.
In 2009 Ružica Vinodola is held in the area of Vinodol 7th and 8th August and Novi Vinodolski from 13th to 15th August
CARNIVALS have a very long tradition. 
One of the biggest and most specific European Carnivals is held in the Kvarner region in the winter period, the Rijeka International Carnival, with the participation of thousands of masked groups and individuals, companies and allegoric carts, and about a hundred thousand spectators. One of the most attractive moments of the Kvarner Carnival is the parade of bell ringers («zvončari!) in Matulji, who wear ancient masks with rams' horns. Carnivals are held in almost all localities of this area, and particularly uproarious festivities are the «Balinjerada», the international Children's Carnival in Opatija, and the Novi Vinodolski Summer Festival.
SUMMER CARNIVAL IN NOVI VINODOLSKI
The International Summer Carnival in Novi Vinodolski, attended by over 50 masked groups with over 3000 masks, offers lots of entertainment and fun.
Date: 3rd and 4th July 2009
SAILING REGATTA „THROUGH SILENCE WITH THE WIND“– It is a unique sailing regatta for the deaf and the hearing-impaired, the first project of this kind in Europe, with a special form of semiotic language developed and adapted to communication on the vessel and to sailing requirements. Held in Mali Lošinj from 17th to 19th April 2009.
ASPARUGUSES FESTIVAL & LIBURNIAN ACCORDIONISTS FESTIVAL
In the month of April, on Liberty Square (Trg slobode) in the old town of Lovran local caterers offer delicacies of wild asparaguses and asparagus dishes prepared from old local recipes. This is accompanied by a special programme (cultivation of traditional music - harmonika trieštinka, folk dances, entertainment and dance). The Festival is enriched by the appearances of accordionists in catering facilities during the Festival and by the Liburnian Accordionists Festival «Smotra of harmonikaša trieštinke» (on 1th April). At the closing ceremony an enormous quantity of scrambled eggs is prepared with 1.000 eggs and 30 kg of asparaguses. Assisted by mountaineering club guides the guests can take part in picking and preparing asparagus.
Date: 4th -12th April 2009
CHERRY DAYS
June is the month when Lovran and its surrounding area become red from fruits of the unique Lovran cherry species "Brtošinka". It is the time when Lovran cafes and restaurants, and numerous stands on Trg slobode in the old town of Lovran offer juicy cherries as well as cakes and other cherry dishes prepared from old local recipes. The manifestation is enriched by a special programme consisting of folk dances, entertainment and dancing, and at the final ceremony a 10 m long cherry strudel is prepared.
Date: 6th to 14th June 2009
ECO, ETNO AND WINEFEST IN KRK
The year-round availability of wine from the Vrbnik valley, on the island of Krk, famous for the cultivation of the autochthonous sort vrbnička žlahtina, is a special attraction for the guests of Kvarner and the island of Krk. Wine cellars and taverns offer wine-tasting and sell autochthonous local products. They will host you throughout the year, and are particularly impressing in September and October during grape harvesting, when you can visit the vineyards. Next year the central wine manifestation “Vinofest 2009” with presentation of Croatian regional products and wine culture will be a business meeting for both producers and consumers held from 28th to 31st May 2009 in Krk.
Besides good wine, visitors can enjoy the rich autochthonous local dishes on offer. There are also varied cultural-entertainment programmes; including specialized wine-growing lectures and they can visit the exhibition of wine business and viticulture products.
OLIVE DAYS
In Punat, on the island of Krk, the Olive Days manifestation is held from 8th to 11th October 2009. For several years already olive-growing and olive oil have been promoted as an autochthonous brand, and olive-picking and oil production have become an attractive tourist product. The manifestation includes holding an international workshop on the value of olive oil, the programme of tourist olives-picking with special sojourn programmes for agency and individual guests. Throughout the manifestation special attention is devoted to the gastronomic offer, based on olives and olive oil.
MARUNADA (Chestnuts Days)
Marunada in Lovran, 9th - 25th October 2009
The best known Lovran gastronomic manifestation is a real gourmands' feast – cakes, sweets and other chestnuts (maruni) dishes, prepared from old local recipes. The manifestation called MARUNADA has been held traditionally since 1973. With time it has grown into a true tourist attraction. For the "uninformed", this is a folk festivity linked to picking chestnuts that are plentiful in the forests surrounding Lovran and part of the Opatija Riviera. Every year in October Lovran is full of chestnuts - maruni, when along with entertainment programmes in Lovran restaurants and cafes and in the old town streets, a rich gastronomic display of chestnut sweets and cakes is provided. At the end of October every year, cafes in nearby Opatija are also full of chestnuts - maruni, offering a great variety of sweets prepared from this delicious fruit. At this time of year even the Lovran hinterland is full of maruni so that – in addition to Lovran - celebrations last until early morning hours in Liganj and Dobreč, too. Hot maruni are best accompanied by «medica», the local honey-brandy made from chestnut flowers.
Dates 2009: 9th - 11th October Lovran; 17th and 18th October Dobreč, 24th and 25th October Liganj
DELNICE – sports-recreational facilities
Delnice is a locality situated in Gorski kotar at an altitude of 696 m, and the moderate mountain climate and wealth of natural phenomena – Hajdova hiža, Drgomalj and Petehovac, as well as modern sports facilities have promoted the development of Delnice into a quality Gorski kotar sports-tourist centre. The almost centennial tradition of excursion, health, sports and other forms of tourism as well as natural attractions and climatic features keep attracting an increasing number of tourists to Delnice.
The multi-purpose sports hall in Delnice, worth some 2,7 million €, the construction of which has opened new opportunities for numerous sports activities, grants to tourists, and to sportsmen in particular, a new dimension of their stay in town. Given the fact that the distance from Rijeka and the nearby Kvarner Riviera's tourist resorts to Delnice is about a one-hour drive, the town is ideal for one-day excursions, for instance short visits to the Gorski kotar peaks, such as Drgomalj and Petehovac. However, Delnice also provides excellent opportunities for a few-days stay considering the additional infrastructure – hotel, sports facilities, great natural areas for walks, rest or hunting. Not far from the town is the National Park Risnjak, and at the foot of the nearby Japlenski vrh there are several sports grounds for football, basketball… then a bowling centre, a boccie court and two attractive ski jumps in winter. Other characteristic attractions of this whole area are also restaurants offering many traditional local venison and mountain-fruits specialties. In the Forest Administration area, Section of Delnice it is possible to rent a hunting lodge.
TRŠĆE
During the course of a slow walk along the tourist-educational path “In the footsteps of the Tršće miners”, more than six kilometres long, visitors get to know the life of local miners as it once was.
Tršće is a small Gorski kotar tourist centre, situated on a plateau, surrounded by a dense forest and by numerous meadows creating a picture of an exceptionally quiet and gentle landscape, so no wander this place has grown into an attractive tourist destination for numerous nature lovers. This is especially visible in winter when the whole area hides under a white winter cover, and the skiing season starts on the surrounding mountains.
Above the place extends the mountain Rudnik, with two arranged ski paths equipped with ski lifts. Tršće has also numerous sports grounds, a big sports hall and a big natural stadium for all types of running and recreation, which is interesting for sportsmen coming here for their sports preparations. Hunting tourism has also been developed considering the exceptionally rich surrounding hunting-grounds, and the whole destination is interesting also due to the vicinity of other beautiful natural attractions, such as the Kupa source and the National Park Risnjak.
LUJZIJANA ROAD
The road Lujizijana dates back to the beginning of the 19th century. Built between 1803 and 1809, and called after Napoleon's wife, Marie Louise. The road once used to be the shortest connection between Rijeka and Karlovac and one of the most modern in the entire Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Today it represents an important segment of the Croatian road heritage, still in use, although with reduced traffic loads as a result of the Zagreb-Rijeka motorway construction. Lujzijana is a tourist attraction in itself, consisting of a whole series of tourist facilities linked to its construction or use. Together with related attractions its wide range of tourist experiences, either to those driving along Lujzijana or stopping by it, we can also call it the Gorski kotar romantic road.
As a sign of valuation of this road, each year in September the manifestation «Summmer on the Lujzijana» is held, recalling the historic events linked to its construction and the road's significance, accompanied by a whole series of cultural and entertainment programmes.
VRBNIK AND VRBNIČKA ŽLAHTINA
An unique small old town, described, sung about and painted in the works of numerous artists, has developed on the site of prehistoric settlements on a steep cliff 50 m above the sea. Vrbnik's rich and tumultuous past is reflected in the numerous cultural historic monuments, which are an inexhaustible source of inspiration to many artists. Vrbnik is also a historical, glagolitic town – the Glatolitza is the oldest Slavic script developed by the middle of the 9th century, it was particularly developed in the Kvarner area, and not only were church manuscripts written in Glagolitza, but also texts from social daily life and legal documents.
Today Vrbnik is an unavoidable excursion destination, Mecca of wine-connoisseurs and gourmands. A unique type of grape, that comes on our tables under the name "Vrbnička žlahtina", is cultivated in the Vrbnik fields, with vineyards extending on some 100 ha. Besides wine production, several wineries and the numerous «konobas», offer to the guests exceptional opportunities to listen to local songs, to taste the famous pršut (smoked ham) and excellent Krk sheep cheese, and to enjoy in all earthly delights of the Žlahtina.
VRBNIČKA ŽLAHTINA – Vrbnička žlahtina, the best known and most appreciated dry and smooth tasting wine of the Kvarner region, matches particularly well with white fish and seafood dishes, and with light meat dishes. This species is cultivated on the island of Krk on the area surrounding Vrbnik, and its name originates from the Slav adjective «žlahten» which means noble.
Look for the tourist bulletin «Kvarner Info» with manifestations calendar «From day to day».