Visiting Europe's secret gardens-Croatia Travel Guide

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Regardless of how many times Chinese people have gone abroad or how many times they choose to visit in European countries, Croatia is not the planned travel destination. It is just a place that is too unfamiliar to be remembered at all. However, there are several niche Mediterranean cruise routes that are highly sought after by European tourists, and these routes without exception include Dubrovnik, Split coastal ancient city or Korcula island. Coincidentally, these places that make cruise passengers exclaim in incomparable beauty all belong to an unfamiliar country-Croatia. Only when you truly go deep into this country with a special location, a complicated history, and many ethnic groups will you discover that the beauty here lies in its heritage, its scenery, its lifestyle, and its happiness. It can be said that no matter which travel or vacation method they prefer, Croatia has all people's demands for tourism.

Croatia's beauty is very fulfilling, with history, culture, sea, castles, fine wine, delicious food, and beauty. Croatia's beauty is also very peaceful. There are few noisy tourist groups here, let alone a large number of tourists from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Compared with a tourist attraction, Croatia is more like a secret garden in Europe, and if you want to understand this secret garden, you must start from the history of the country.

"God distributed the land and finally found that he had left out the Croats, so he had to give the land he left for himself to Croatia."-- Funny Croats say this about their country.

Croatia is located at the junction of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Pannonian Plain of the Balkan Peninsula. It is the most beautiful and mysterious country in the Mediterranean region. It stretches a 6000-kilometer coastline in the Adriatic Sea, the sea area with the best sea quality in this region. It covers countless harbors and nearly 1100 islands, including many splendid historical sites and ancient cities. No matter which port town you are in the coastal area, you can easily reach the beautiful seaside and majestic ancient city ruins. The scenery on the mainland is comparable to a fairy tale world, especially the national parks scattered throughout it. The most famous ones are the Brioni Islands National Park and the Sixteen Lakes National Park. Among them, the Sixteen Lakes are already the signature of Croatia. Tourists from all over Europe come here almost every day.

It is precisely because of its excellent geographical location that triggered wars that have never stopped since ancient times. As early as 925 AD, Croatia was officially founded. The king was Tomislav. At that time, Croatia's territory reached the Pannonian Plain in the north, reached Dubrovnik in the south, bounded by the hinterland of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the east, and reached large areas such as Vis Island, Bulachi Island, and Hvar Island in the Adriatic Sea in the west. Until Croatia became independent in 1998, the only day of true independence in history was the founding of the country in 925 AD. Since the death of the first king, Croatia has fallen into nearly two centuries of partition and aggression. The fate of almost every powerful nation and country in the surrounding region has been the master here, starting from the newly rising Hungary in 1102, to Germany, Italy, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Even Yugoslavia after the end of the World War once rushed forward here to claim sovereignty in various ways and excuses. It was not until June 25, 1991 that Croatia elected its own leader and declared its independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. However, this did not really seek stability. The War of National Independence continued. It was not until 1998 that this beautiful country was unified throughout the country, and the Croatian people received unprecedented peace and peace.

It has been only more than a decade since 1998. To this day, many Europeans still regard this country as a frame of war, chaos, and lack of security. As a result, tourists are still scarce here and prices are still low. Tourist facilities are not built according to the preferences of tourists from any rich country. This place only has its true colors for thousands of years, and the original and original flavor flowing everywhere. Among them, there are the eternal beauty of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, the construction and management of towns of various sizes and sizes in the country by occupiers of various eras, the scars and traces of war, and the people who always guard their homes and cherish the peaceful days... All of this makes this country so beautiful that people want to have it.

Zagreb is both the capital of Croatia and a famous historical city in Central Europe. It is located in the northwest of Croatia, on the west bank of the Sava River, at the foot of the Medvednica Mountains. This 900-year-old capital city originally meant "trenches". As the name suggests, this place has never been spared in historical battles. Therefore, it has become a microcosm of the great integration of Croatian nation and folk customs. Mr. Wang said that even if you are heading to a seaside town, you must not miss the capital area. Although this area is not large, it can be said to be a microcosm of the entire Croatian country. For example, Zagreb, the entire city consists of three parts: the old city composed of ancient buildings such as churches and city halls, also known as Uptown, and the new district composed of squares, commercial districts, and opera houses, also known as Xiacheng District, and the modern urban area developed after World War II.

If you want to pursue scenic spots and ancient buildings, the area around Jerasic Square in the Laocheng District is the best place in the city. It contains many Baroque buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries and the oldest houses in the Urban area. Although the founding of the People's Republic of China is less than 20 years old, Croatia can see historical monuments from various periods, and even many buildings dating back to thousands of years. Such buildings are rare in Europe. In Croatia, people renovate these ancient buildings and still use them, especially in the capital, Zagreb. Whether it is hundreds of years old or thousands of years old, every building is being used, some are museums, some are shops, some are B & Bs, and most are ordinary residential buildings. Here, the architectural ideology and traditional culture remain the same. The greatest charm of the capital, Zagreb, is that it creates a fusion of the new century and the old world, because it has been an important religious center in Europe as early as 1094. For a long time, in order to completely protect the historical monuments in the old Urban area, motor vehicles have been prohibited from entering it. In order to maintain a thousand-year tradition, the Virgin and Child who survived the fire are preserved at the original site for worship. The ancient fort located at the commanding heights of the old Urban area still carries out the custom that has remained unchanged for a century-firing at 12 noon every day. The sound of guns used to scare away the enemy, but now it has become a tradition and an indispensable part of the city. Tourists who come to Zagreb will take the cableway to the old fort before 12 o'clock and wait for the shock. Although it was an empty shell, it still had a deafening sound effect. With the sound of the shell, people in the entire Laocheng District knew that noon was coming.

Zagreb is the most prosperous, most ethnic and joyful place. Ordinary tourists will never guess or play. It is an open-air market supported by large red parasols and is also the focus of daily life of local people. When it comes to open-air markets, it's not unusual at all, because they are found in many places in Europe. However, now, open-air markets in some traditional tourist countries such as France and Italy have slowly evolved into places for tourists to visit and play. There are also some "antiques" from Made in China often appear. However, the form of this shanzhai is completely different from the market in Zagreb.

First of all, the markets here are distributed in specific places in various Urban area. If you want to find a stall in the market, you must use two things issued by the government. One is a large red sunshade, not only because of the harmonious unity of the market, but also because red is the color of Croatia. The second item is the scale uniformly configured by the government, and there is also a unified weight. This lovely measuring tool we have only seen in general knowledge classes in primary schools. It is also a prop. In the open-air market in Zagreb, they still use it every day. The open-air market with unified measuring tools has achieved a true innocence.

In addition, there is another important reason why this open-air market is different from France, Italy and other countries. That is, it is the most important shopping area for local people, especially daily necessities. The vendors in the market come from all regions of Croatia. Those selling agricultural and sideline products must be farmers who have been identified by the government. If they are fruits and vegetables, they must be fruits and vegetables picked that day. Those selling furniture are also traditional craftsmen. Moreover, open-air markets also have a considerable benefit, that is, they can have free tasting like large supermarkets in China. Some interesting bosses also sell their own specialty fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes in various shapes. Don't worry about seeing any strange fruits and vegetables here. They are all pollution-free products that have gone through quality inspection. Some bosses also put photos of their vegetable fields on vegetable stalls to let customers see the growth process of these fruits and vegetables. In addition to fruits and vegetables, there are many traditional handicrafts, the most of which are wooden toys. When young people around the world now use "apples" as toys and partners, Croatian children are still happily playing with traditional wooden bird whistles, exquisite tops, and dexterous trolleys. Therefore, this open-air market is also a happy paradise for children. Because the open-air market is so important in local people's lives, it is not limited to once or twice a week like other European countries, but is held every day, especially in the morning.

Zagreb also has countless museums, which are also a key leisure place for local residents during holidays. In addition to the museums in the city, there is also the largest open-air museum in the country 66 kilometers northwest of the city. This museum is world-renowned, but few tourists visit it. This is the village of Kumrovets.

There are 40 houses from pre-industrial times intact here. No matter how fierce the war is, Zagreb people will never allow this place to be contaminated or trampled on. Because to them, this place is not only the preservation of monuments, but also of extraordinary significance. Because a boy named Josip Brods was born here in 1892 and grew up here. But then the world remembered his other name-Tito. He was a leader of communism and led Europe's largest partisan movement during World War II. Today, not only does Tito's home remain intact, but it can also most truly reproduce the lifestyle of Croatian residents before the Industrial Revolution.

There are almost no beggars, drunkards, or drug addicts in Croatia. Here, both the poor and the rich are working hard and living actively. Perhaps it is because they have experienced war for too long that they cherish their beautiful lives even more. Let's go. The leisure of local people is also a unique art. They basically go to museums, art galleries, bookstores, and music bars. They also usually have a drink because they can drink authentic beers from Western countries and locally brewed specialty wines. In addition, there are some interesting things in Zagreb's New town area. The Love Museum is very worth visiting. It contains souvenirs related to love or love, marriage or divorce sent by people from all over the world, as well as the story written by the owner. It is very interesting.

In addition to the excitement of the city, there are also many interesting destinations around Zagreb, some of which are worth visiting. If you stay in the capital Zagreb for a long time, you must drive to visit one or two surrounding towns.

If you ask locals what is the most charming place near Zagreb, almost everyone will tell you one place, which is Sammobel, which Mr. Wang also admires most. When you come out of Zagreb, walk along the A3 highway for 10 kilometers and turn left. In less than ten minutes, you will see the Gladna River flowing out of the town. It will flow up the river, winding around, and you will reach the town.

The history of the town began in 1242, when King Pelao IV granted it the status of a "free city" and promoted economic development. Because it is surrounded by mountains and rivers, the environment is quiet and peaceful. 1261-1271 In 1979, Czech King Otukar II, who had just invaded Austria, took a fancy to this beautiful place and built a castle estate here. In the following hundreds of years, although the castle gradually became abandoned, more and more residents were under the castle.

People gather by the riverside under the forest and live by the river to enjoy the coolness. With more people, entertainment will naturally be indispensable. Records have proved that since 1827, Sammobel has seen carnival activities to resign the old and welcome the spring. It started out as a dance party, but later developed into spot bonfires, fireworks, and masked parades. In mid-February every year, it is the day when the town holds a carnival. Thousands of enthusiasts come to participate, and they carnival until late into the night every day. All kinds of masks are in a variety of shapes and renovations, and they are dizzying.

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Tomislav King Square is the center of the town, surrounded by hotels, restaurants, banks, post offices, coffee bars, dessert shops and town government with different styles. Any building has a history of one or two hundred years. As if there was never anything else, whether in winter or summer, the square was full of people, drinking beer, drinking coffee, or tasting the famous local cream cake. The ease and leisure made people feel as if time would never move. Cream cakes made using traditional methods are the brand food here. Kwen writes "kremnita". There is a famous pastry shop called "U PROLAZU" in the square, which specializes in producing and selling this kind of cake.

In the second half of the 19th century, it became a famous summer resort near Zagreb. The development history of the town's most famous Lavica hotel is a microcosm of the town's tourism industry. In 1809, the hotel was a stable and straw shed, which was later converted into a pharmacy. By the end of the 19th century, pharmacists Mirko Kleshcec and Dr. Juratovic established a hydroelectric bathing system in Sammopur, and the hotel was born. In 1904, this hotel, which had only 17 rooms at that time, received more than 1000 guests in one summer, so that the hotel even started its own travel newspaper.

Behind the building on the south side of Tomislav King Square is the Grad River, which is topped by a covered bridge. Opposite the bridge is the Lavica Hotel. On the high slope to the east of the hotel is the Baroque parish church built in 1671, and on the west of the hotel is the Livadi Estate, an 18th-century building that is now a regional museum.

Further west from here, you can reach the castle on the mountain through the dense forest. Sammobel Castle was once the largest castle near Zagreb. Although it has been abandoned, the ruins are still spectacular. Climbing the castle, you can have a bird's eye view of Sammobel. Be sure to stop on the covered bridge when you go to Sammobel. This is not only because the covered bridge is located right in the center of the town, but because the covered bridge is both a bridge and a pavilion. Sitting on it, you can most fully feel the graceful style of Sammobel. The slowly flowing Gradna River water and the mottled century-old house, the heavy and distant church bells, the broken stone castle, all in your eyes and ears, whatever you want.

If you choose a must-visit place in Croatia, everyone will recommend "Sixteen Lakes National Park", whether it is Croatian tourism authorities, local residents, tourists who have been to Croatia or people who just know the country. If you want to spend some time walking further while visiting the Capital Circle, you must go to Sixteen Lakes National Park. Croats think it is the work of God, and Europeans say it is the only fairyland in Europe.Chinese people who have known a little about it say that it is Jiuzhaigou in Europe. In fact, after visiting it, you will find that the beauty of the sixteen lakes is substantially different from Jiuzhaigou.

Sixteen Lakes National Park is located in the Pritvice Lake Basin, so it is also called Pritvice National Park. It is located halfway from Zagreb to the ancient town of Zadar. It was officially opened as a national park in 1949. The landscape here is famous for its unique natural scenery and scientific value. Covering an area of 35000 hectares, the park meanders through the Korana River in limestone and dolomite canyons, and suddenly turns into a series of lakes. There is a great gap between the lakes, forming many waterfalls and small green water curtains. The lakes are connected to each other, and the water from the higher lakes pours into the lower lakes. In the park, there are many attractions, among which the most spectacular is its waterfall and water color. In China, there is a saying that "Jiuzhaigou does not look at water when returning." However, for people who have seen beautiful scenery in many places around the world, Jiuzhaigou's water will be affected by aesthetic fatigue more or less. Moreover, noisy tourists and ubiquitous hawkers in the scenic spot make it difficult for many people who make special trips to enjoy the scenery to raise interest. Sixteen Lakes did not have any of these situations. No matter how much aesthetic fatigue one had, they could only stay away.

Sixteen waterfalls of different shapes and sizes connect the sixteen lakes together. Some waterfalls are very thin and silky, not high or spectacular, but in the green mountains and clear waters, they are as delicate as bonsai. Some waterfalls fly down from the towering stone walls, with a magnificent momentum. Although the waterfalls on the sixteen lakes are not among the top in the world in terms of drop and width, the density, beauty and diversity of the waterfalls are amazing. Some waterfalls even connect two lakes with different colors. The noisy waterfalls flow down, and the lake immediately returns to calm. No wonder some people rated the waterfalls here as one of the top ten most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

addition, an important reason why the Sixteen Lakes National Park is picturesque is its color, because it is located in a karst landform area, the water contains minerals such as limestone, and the lake water presents a special color. In the dense mountains, countless waterfalls cross over the calcified embankments layer by layer, connecting sixteen lakes as beautiful as fairytale fairyland. Most of the trees on the lake are deciduous plants, which means that they change colors all year round, and different scenery can be seen in different seasons. Spring is naturally tender green, while the southern foot of the hillside is a red mountain brought by wild flowers; in summer, the green mountains make the lake more crystal clear; in autumn, beech trees and other trees bring here from yellow to red. Various gradient colors also make the lake colorful; in winter, leaves are scattered all over the ground. The vitality of the lake and the gloom of the woods allow people to observe the changes in the world.

Taking a boat in the lake is the best way to get close to the mountains and rivers here. In order to protect the original features of nature to the greatest extent, in the scenic area, you can only take a boat in the lake or use your feet to measure it. Mr. Wang suggested that if you want to enjoy this place, you must experience both methods, especially if you stroll around it. At the water's edge, the crystal clear lake water has no impurities at all. All kinds of beautiful fish follow people in the water. The "truth" that if the water is clear, there will be no fish does not hold true here. Moreover, all the water here is drinkable. Because the water source of the lake area comes from a pollution-free protected area, the pure water flow and rich minerals make this mineral water from the 16th Lake National Park as world-famous as the park itself. National parks stipulate that tourists are not allowed to invade any animals and plants, so the animals here are not afraid of tourists, but are very intimate to people. The beauty here changes with the four seasons. The color of the lake here is blue or green with light and shadow. It is like a gem left by God to the world, showing charming brilliance at any time. If you want to fully appreciate the beauty of this scenic spot, it is best to arrange two days. First of all, the scenic area is very big, and the main hiking method cannot be completed in one day. Moreover, the changes of light and shadow are the biggest attraction here, so the beautiful scenery at different time periods is very worth appreciating. In addition, the national park is also specially prepared for tourists. wooden house villas. These are single-family wooden houses built by local people on the hillside. Each wooden house has a high platform. In the evening, after a light rain, a layer of white fog forms in the park. Standing on the platform, you can enjoy the bright green slopes and trees, like a fairyland. At night, sleeping in a warm wooden house and hearing the ticking sound of rain falling on the roof is a unique feeling.

For Croats, Sixteen Lakes National Park is their national treasure, so the beauty here can only be seen and cannot even be touched. However, if you want to play in the water well and take a shower under the waterfalls, you can go to other national parks. Among them, Kirka National Park is also very good, just as beautiful and fun. You can play in the water with fish.

网站图片位 TIPS: 1. The Croatian government has decided to implement a temporary visa policy for foreign citizens to visit Croatia in 2012: Foreign citizens holding a valid Schengen country residence permit or a C Schengen visa (two or multiple entries) or D visa (residence visa) can enter, stay or transit without a visa. In addition, Croatia is planning to formally join the European Union in 2013. It is reported that there will be a new and more open visa policy by then.

2. In terms of accommodation, in Croatia, world-class hotel chains are mainly concentrated in the capital Zagreb, but there are not many. Moreover, unless in the tourist season, these chain hotels usually do not have many tourists, because there are many family B & Bs across the country. Most of them are run by loving old couples. Not only do they live like home, the owner also cooks Croatian home-cooked dishes for the guests themselves, and most of the rooms come with kitchens. Tourists can also purchase vegetables from open-air markets and cook for themselves. In Zagreb, several B & Bs such as Hotel Jaegerhorn, Day**Night Hostel and Rooms Pleso make many European tourists linger. Another important point is that the prices of these B & Bs are very friendly to the people. In the peak season, they are only about RMB 500, and in the off-season, they are even more friendly.

3. When traveling in Croatia, renting a car is the most convenient way of transportation, especially when traveling in the Capital Circle. The car rental industry in Zagreb is very developed and the price is not expensive. During the peak season in July and August, the rental fee for a 5-seat Ford Focus is 2500 RMB/10 days. You can successfully rent a car by logging in to the international car rental website at home, and you can pick up the car at the airport. You don't need to make a tight itinerary to visit this area. You can go back and forth in a day to the nearby and smaller towns. If you encounter one with good scenery, it will be good to stay for a day or two to experience local life.