5 reasons Continental Croatia will have your heart!

Continental Croatia mixes the perfect amount of adventure, history, life, culture, and leisure for those who seek it. From the rolling vine hills to medieval castles surrounded by lakes, a vibrant capital, and thermal spas, the heart of Croatia with its bounty of untouched nature and culture will steal the top spot in your vacation bucket list.  

And here are our top 5 reasons to visit Continental Croatia in any season! 

1. Zagreb: A cosy capital with a vibrant life! 

Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia, is a romantic combination of history, culture and enchanting architecture, with enough open spaces to allow for relaxation. In the upper town of Zagreb, where Ban Jelačić Square has the stunning Zagreb Cathedral and the panoramic belvedere of Lotrščak Tower, you will find what makes Zagreb unique. 

Aerial view of Ban Jelačić, Zagreb main square, Croatia 

At the tower, you should stick around to witness a special phenomenon that has been taking place for the last century, wherein an ancient canon is fired at noon! The area is also to the famous Tkalcicev Street, where a perfect day could look like morning spent in cafes, afternoon in art galleries and evening in charming night bars. Another famous place to visit in the Upper Town is the open-air Dolac Market, offering deliciously fresh food, artisanal products as well as the freshly caught Adriatic fish.  

The stunning Croatian National theatre close to the centre of Zagreb 

Zagreb also has something for art and history lovers. Its museums house rich art history, with the Strossmayer Museum displaying the works of Bruegel and Bellini and the Mimara Museum displaying the works of more modern masters like Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck. To know the capital better though, we recommend visiting the Zagreb City Museum, which has a scale model of Zagreb’s old city!  If you are coming with little ones, then Park Maksimir is the place to just sit back and soak up the city; this park is the largest in Zagreb and features lakes, summer villas and sculptures! 

The lovely lake in park Maksimir in Zagreb 

With autumnal concerts, exhibitions and events in the city, one of the best Christmas markets in winter–Zagreb Christmas market tops the list of some of the best ones in Europe–, and colourful cafe culture in summer, indeed, there is never really a bad time to visit Zagreb! 

Tip: Just a few kilometres from Zagreb, you can enjoy pack rafting and kayaking! 

Looking for cosy retreats in and near Zagreb? Have a look at our wide range of holiday homes with gardens, spas, saunas, pools and more! 

2. Living castles and memory in Central Croatia! 

Home to living castles, the Hrvatsko Zagorje region of Continental Croatia is perfect for those who want to dive deep into not only the history of Croatia but also the history of man! The region covers the outskirts of Zagreb as well as Varaždin and Krapina. 

In Krapina, the capital of Hrvatsko Zagorje, is the world-famous site of the Husjnjakovo Hill where the remains of the pre-historic man or the Neanderthals were discovered. But if the site does not suffice your sense of wonderment, then you can also visit the Krapina Neanderthal Museum with virtual half caves of stone-age, hyper-real visualisation of the pre-historic man and modern technology to transport you to the life of times gone by! 

The Neanderthal Museum in Krapina, Croatia 

Coming a little closer to human history, the Trakošćan Castle is another wonderful site to see. With settings that look just like a famous English painter John Constable's painting, this serene and well-preserved castle is perched close to vineyards and woodlands and features English-style landscaped gardens and a lake with hiking opportunities.  

The picturesque settings of Trakošćan Castle on Lake Trakošćan near Bednja, Croatia 

Meanwhile, for a mixture of art and romance, the town of Varaždin is perfect. Just an hour’s drive from Krapina, this baroque town is made of cobbled streets, museums and the medieval Varaždin Castle, which is one of the most important and picturesque local buildings around! 

The medieval Varaždin Castle in the town of Varaždin 

A living piece of history, Veliki Tabor Castle in the Harvatsko Zagorje region always has something new going on. The castle has permanent exhibits that display the heritage and history of the region’s most powerful families like the Rattyaki and Kavanagh-Ballyane families as well as the old way of rural life. At the same time, for entertainment and staying connected with culture, the museum holds various workshops, which you can check out at the castle’s official website!  For something more artful, visit the unique Staro Selo, Kumrovac, museum to experience the authentic life of villages in Croatia and enjoy calligraphy workshops and other traditional arts.

 Arieal view of the Veliki Tabor Castle in the Harvatsko Zagorje region 

Tip: To experience the excellent recreational facilities of the area, head to Varaždin Sea, a sports and recreation centre with a beach, tennis courts (adapted to winters), lakes and equipped for many other sports! 

3. A nature like no other in Gorski Kotar Region! 

Skiing, hiking, or climbing? Whichever sport it is that you love, the unspoiled nature of the Gorski Kotar region will make it so much better. The region is home to the heavily forested Risjnak National Park, where you can see the bobcat, brown bears and many species of birds in their natural habitat, as well as the “Wonderous Valley of Butterflies” at the source of the emerald Kupa River! 

Tip: Visit the most beautiful and biggest Karst caves of Gorski Kotar, the Lokvarka Caves, for an out-of-the-world experience! 

The turquoise waters at the source of the Kupa River, Croatia 

This well-preserved park also has cycling trails of varying lengths and abilities; from 4-8 km-long trails for beginners to the more extensive 40 km-long trails for pros. Inside, you’ll also find the well-known Leska Path, where you can learn about the flora and fauna of the region. For the more daring, Snježnik Peak, which is almost always covered with snow, is perfect for mountaineering, and Primorske-Gorski Kotar’s highest altitude village (almost 1076m), Begovo Razdolj, is perfect for your skiing adventures. 

Bijele stijene and the Risjnak mountain, The White Cliffs, Croatia 

Find your perfect haven close to the coast and the heart of Croatia here. 

4. Divine wines and food in Hrvatsko Zagorje! 

With every hill of Harvatsko Zagorje offering a different variety of wine, the area is a divine destination of the popular Croatian wines and their unique taste. You can find many “klets” or traditional wine cellars, where the heady aroma and the excellent quality of wine will surely have your heart. Some of the wineries to try are Winery Grozaj, Winery Trs Server and Kupilek. However, we do recommend booking their wine tours in advance because of their immense popularity. 

Beautiful morning orange sunrise scenery in countryside of Croatia, county Hrvatsko Zagorje 

Another region of Central Croatia where you can find the vineyard country is Moslavina. The Moslavina Hill paths and the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park are fine examples of the characteristic beauty of the region made up of vineyards and large green fields! At the Lonjsko Polje, you can immerse yourself in Croatia’s old life on the specifically designed and themed trail connecting Lonjsko Polje with the Moslavina Vineyards and the Sava River. 

Another unique jewel of the region is Kutina: the biggest town of Moslavina that stands out for its uninhabited wooden houses and top-quality vineyards! 

An abandoned historic wooden building in the small village of Cigoc Village in Sisak-Moslavina County 

Tip: Check out the must-try Croatian dishes in our blog to fully experience true Croatia! 

5. Excessive, almost sinful leisure! 

The thermal spas of Croatia are a class apart, out of which Krapinske Toplice Aquae Vivae is a full package, with a water park, sauna world and a variety of massages to relax even the tensest nerves! What’s more, the healing waters of this thermal spa rank sixth in all of Europe. Have a look at our holiday homes in the surroundings! 

Happy.Rentals’ lovely rural property with outdoor sauna and Jacuzzi ID 7091 

These are only some of the top attractions to visit in Central Croatia. If you want to explore more locations or holiday homes in this hidden travel jewel? Have a look right here! 

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