Vuglec Breg , a little village in Hrvatsko Zagorje now offers unconvenional de-stress program that includes looking after flock of sheep.

The program is aimed to people who wish to escape from the stresses of everyday life and spend few days on rural farm.

The three day program includes two overnight stays with accommodation in one of Zagorje`s traditional houses including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Along with looking after and feeding 25 sheep on a meadow on the southern slopes of Vuglec Breg, the program includes the feeding and grooming of ponies. Those who wish to look after the sheep will have a three legged stool, a shepherd`s stick and a sheep dog Riki , while those interested in additional activities, can join the owners in seasonal work in vineyards or orchards, chopping of wood, and other farm activities.

The de-stress program is available throughout the year.

Vuglec Breg is located about 40 kilometres from Zagreb in the heart of Hrvatsko Zagorje reagion, 4km from the thermal spa Krapinske Toplice.  The restored village is today made up of three original Zagorje houses, a restaurant, a wine cellar, a gazebo with a clay oven and barbeque. There are also some old wells that used to serve as water supplies, and an old Zagorje ‘klet’ , a traditional wooden hut.

There are many trails and paths on offer for lovers of refreshing long strolls or mountain bike rides in the fresh air, all of them surrounded by vineyards, orchards, forests and meadows.

• Pension Vuglec Breg
  Situated 7 km from Krapina and 60 km from Zagreb, Pansion Vuglec Breg offers modern rooms in 4 traditional north-Croatian cottages. The complex features free Wi-Fi and a tennis court. Prices from 53.00 – Number of rooms: 10 – Check Pension Vuglec Breg, Krapina availability

The video features some lovely shots and wise comments – have a look:

This is an excerpt from the article:

Mondo Konoba may be the best little restaurant that you may never reach. It is what eating in the Old World should feel like. Just be warned that you’ll have to work for it..

Mondo Konoba sits on a slope just outside the large gate to the beautiful medieval village of Motovun, which is on a hilltop deep in the Croatian countryside almost an hour from the nearest train station. Visitors can drive up the narrow winding road almost to the top, though they must leave their cars and make their way along the final stretch of narrow cobbled streets with misshapen and brightly colored houses on foot. Otherwise, it’s a stunning, but tiring, half-hour trek to Motovun….

Read the complete article here

The village tourist estate Srce prirode (The Heart of Nature) has been opened in Gorica Lipnicka, a village located on about twenty kilometers from the town of Karlovac in Central Croatia.

This family village estate spreads over 12 thousand square meters and contains three traditional renovated houses.

The accommodation part of the estate offers nine rooms (18 beds), and the guests can also use a restaurant seating 80 people, a wine tasting facility, a gazebo and a tavern seating 50 people. The family estate offers eco food such as different kinds of honey, juices, wines, cured meats, etc.

The meals in the restaurant are prepared according to old recipes. Two conference halls are equipped with modern technology.

In addition, visitors to the estate can engage in the following activities: paintball, Village Olympics, culinary workshop, speleo-adventure, football, archery, volleyball, badminton, boccie and berry picking.

The owner of the estate also owns the four star family hotel Korana in Karlovac, a historic and attractive town located around fifty kilometers from Zagreb, with the old town of Dubovac as its trademark.

The hotel is located on Korana River, one of the four rivers in Karlovac, offering 15 double rooms and 3 business suites, as well as gastro, recreation and other offers.

More info at Srce Prirode homepage

Tourist can visit numerous country estates around the Croatian capital of Zagreb, which will bring the local customs, the authentic lifestyle and local specialties closer to them. Some of the estates feature true little animal kingdoms – some estates have domestic animals, and some have forest animals such as fawns and deer.

Guests are free to enjoy walking or mountaineering, and may also participate in typical rural activities.

Samobor Hills feature several estates – the Lijepo brdo Žumberak facility, the country estate Ethno House at the foot of Okic, and the large excursion site Divlje vode known as one of the most beautiful ones around Zagreb.

On the way to Jastrebarsko, one will come across two more country estates – the Repro-eko estate offering only vegetarian food, and the Pri Naceku country estate.

The area east of Zagreb also has some country estates. The Jankovic rural tourism and hospitality facility is situated in the village of Stara Marca near Ivanic Grad, with the large Kezele estate stretching nearby.

The Zrno estate is situated in the small village of Habijanovec near Vrbovecka Dubrava, 55 km east of Zagreb, while the road to Zelina features several country estates within the Zelina Wine Road, Ljubekov Gaj being the most popular among them.

More info: Zagreb County Tourist Board http://www.tzzz.hr/

In the ranking of tourist values in Croatia, along with many other qualities, the beauty and level of preservation of the natural environment holds a convincing first place along with an ecological awareness that is reflected in the relationship with nature, the organic production of food, and doing business with companies that have harmonised with environment protection standards.

There are eight national parks in Croatia and ten nature reserves: Plitvice Lakes National Park (NP), Risnjak NP, Brijuni NP, Mljet NP, Sjeverni Velebit NP, Krka NP, Kornati NP and Paklenica NP.

The nature reserves are: Kopacki rit Nature Reserve (NR), Papuk , Ucka, Vransko jezero , Telašcica , Lonjsko polje , Velebit , Medvednica , Žumberak – Samobor Highlands , Biokovo and the Lastovo and its surrounding Islands .

These are areas of exceptional beauty that are attractive as tourist destinations but also for all those that wish to study the flora and fauna of the area and natural processes.

Even outside of these protected areas there are many destinations that attract visitors with their preserved natural environment and their hiking and cycling trails, the opportunities for organised water sports such as rafting or canoeing and exceptionally beautiful and clean rivers and other natural sites.

One of the strong points of Croatian tourism is a tourist industry with an offer that is eco-friendly.

There are some 340 eco-producers currently registered in Croatia, many of which sell their products to hotel companies and in doing so offer tourists food of recognisable, full and, in other places somewhat already forgotten, flavours.

Some of them are involved in the exclusively ecological production of fruit, vegetables, cheeses and many other products, and some offer the option of an overnight stay on the estate along with the manufacture.

Fresh food designated as organic -production that is regulated by law in Croatia – is increasingly present on the Croatian market, and there are a growing number of producers that have opted to produce health food, the quality of which is attested to by the appropriate certificate.

Vegetables, fruits and grains are grown on eco-estates using entirely organic methods and are served fresh to guests or are processed into winter preserves, also manufactured following ecologically friendly methods. Fruits and vegetables picked just before they are served – frequently and by the guests themselves – is an experience that is particularly fondly remembered by visitors and that guarantees them that they are being served truly fresh and healthy food.

Eco-estates are frequently workshops of sorts and guests can join their hosts in harvests, the preparation of foods and even their preparation as winter preserves.

With the growing demand for natural, organically grown production, many Croatian hotels have opted to follow the trend and are more and more often putting eco products on their menus.

The trend is present in the entire tourism industry and in particular in many small family-operated hotels whose offer is based on the local values of the region they are located in. Organic production is a part and parcel of their culinary and overall offer and features many locally produced products.

For more info visit Croatian National Tourist Board www.croatia.hr  – the official tourist site of Croatia.

The castle Veliki Tabor, located in the Hrvatsko zagorje region, is numbered among the most attractive and best-preserved monuments of medieval fortification architecture in Croatia.

Veliki Tabor is one of Castles of Croatia  – a fortified medieval aristocratic hilltop burg situated in the northwestern part of the Hrvatsko zagorje in the municipality of Desinic.

More than two years of work on its reconstruction and protection has seen the renovation of the portico, gallery and the five-cornered tower.

The oldest sections of this top-category cultural monument date from the 12th century, while its current appearance dates from the 19th century. The castle was owned by many prominent Croatian families, such as the Counts Celjski, and it was after their possession that the unhappy legend of Veronika Desinicka emerged.

The castle covers over 3,000 square metres of floor space and its interior contains, among other things, galleries adorned with circular columns, a court chapel, a wine cellar with a large winepress, a large well and the most attractive part of Veliki Tabor – the grand rustic hall.

The castle houses many collections, such as those featuring old vehicles and pottery, and a well stocked ethnographic collection. A visual arts gallery, a presentation of the first medications factory, presentations of fencing, musketeers and the armour of the “wretched knight” are only a few of the fascinating exhibits in this engrossing museum and excursion grounds in the Hrvatsko zagorje.

More info : Large Photo of Veliki Tabor Castle + Castles of Croatia +  Guide to Hrvatsko Zagorje + Municipality of Desinic web : www.desinic.hr + Krapina-Zagorje County Tourist Board web : www.tz-zagorje.hr & Krapinske Toplice Hotels

Almost 90% of the population of Lipnicka Gorica and other settlements  in this passive region in the western corner of Karlovac County  have moved away over the past 50 years, which has almost resulted in their disappearance from geographic maps.

Ivan Srakovcic, owner of the Korana, one of the best family-operated hotels in Croatia, cites the natural beauty of the Ribnjak region, from which he draws his own roots, as one of the reasons he has  jumped on board the rural tourism bandwagon.

Srakovcic is a pioneer in national development programs, who  used a favourable loan to launch his small family hotel, and it is  little wonder that his new project has received the backing of the  Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development, which is assisting him in the construction effort, and of the Ministry of Agriculture, which is helping to implement the program.

More than a milion kuna have been invested to date in the renovation of the family estate and the construction of a brewery, a seminar hall and bowers for a restaurant, and 2 million more have been earmarked  for further investment as Srakovcic wants to base his offer  on twenty rooms in four authentic wooden cottages, with a wine  cellar that would double as a reception area.

Special Offer:  NEW YEARS EVE AT ” HOTEL KORANA SRAKOVČIĆ”

Have a special New Year`s Eve in a beautiful atmosphere of our hotel located in the middle of the 100 years old park on the river Korana , and enjoy at the winter idillic of Karlovac`s park. Taste the magic of Croatian delicacy and taste the best sort of wine. Price for New Year`s Eve = 490,00 Kn For special accommodation prices contact us : 0038547 609 090: Hotel Korana Srakovcic - Perivoj Josipa Vrbanića 8, 47000 Karlovac, Hrvatska – tel: +385/ 047/ 60 90 90, tel : +385/ 047/ 60 90 91, hotelkorana.hr

The Gacka River has long been known around the world as one of the most beautiful rivers in which trout spawn, although now it also draws the attention of those visitors for whom fishing is not on the vacation list of priorities.

Many of the facilities on the Gacka River have been renovated over the past years, the most significant and most attractive of these certainly being the mills at Majerovo vrilo (Majer’s Spring) – a complex unique to Croatia.

As late as in the past century some 60 mills were in operation milling grain on the Gacka River and its tributaries.

Three of them have now been reconstructed and made operational. They too are a true treasure trove of traditional heritage. There is an info point in the first of the renovated mills with a well-stocked exhibition and sale collection.

The second mill is a closed type, while the third demonstrates to visitors how grain is milled with the possibility of purchasing three types of home made flour.

An electric power generator will be installed in the fourth mill, where renovation works are still ongoing, that will supply the entire complex with electrical energy.

Not far from Majerovo vrilo is Klanac vrilo where the milling and treading of grain can be viewed at Štimcev’s Mill.

The last in the series is Tonkovic vrilo where visitors can enjoy a well-appointed summer residence featuring a spacious wooden terrace above the waters. A few steps away is the Vrila Gacke, a restaurant offering Lika region and river specialities.

More info on Lika and Central Croatia + Otocac Tourist Board http://www.tz-otocac.hr/ + Lika County Tourist Board http://www.lickosenjska.com/

It was as a result of the great similarity in customs, lifestyle and image in general that a joint tourism zone called along River Sutla and Žumberak was created that combines these areas and their tourism offer.

The area is predominantly rural, with villages scattered between green hills, plains and rivers dotted with numerous vineyards.

Each village has a special feature of its own but the tourism offer is quite similar overall through the region as it is predominantly linked to rural tourist guest houses, tours of the area and attractive content.

Heading out from Zagreb northbound, there are several various itineraries – one of these is the area of the town of Zaprešic – an area that stands out by its rich history. Zaprešic’s palace route, as one of the tourist attractions, brings six palaces together, and there are many sacral monuments, churches and chapels, natural beauties and an ornithological reserve.

If you head out towards Samobor, the tourist story is equally interesting considering that it is a town whose architecture and overall offer has for years now drawn the attention of many tourists.  Anyone entering deep into the Hrvatsko Zagorje region will discover what it means to enjoy attractive natural surroundings.

Add to this the many cultural, historical and sacral points of interest to this, along with contemporary attractions and accommodation facilities in typical rural settings.

Describing the complete offer is difficult as it is not an area that can be toured in a single day and it offers many various attractions. Regardless of your affinity there are numerous points of interest and attractive destinations here.

Kumrovec , the village in which former political leader Josip Broz Tito was born and which now houses a museum dedicated to his memory .

Klanjec – a place known for the many famous persons it nurtured. One of these is Antun Mihanovic, the man who wrote the Croatian national anthem.

This is also the area the great painter Oton Ivekovic was born, as was Antun Augustincic, a world-renowned sculptor whose artistic legacy is housed in a gallery dedicated to his work situated in the very heart of the settlement of Klanjec.

More info at Hrvatsko Zagorje Travel Guide , Zagreb County Tourist Board http://www.tzzz.hr/ and  Krapina-Zagorje County Tourist Board http://www.tz-zagorje.h/

One of the most interesting of these projects is the Ethno Street of Forgotten Times were intensive works are already under way. The street is located in the village of Karanac, in the very heart of Baranja, well known of its attractive offer of rural tourism.

This is the popular Baranja House, a rural home behind which the mentioned “street of memories” is being built. Etno zbirka obitelji Sklepić aka Baranja House broaden its offer so the street features traditional Slavonian corn storage sheds too.

The most funds will be invested into the renovation of the landing dock at the Kopacki rit Nature Park.  Along with the landing dock an awning with a belvedere will be built on the site of the old Komarac restaurant, which will broaden the existing tourism offer at Kopacki rit.

There will also be building going on in the well known Baranja rural tourism destination – the village of Bilje where there are plans to build a local style Baranja home, and the city of Beli Manastir will also “get” its first real Baranja ethno house.

Find out more on Baranja Tourist Board http://www.tzosbarzup.hr/ website.

According to Ministry of Tourism of Republic of Croatia, the Croatian town of Sveti Martin na Muri (Medjimurje County) is the winner of a national contest for Europe’s tourist destinations of excellence.

Awards of the European contest for best tourist destinations was presented couple days ago at a ceremony in Portugal as part of the 6th European Tourism Forum.

Apart from Sveti Martin na Muri, nine other winners from European countries were presented and all ten destinations were awarded the title of European destination of excellence for 2006 in the category of new rural destinations.

The project “European Destinations of Excellence” (EDEN), with a sub-theme entitled “Best new rural destinations”, was launched by the European Commission in 2006. The winners will be provided with access to a specially designated area for successful destinations on the Europe travel portal http://www.visiteurope.com .

About Sveti Martin na Muri, as presented by European Destinations of Excellence:

Croatia: Sveti Martin na Muri
2525 hectares in size and with a population of 3154, the district of Sveti Martin na Muri is located in the northernmost point of the Republic of Croatia, close to the tri-border with Slovenia and Hungary, where the River Mura enters the territory of Croatia.

The District of Sveti Martin na Muri was the first local community in Croatia to adopt a document entitled “Strategy of development in rural tourism of the District of Sveti Martin na Muri.” From that moment, the community has been implementing everything specified in this document in small but steadily progressive steps.

The main aim was to establish sustainable economic development based on preserved natural heritage. Implementation of the strategy provided a fresh impetus to the local community, particularly through the introduction of sustainable tourism as the most important economic activity. Such an approach aided the improvement and diversification of tourist services on offer, not only in Sveti Martin na Muri but in the whole region of Medimurje, and even throughout continental Croatia.

Serious developments in tourism began in 2005 when, through the utilisation of a thermal spring of medicinal water in the immediate vicinity of Sveti Martin na Muri, the Sveti Martin Spa was built; it is the largest and one of the most beautiful spas in Croatia. In addition to tourist attractions this development also enjoys the support of a good quality communal
infrastructure.

The Sveti Martin na Muri destination has been profiled as a rural as well as a spa destination and forms part of the sales programmes of all major tourist agencies in Croatia. ( http://www.tz-sv-martin.hr/ )

The tourist services offered by Sveti Martin na Muri are as follows:

• Attractions and entertainment: deer farm owned by the Dvanajšcak family; two ferries on the River Mura; educational ecological trail along the Mura, the northernmost point of Croatia. Exhibition of indigenous types of fruit in Medimurje; Tourism Days in Sveti Marin
• tourist and entertainment events involving a procession of traditional trades and crafts and other events which last for four weekends; International ecological volunteer youth camp; Day of milling – an ecological and ethnological manifestation; International Mura boat race – a marathon of traditional boats from four neighbouring countries; Visual arts colony; traditional religious pilgrimage from Sveti Martin to Kapelšcak; programmes prepared by the Sveti Martin na Muri Cultural and Artistic Club and the Grlice [doves] choir.
• Cultural and traditional elements: the church of Sveti Martin na Muri – a Zero Category monument – chapel of St Margeta; numerous pillars and statues in wall niche chapels; navigable river mill; old vineyard huts; the old traditional family house of Šilec; theTrstenjak family ethnographic collection; collection of agricultural tools and implements in the Potrti kotac Restaurant; protected landscape of the River Mura; Helicanum archaeological locality; the Sveti Martin na Muri local historical collection.
• Catering supply: the wine road, with some 30 wine houses, ranks as one of the best quality of its type in Croatia; the Jastreb wine hut; Monika coffee house; Goricanec rural tourism; “Martinje”: celebration of wine and gastronomy; the Vincek campaign: wine competition in January; Days of Medimurje Cuisine.
• Accommodation facilities: “Regina” studio apartments in the Sveti Martin Spa (392 beds); Goricanec rural tourism (36 beds); Monika Rooms (20 beds); rooms in Potrti kotac (12 beds).
• Sports and recreation facilities: Four large football pitches; 3 pitches for five-a-side football; asphalt courts for basketball, volley ball and handball; within the Sveti Martin spa there are four tennis courts, a five-a-side football pitch, courts for basketball, beach volley ball, cycling tracks; rafting on the River Mura; trim trail through the woods (4 km); riding terrain; outdoor and indoor swimming pools; fishing grounds on the River Mura, with two fishermen’s lodges; hunting lodge within hunting grounds for small game and sports events such as: International Pannonian Cycling Marathon through three countries (Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia) in July; International Marathon of Mura boats, from Murek in Austria to Sveti Martin na Muri (participants from Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia) in June; International Equestrian Tournament, in August; Traditional five-a-side football tournament, in July; Sveti Martin Car Rally, in April; four inter-county sports fishing tournaments throughout the year.

The crucial influence that sustainable tourism is having on the development of this environment is best seen from the following:

1. ECONOMIC – 60 people directly employed in tourism in Sveti Martin na Muri, which amounts to 50% of all people employed and is a 30% increase in relation to 2005. To date, 20 million € have been invested in the capital project of the Sveti Martin Spa, with the majority of work being carried out by local building firms; the price of real estate has risen by 150% in comparison to 2005.
2. SOCIAL – the sensitivity and education of the population has grown noticeably, particularly with regard to the preservation of traditional heritage, ecology, high quality of catering services, rise in overall quality of life.
3. DEMOGRAPHIC – Until 1991 Sveti Marin na Muri had a negative demographic picture. The 2001 Census shows a population growth of 2.75%.
4. ECOLOGICAL – this was the first local community in Croatia to adopt the Programmes of sustainable development in rural areas; standards of environmental protection are observed at a very high level: organized collection and sorting of refuse, all unauthorized rubbish dumps have been cleared and land reclaimed; during the construction of the spa traditional building styles were observed and natural materials were used; a detailed urban development plan has been produced; catering establishments offer traditional dishes and wines with an emphasis on local suppliers.
5. CULTURAL – cultural identity has been preserved at a very high level and a great deal of attention is paid to the restoration and preservation of monumental and traditional heritage, which plays an important role in the tourist services on offer.

This small four-star hotel situated in the town centre is housed in a building that was built in the 18th century for the local administration. It was extended in the 19th century, and converted at the end of that century as a hotel and hospitality area and has now been renovated once again, respecting all conservationist regulations.

In the vicinity of the hotel is the 16th century Frankopan Castle ( see left photo) and so it has itself been declared a cultural monument and judged to be a building of exceptional urban architecture and historical significance. It is surrounded by a stunning landscape and views over the picturesque valley of the Dobra River and the mystical Mount Klek, the inspiration of many fairy tales and stories.

Ogulin is the right spot for people looking for a quiet vacation. Pleasant strolls in the town where Croatian writer Ivana Brlic Mažuranic was born in 1874, leave a deep impression on visitors any time of the year, but especially during the Ogulin festival of fairy tales, traditionally held for two days in June.

While staying in Hotel Frankopan, an active outdoor holiday can be organised, with extreme sports or exploration of the natural beauty. There is also an offer of mountain biking on mapped cycling trails, horseback riding, diving, hiking, speleological excursions and mountain climbing. A trip to nearby Lake Sabljaci, to the valley of Dobra River or to the 20 kilometre distant Bjelolasica with its ski trails, is also on offer.

More info about the area at Karlovac County Tourist Board : http://www.tzkz.hr/ and Ogulin Tourist Board: http://www.tz-grada-ogulina.hr/

Following the Croatia’s nomination for the pilot project “European Destinations of Excellence – Best Emerging Rural Destinations”, set by the European Commission’s Tourism Advisory Committee, Croatian National Tourist Board has announced that Sveti Martin na Muri will be the Croatian representative.

Sveti Martin na Muri was choosen among 16 other rural destinations of Croatia: Pustara Višnjica, Veliko Trojstvo, Sirač, Stara Kapela, Sibinj , Ivankovo, Bilje, Karanac, Brod na Kupi, Lokve, Dobrinj, Lovranska Draga, Roč, Hum, Bačva and Svetvinčenat.

The Selection criteria were based of general EU criteria, including tourism offers and the economic, social, demographic, environmental and cultural impacts on the destination.

The announcement and presentation of awards will take place during the 6th European Tourism Forum, to be held in Portugal in late October this year.