Dalmatia - Zadar Region Centre of the Croatian Adriatic at the foot of the monarch of Croatian mountains

Dalmatia is the southernmost and the world’s best known Croatian historical region. This is a region of sun, warm seas, lush, evergreen vegetation, olives, wine, fish, song, and enchanting settlements with stone-built houses: in a word, the real Mediterranean. Starting from the north and turning southwards, Dalmatia proper begins at the southern edge of the monarch of Croatian mountains: Velebit. Here, in he very centre of the Croatian Adriatic, is the first of four Dalmatian tourist regions: the Dalmatia - Zadar Region.

This region, encompassing the County of Zadar, the northernmost of Dalmatian counties, has three faces: mountainous, littoral and island. The mountainous area covers the southern part of Velebit Nature Park and Paklenica National Park. Th e main attraction of the littoral area and its fertile hinterland is Vransko jezero (Vransko Lake) while the pride of the well indented island area is yet another pearl of nature: Telašćica Nature Park. Having set off down the Adriatic tourist road hugging the coastline we then come to the Zadar region of Dalmatia, via the road at the foot of Velebit’s slopes. If, however, our journey began from the continental part of Croatia, we then get to see Dalmatia once we have either gone through Velebit by way of the Sveti Rok tunnel on the Zagreb-Split motorway, or have crossed any of the nearby Velebit passes. In either case, the fi rst sight that will open before us is a magnifi cent view of the River Zrmanja , a karstic beauty abounding in rapids and waterfalls . No less beautiful are the waterfalls along its tributary, the River Krupa . And if we turn our eyes westwards, the view of the rugged, stark beauty of the rock-bound desolation of the island of Pag is simply magnificent .

It was the same in the distant past, when the first roads were being constructed, including the most important for Dalmatia, known as the Napoleonic Road, built during the brief period of French rule at the beginning of the 19th century. Alongside this road, today in a state of dilapidation, that passes through the wild and craggy terrain, the only witnesses to man’s presence are monuments to the builders of Velebit’s roads , old small bridges, houses long deserted and a few tiny churches. Rising above the interesting church of St Francis and the newly built church dedicated to the Homeland War is one of the most beautiful parts of Velebit: Tulove grede (grede:cliff s). And located on the other side of Velebit, in the small area of Lika that belongs to Zadar, are what many consider to be the most beautiful caves in Croatia: Cerovačke spilje (Cerovac caves).

The greatest natural jewel of the Zadar area is PAKLENICA National Park, which covers the most attractive parts of Southern Velebit, concentrated in a mere 96 km2. Its most striking features are two forbidding gorges - Velika and Mala Paklenica - gouged into the mountain from the sea to beneath Velebit’s highest peaks . The park abounds in bizarre karstic forms, caves and other natural features, and the wide range of climatic conditions has benefi ted the wide diversity of flora and fauna. Despite its wilderness nature, Paklenica is easily accessible due to the proximity of the Adriatic Tourist Road and the highway. Th e vistas of Velebit rising above the resort of Starigrad-Paklenica , which are at once intimidating and alluring, beckon to those tourists seeking light-hearted adventure. Movement through the park is aided by numerous signs in several foreign languages . Through the wild ruggedness of Velika Paklenica, where highland women once carried salt on their backs from the coast, and brought wheat from the fertile hinterland of Lika, today runs a comfortably negotiable hiking trail. In part the trail runs at the foot of sheer crags where, a long time ago, small tunnels were carved through the living rock . Once out of the canyon it climbs a gentle course across meadows through the wooded slopes of Velebit . Which makes it an excellent walk for people of all ages, and enables children, and indeed not only children, to learn a great deal about the nature hereabouts from the numerous information and interpretation boards . And when thirst strikes, the traveller can freely drink of the water generously provided by the many, pure mountain springs .

Among the multitude of caves the most beautiful is Manita Peć, while among the world of fauna the most attractive are various types of butterfly and birds of prey. As these landscapes are somewhat similar to those found in the American “Wild West”, it is small wonder that they have attracted quite a few fi lm makers of European “Westerns”, in particular the makers of the fi lm version of Karl May’s Winnetou. The central attraction of Paklenica is 400 metre-high Anića kuk. Because of its height, sheer sides, beauty and the possibility for climbing throughout the year due to the vicinity of the warm sea, Anića kuk has become one of the best known Alpinist sites in Europe. Hikers and mountaineers in Paklenica are able to rest in any of several abandoned traditional shepherds’ huts , which is particularly welcome before a fi nal assault on Velebit’s summit.

For those who prefer a less physically demanding form of enjoying the world of nature, the VRANSKO JEZERO (Vrana Lake) Nature Park is tailor-made. Located quite close to the sea, it is centred on the largest lake in Croatia and is home to an exceptional number of bird species , in particular, wild duck and egrets . This is also an ideal location for bird watchers, who are able to use several well prepared hides . The waters of the lake are brackish, which means that the fi sh found in it are of both freshwater and sea varieties - a veritable paradise for anglers. The lake can be toured by boat, allowing access to its swamp areas that either cannot be approached from land or are otherwise diffi cult to get to.

The third nature park located in the Zadar region of Dalmatia is TELAŠĆICA, located in the south of Dugi otok, the largest of all Zadar’s islands. Th is deep bay is one of the most popular havens for yachtsmen in the Adriatic, which provides a safe berth during the strongest of storms. Th e rocky shores of the bay are low on the landward side , while to seaward are only imposing cliff faces , in places reaching a height of 180 metres. Nestled between the bay and those sheer cliff s is the small and very salty Lake Mir . Telašćica is approachable by land, partly by road, but for the most part via the hiking trails through picturesque Mediterranean landscapes. Located in the north of Dugi otok is Solišćica, another deep bay at the entrance to which rises the imposing Veli Rat lighthouse . From this point one can easily reach the numerous small isles of the Zadar archipelago. Most are single-settlement islands and are therefore spared the nuisance of motorised road vehicles, as for instance, the island of Ist . Uninhabited islands are more numerous, which allows would-be Robinsons to fi nd their very own lonely little isle . The mainland shores around Zadar are renowned for their large number of sandy beaches. The majority are concentrated around the old town of Nin, but they can also be found at the foot of Velebit . Rising opposite Velebit, against the bora-lashed coast, is the barren ruggedness of the island of Pag’s Dalmatian karst .