Kvarner Bay: Discover Nature and Culture

Discover Kvarner Bay through a variety of themes: protected landscapes, natural sites such as Zeleni Vir, and traces of the Frankopan and Zrinski families. You can plan your trip around whether you are interested in nature, history or both. The places and experiences below offer specific ideas for planning—from a cave lake to mapped cycling routes of varying lengths.

Nature among forests, rocks and water

The Natura 2000 network in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County comprises 111 sites. It covers almost 75 percent of the land area and 16 percent of the sea area. For holiday planning, this means there is a wide range of natural areas to explore, also reflected in the region’s specific landscapes.

At Golubinjak Forest Park, forests and rock formations shape the natural scenery. Zeleni Vir offers a different impression: inside a cave lies an emerald-green lake with crystal-clear, still water; the spring is at the bottom of the cave. If you are interested in the shapes and colours of a cave landscape, you will find a distinctly different natural setting here than at the forest park.

Vražji Prolaz and Zeleni Vir are also part of the protected landscape area. Munjara, considered the first hydroelectric power plant in this area, is located there. This means nature and an engineering structure stand side by side in this landscape area: Munjara adds a cultural and technological aspect to its natural features, while the area's distinctive qualities extend beyond a single attraction.

Cycling routes and an accessible section of canyon

The map of Risnjak National Park shows cycling routes ranging from 4.2 to 40 kilometres in length. This range can help you start planning your day by considering the stated distance of each route. It spans shorter routes and considerably longer ones; it does not indicate how long a route takes or how difficult it is. If cycling is to be an important part of your trip, you can compare the individual map entries with the distance you would like to cover.

At Kamačnik, the section of canyon accessible to visitors begins at the confluence and is about 1 kilometre long. This specific section offers another perspective on nature alongside the forest and cave landscapes. Its approximate length is a practical guide for planning your trip; it describes the canyon section, not the amount of time to spend there.

Culture and natural history

The Putovima Frankopana cultural and tourist route includes a total of 17 Frankopan castles and 3 religious sites in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. The route therefore connects a large number of historic buildings with religious sites. It is a good starting point if you are interested in Frankopan history during your trip and would like to include culture alongside nature experiences.

Zrinski Castle in Brod na Kupi houses a permanent exhibition and an interpretation centre. Its themes include the nature of Gorski kotar and the relationship of the Frankopan and Zrinski families with nature. If you would like to learn about nature not only through landscapes but also through their cultural interpretation, you will find a different approach here than at the natural sites. The “Velike zvijeri” visitor centre in Stara Sušica is dedicated to the three large predators—the bear, wolf and lynx—and contributes to the development of tourism and interpretation of the nature of Gorski kotar.

Plan your trip around your interests

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can first consider which of these themes should be the main focus of your trip: natural sites, cycling routes or Frankopan culture. The examples above offer different perspectives, without needing to be combined into a single route. If you have several interests, you can focus your accommodation search on the places and activities you would like to include in your trip planning.

Municipalities of Kvarner Bay

For further regional orientation, you can also explore the following municipalities: Municipality of Lovran, Municipality of Opatija, Municipality of Čabar, Municipality of Matulji, Municipality of Kastav, Municipality of Kostrena, Municipality of Kraljevica, Municipality of Novi Vinodolski, Municipality of Crikvenica, Municipality of Mrkopalj, Municipality of Delnice, Municipality of Mošćenička Draga, Municipality of Lokve, Municipality of Fužine, Municipality of Rijeka, Municipality of Bakar, Municipality of Skrad, Municipality of Čavle, Municipality of Jelenje, Municipality of Vrbovsko, Municipality of Brod Moravice, Municipality of Viškovo, Municipality of Ravna Gora, Vinodol Municipality and Municipality of Klana.

For the general travel overview: Croatia.