In this beautiful Croatian region, there are as many as three national parks! There’s also a river that ‘disappears’ and warm-hearted people with the widest smiles
Nature, food, heritage, history... Lika truly has it all and we return to it every year, and these are our recommendations for the perfect trip and exploration.
Green glades embraced by mighty mountains. Breathtaking scenery. Icy and incredibly clean rivers that disappear underground. True, authentic flavors of food as it once was. And then there are the people… Their smiles, connection with tradition and nature, sincere warmth as a contrast to the cold winters. All this, and much more, is the beautiful Lika, the most sparsely populated Croatian region, every corner of which is a real treasure chest waiting to be discovered.
Lika draws us on a day trip or a visit of several days every year, in different seasons, and with each visit we discover something new and we will always return to it again and again. Nature, food, heritage, history. Lika has it all. Life is slower here, in harmony with the rhythm of nature, which is its most beautiful decoration.
THE LEGENDARY PREMUŽIĆ TRAIL AND THE MOST PROTECTED NATURAL CORNER IN CROATIA
Nature is, without a doubt, one of the strongest assets of this Croatian region. It is a region where there are as many as three national parks! They are decorated with numerous hiking trails, as well as a strict nature reserve. In addition to the most famous, largest and oldest, which are the Plitvice Lakes, there is also the beautiful Northern Velebit, and even part of the Paklenica National Park belongs to Lika.
From North Velebit National Park we go on exciting hiking tours and the legendary Premužić trail, and it also contains the most protected corner of nature in Croatia: Hajdučki and Rožanski kukov, a strict nature reserve, which is the highest possible level of nature protection. You can enjoy the view of them on the first section of the beautiful "Premužićka".
MAJEROVO VRILO IS THE MOST FAMOUS AND MOST BEAUTIFUL SOURCE OF THE GACKA RIVER
But that's not all there is to nature. One of the most beautiful Croatian rivers, the Gacka, flows through Lika. Hidden in the greenery of Lika, this river is so clear that you can see every detail through it, and it has been proven that trout grow faster in it than in other waters! Don't miss a visit to one of its springs: the most famous is Majerovo vrilo, where the mills that fed this region still stand today.
There used to be 60 of them on the Gacka, and in one of the last active ones you can still buy freshly ground homemade flour. Take a walk along the wooden bridges, then scoop up water from the spring with your hand and taste it: the Gacka here is clear and drinkable, and quite icy.
THE SURROUNDINGS OF OTOČAC ARE PERFECT FOR AN ACTIVE HOLIDAY
Price Lika is a true paradise for active holidays and offers everything from hiking to water sports and horseback riding. You can explore the Gacka Valley and the Otočac area by bike, walk, and in the warmer months, paddle the river in kayaks. If you go on a bike tour, the beauties and attractions will just keep coming.
Did you know, for example, that Otočac has its own airport? It boasts the longest active grass runway in the world, which is 1,600 meters long and is today used for takeoff and landing of small sport aircraft. Among the trees around Otočac, you can also see a stone temple hidden in a grove. It is a sanctuary of the god Mithras, from the very beginning of the modern era, and numerous sacred buildings were also built on the banks of the river.
IN THE MUSEUM IN SMILJAN YOU CAN ADMIRATE THE GENIUS OF NIKOLA TESLA
To see that Lika is not only home to natural wonders, but also to amazing people, see for yourself in Smiljan, the birthplace of Nikola Tesla. We recently visited the museum and visitor center dedicated to him, absorbing with interest the details of his life, admiring his inventions, and participating in an unusual experiment that demonstrated the action of a magnetic field. We left Smiljan with even greater admiration for this man who changed the world and the course of history.
WHAT IS THE UNDERGROUND WORLD OF LICA HIDDEN? THE ANSWER WAITS FOR YOU IN THE GRABOVAČA CAVE PARK
Near Perušić, there is a place that will reveal the secrets of the underground world of Lika. It is the Grabovača Cave Park, the only one of its kind in Europe. In it, on an area of only 1.5 square kilometers, you can find as many as eight caves and one pit, five of which are protected in the category of geomorphological natural monuments. The most famous is the Samograd Cave with its beautiful cave decorations, and be sure to tour the park with a guide who will reveal incredible details and stories that have been hidden underground for thousands of years.
LIKA COKLJE ARE THE PERFECT SOUVENIR THAT WILL WARM YOU IN WINTER
The people of Lika are extremely proud people who preserve their tradition and heritage, passing down old skills and recipes from generation to generation. They will be happy to show you how they make the legendary Lika clogs, beautiful warm footwear that has protected them from the harsh winters for centuries. The art of making clogs has been declared an intangible cultural asset of the Republic of Croatia, so there really is no better souvenir to take home from this region.
NOTHING WITHOUT FANTASTIC FOOD: ENJOY CHEESE, POTATOES, MEAT, TROUT... IN LIKA
Although the coklje and Lika cap are perfect souvenirs, you might prefer the one you bring to the table when you return and thus prolong your enjoyment of the flavors of this region. Lika is a region where people have been engaged in livestock farming for centuries, so cheese and cured meat products have remained its trademark to this day.
Try Škripavac, a wonderful cheese that crunches under your teeth, the famous Lika bass, homemade sausages and bacon, but also Lika potatoes, which are one of the most appreciated in Croatia. For main courses, choose from Gacka trout, Lika kalja, goulash, sauerkraut with meat... Start your meal with a strong Lika plum brandy, and warm yourself up with a tea made from fragrant herbs from Velebit and the surrounding mountains. One thing is for sure, no one returns from Lika hungry, and the flavors you try here will be remembered for a long time.
YOU WILL RETURN HOME FROM Lika WITH ONLY ONE QUESTION: WHEN ARE WE GOING AGAIN?
After exploring Lika, you will return home with only one question: when are we going again? This beautiful region in the heart of our country, lying between the sea and the green forests of central Croatia, is the perfect destination for a trip in any season. If its harsh autumn and winter chill your cheeks, your heart will be warmed by the smiles and welcome of the Lika people. And all the wonderful food you will enjoy!
Downloaded from: Putni kofer.
News - All