There’s never a bad time to head into Croatia’s magnificent natural surroundings. No matter the mood, you’ll find some sort of resolution in nature, from the influence of introspection to the grounding and recovery that modern life seems to take for granted.
We’ve put together a collection of lesser-known spots around the country that will have you falling in love with Croatia’s nature all over again, from mountain lodges to fjords; you might get the chance to hang out with bear cubs along the way.View from Bilogora
The mountain lodge Kamenitovac on Bilogora is 242 metres above sea level and with it being along the Mačjak forest you can be assured of views that will amaze even the most cynical tourist.Lonjsko polje Nature Park
Largest protected wetland in the Danube basin and is a sanctuary for birds especially the well-known European Stork Village, Čigoć.pp-lonjsko-polje.hr
Papuk Nature Park
This is a protected area which encompasses the mountains of Papuk and Krndija, providing enough terrain for an active vacation. The remains of old cities such as Ružica Grad, with its fascinating legend of disappearance, and the Arboretum Lisičine prove most intriguing for the many who seek mystery.pp-papuk.hr
Steppe Višnjica
The steppes are large agricultural lands that are traditionally used for pasture and the breeding of livestock. This one, dating from the 19th century, was reconstructed in 2005 and is now a beautiful estate with horses, mouflons, a garden of medicinal plants, and a home-style kitchen. The area is always being improved so its likely you'll see new features year after year.visnjica.hr
Zavratnica
Two kilometres south of Jablanac, the fjord-like Zavratnica is one of the most beautiful coves on the Adriatic coast. It is basically a sunken mountain ravine, with a shallow bay overlooked by sheer, rugged cliffs. You can walk there from Jablanac along a level and easily negotiable path that begins just below the Rapska plovidba ferry ticket kiosk. The path was built in the 1930s, when Zavratnica was a popular stop-off for Czech and Austrian tourists bound for the off-shore resort of Rab.Once you get to the cove the path winds beneath bone-white crags, eventually arriving at a pine-shaded bathing area at the cove’s eastern end. It’s the perfect place for contemplation, and even in summer when Zavratnica fills up with excursion boats, it’s a good spot to sunbathe and swim. A stony path heads uphill and inland from Zavratnica to the Vidikovac (‘viewpoint”, also accessible by car from the main coastal road), where you can enjoy superb views back across the cove.
Kuterevo
East from Krasno along the main road to Otočac brings you to the turn-off for Kuterevo, an engaging cluster of stone barns, potato patches, grazing sheep and strutting chickens that scatters itself across several lumpy hillocks. Kuterevo would be worth visiting simply as an outstanding example of a traditional village, although it’s the presence of the Kuterevo Bear Sanctuary at the south-eastern end of the village that pulls in most visitors. Staffed by an enthusiastic bunch of international volunteers, the sanctuary provides a home for orphaned or abandoned bear cubs that would not have survived had they been left in the wild. Kuterevo lies at the centre of the Velebit’s brown-bear territory, and the locals are extraordinarily proud of these shaggy lumbering creatures.kuterevomedvjedi.wordpress.com/
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