tip Travel magazine Croatia 013 (English edition) 11/2015 - 01/2016

ISSN: 1849-059X

EN

Number 13 • Year III • November 2015 - January 2016

Issue topic:

INFORMATION • RECOMMENDATIONS • EXPERIENCES

Green travel trend

Winter in Croatia Zagreb, Krapina-Zagorje County, Ogulin, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, and Osijek

Switzerland:

Lucerne Experience design

Winter holidays Austria and Slovenia

Zagreb County • Karlovac County • Dalmatian Hinterland Dugopolje • Sinj • Solin • Baška Voda • Daruvar

UNESCO: Annual carnival bell ringers' pageant from the Kastav area kolovoz / rujan 2014.

tipTravelMagazine

EDITORIAL

Travel and tourism magazine ISSN: 1849-059X Publisher: Tip Kreativa d.o.o.

Headquarters: Jordanovac 119, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Office: Sermageova 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia  +385 1 5805466,+385 91 7958016 info@tiptravelmagazine.com www.tiptravelmagazine.com www.facebook.com/tiptravelmagazine VAT ID Number: HR21136573248 Erste&Steiermärkische Bank d.d.

SWIFT: ESBCHR22 IBAN: HR4524020061100663844 Editor in Chief: Željka Kunštek zeljka@tiptravelmagazine.com Graphic Designer: Robert Kunštek robert@tiptravelmagazine.com DTP: Tip Kreativa d.o.o.

Associates in this issue: Alma Radoš, Vlatka Vužić, Sanja Plješa Translator: Marija Crnogaj Marketing: marketing@tiptravelmagazine.com Photo source: tipTravel magazine archive, archives of Croatian Tourist Boards, PHOTOnet.hr, fotolia Cover page: St. Mark's Square, Zagreb, Croatia photo: Julien Duval (archive: Zagreb Tourist Board)

Transmission of texts, in full or in part, is only permitted with the written approval of the publisher and author. Any type of mechanical, optical, or electronic copying is forbidden.

All rights are reserved. Texts and photographs are sent in electronic form. The opinion of the author of the text is not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. The publisher cannot guarantee the permanence of published information, and is not responsible for the content of advertisements. tipTravelMagazine kolovoz / rujan 2014.

That magical winter...

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f you are amongst those who think of Croatia as just a summer destination, with the image of the sun and the sea, you could be pleasantly surprised if you visit it in the winter months. Many destinations, from the north to the south of Croatia, celebrate winter in their own way and everyone who visits them is drawn into their holiday magic. In order to make it easier for you to decide where to start from, in this issue we bring you the winter stories of several continental and coastal cities and counties that prepared especially attractive events for this winter. We believe you will be intrigued and that you will experience a completely different winter this year, full of new experiences. There are also stories from many other Croatian destinations that beckon you to take an active vacation, enjoy attractive nature, explore cultural attractions...

We bring novelties that await skiers, but also other fans of snowy activities, in Austria and Slovenia, where you will

find the adrenaline you seek, but also many opportunities to relax in the idyllic snow, and the warm wellness oases. We also present the Swiss region of Lucerne, which thrilled us with its attractions, and where we experienced the simplicity and ease of traveling through Switzerland. Recently, more has been said about 'green vacations', so we also dedicated a few pages to that global trend in tourism.

We believe that on the following pages you will find inspiration for a holiday and trips that are somehow different at this time of the year, infused with special colors, aromas, and an ambiance that, although it sounds clichéd, is truly magical.

In the name of the tipTravel Magazine editorial staff, we wish you a cheerful, healthy, and successful New Year, full of interesting journeys that will forever enrich you in many ways. Željka and Robert Kunštek

CROATIA Croatia - Full Of life Š Croatia Full OF Life, www.croatia.hr

50 km

Legend:

highway main state road other state and county roads

NEWSLETTER

MAP OF CROATIA - Source: Publishing house Meridijani

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tipTravel magazine is the first Croatian online travel and tourism magazine, which is exclusively in digital format and available to all readers free of charge.

It has been issued in Croatian and English since July 2013, and in German as of 2015. It is designed for readers in Croatia and abroad who are avid travelers.

In each issue, through original reports and photos, it introduces readers to Croatian coastal and continental destinations and their diverse and rich tourist offer, it reveals the less known facts, brings tourism news, announcements of events and festivals that shouldn't be missed, and first-hand advice and recommendations. The second part of the magazine is dedicated to presenting global destinations and their travel offer.

More information can be found at www.tiptravelmagazine.com, where you can also find a direct link to all the issues. The magazine can be read on all computers, tablets, and smartphone devices via the Issuu.com platform or application.

Other than using Issuu on iOS devices (iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch), the magazine can also be downloaded free of charge in the AppStore, where the application has additional interactive features to enable an even higher quality reading experience. To find it, simply type in 'tiptravel' in the AppStore.

Along with active links inside the magazine (that lead to certain web sites, videos and virtual tours), additional interactivity is enabled to all iOS Newsstand application users: a fullscreen preview (available for all photos marked with a magnifying glass)

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photo galleries slideshows + integrated videos

kolovoz / rujan 2014.

tipTravelMagazine

Content The importance and quality of tipTravel magazine in the online promotion of Croatian tourism has been recognized and recommended to readers, tourists, by:

11/2015 - 01/2016

8-33

48-49 38-39

CROATIAN CHAMBER OF ECONOMY

50-51 ASSOCIATION OF EMPLOYERS IN CROATIAN HOSPITALITY

Croatian Camping Union

6-7 NEWS - CROATIA 8-33 ISSUE TOPIC - Winter in Croatia: That magical Croatian winter...

34-35 TIPS4YOU 38-39 EXPERIENCE CROATIA Zagreb County

40-45 INTERVIEW - Jasna Vaniček Fila, Head of the Bjelovar-Bilogora Hrvatski ferijalni i hostelski savezCounty Tourist Board: Collaboration and new Youth Hosteli Association ferijalni i hostelski savez rvatski ferijalniHrvatski iCroatian hostelski savez Hrvatski ferijalni hostelski savez Hrvatski ferijalni i hostelski savez oatian Youth Hostel Association Croatian YouthHostel Hostel Association products for success Croatian Youth Association Croatian Youth Hostel Association

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tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

47 HEALTH TOURISM - Daruvar  ACTIVE TOURISM 48-49 Karlovac County 50-51 Dalmatian Hinterland: Cycling through the Dalmatian Hinterland  EXPERIENCE CROATIA 53 Dugopolje 54-55 Sinj: Capital of a rich heritage 57 ANNOUNCEMENT - Solin 58-59 EXPERIENCE CROATIA Baška Voda: With the taste of the sea and the mountains

the option to show photographs in fullscreen view is available to users of the application on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch devices.

Environmentally Friendly

74-75

90-99

82-83

100-105

60-63

not a single tree has been destroyed in publishing this magazine

70-73

60-63 TRENDS - Sustainable tourism: Green travel trend 64-65 BEAUTIES OF CROATIA Sailing: Nautical paradise 66-68 INTERESTING FACTS The island of Prvić: Faust Vrančić Memorial Center 70-73 FURNISHING - Hotels: Experience design 74-75 UNESCO: Annual carnival bell ringers' pageant from the Kastav area

76 CROATIA THROUGH PHILATELY: 150th anniversary of the introduction of the gas network in Zagreb

86-87 UNICEF 88-89 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS - WORLD

78-79 CROATIA ONLINE 82-83 GOURMET - Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and western Srijem: For a good appetite and good health 84-85 CULTURAL SCENE Interview Vanna: I recharge in Pučišća on the island of Brač

90-99 WINTER HOLIDAYS Austria and Slovenia: Where to go for winter holidays?

100-105 WE'RE TAKING YOU TO...

Lucerne: Incredibly easy traveling through idyllic Lucerne 106-107 WORLD ATTRACTIONS Swedish Lapland

November 2015 - January 2016

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CROATIA Photo archive: Croatian National Tourist Board

News

Award for the #SuperBowlCroatia campaign The campaign designed for this year's finale of the American football league, the NFL, by the Croatian National Tourist Board (CTNB), #SuperBowlCroatia, won the City Nation Place award in the category of Best Usage of Social Media. The award was handed out for the first time this year, with the aim of promoting destinations and motivating economic development, and the CTNB was nominated with four other candidates. At the formal ceremony, the director of the Head Office of the CTNB, Ratomir Ivičić, emphasized that a team of people promptly and perfectly used the fact that both coaches in the finale of the most watched sports spectacle in the USA were of Croatian origin for marketing purposes and in a very short period of time created an online campaign. So Croatia became the greatest "hidden" star of the advertising campaign of American football and drew attention to itself.

Increase in British arrivals in Croatia Good economic conditions in Great Britain that reflected on traveling and the increased spending of Britons was also felt by Croatian tourism. So from January to September 2015, nearly 480 thousand Britons visited Croatia, which is an increase of 13.6 percent, and they achieved 2.4 million overnight stays, or an increase of 15 percent, in comparison to the same period in 2014. It is expected that the number of arrivals of British tourists will exceed half a million by the end of 2015, which is the first time Croatia has achieved that number of British arrivals since the end of the eighties. These results were presented in early November 2015 in London at the World Travel Market. In 2016, an increase in arrivals of 20 percent has been forecasted, mostly thanks to new airline connections.

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Photo archive: Croatian National Tourist Board

Photo archive: Murter - Kornati Tourist Board

Photo: Robert Kunštek

www.croatiaweek.com

tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

Full of Life presented in London

Croatia first co-chair of UNWTO Executive Council Amongst great competition, and with the largest number of votes, Croatia was chosen as the first co-chair of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Executive Council. The decision was made at the 101st session of the UNWTO Executive Council in the Columbian city of Medellin. At the fifth plenary session of the General Council in Zambia and Zimbabwe held a little more than two years ago, Croatia was chosen as a new member of the UNWTO Executive Council for a period of four years.

In early November, at one of the largest world travel fairs, the WTM in London, representatives of the Croatian National Tourist Board promoted the Croatian tourism offer. It is also the first international fair where Croatia presented its new booth and visual identity in accordance with its new slogan "Croatia, Full of Life". This year, visitors to the Croatian booth found a more open concept and brighter booth, without dividing walls, and advisors in new, more leisurely uniforms. An interactive game was also organized regarding knowledge about Croatian destinations, and a new catalogue was presented with various possibilities for holidays and activities in Croatia.

Photo archive: Zadar Tourist Board

As of 2016, Ryanair will connect Zadar and Berlin

The Croatian Chamber of Economy (CCE) is establishing a national association of hostels, which has the aim of encouraging networking and education, as well as strengthening collaboration between hostels as one of the fastest growing segments in the tourism offer, announced the CCE. "The need to establish a national association of hostels arose from the increase in the number of hostels in Croatia, and there are more than a hundred now, but also from global trends for that segment that show that hostels are no longer just rooms with multiple beds for short and affordable overnight stays for young people travelling, but, more and more, they are focusing on a modern offer, rooms with fewer beds, more thematic content, and even luxury furnishings," said the director of the CCE Tourism Sector, Leila Krešić-Jurić.

The association is being established in collaboration with the Croatian Youth Hostel Association (CYHA). www.mint.hr

Photo archive: Croatian Camping Union

CCE establishing a national association of hostels

Photo source: European Coastal Airlines

Photo archive: Terme Tuhelj

Next season, Ryanair will connect Zadar and Berlin. So, in 2016, this European airline will connect Zadar with a total of 13 destinations with 39 flights per week, with an estimated number of 315 thousand passengers. Besides more affordable flights, Ryanair has also announced an improvement in services as part of the "Always getting better" program, which includes creating new mobile applications, and a personalized website with new functions such as "hold the fare", and travelers reviews of destinations.

Ryanair passengers will also be greeted with new interiors of the passenger cabin, and better inflight menus.

Foreign campers loyal to Croatia

ECA launches flights to Ancona As of November 2015, European Coastal Airlines (ECA) has launched commercial flights to the Italian city of Ancona from Rijeka and Split.

Representatives of the company also published a winter flight schedule, from October 25, 2015, to March 31, 2016, where they will connect Split, Rijeka, Vela Luka, Pula, Mali Lošinj, Zadar, Rab, Jelsa, and Lastovo nearly every day. Besides being equipped with floats to take off and land on water, all the sea planes owned by this company can also be fitted with wheels so that can land on land, even in poor weather conditions.

ECA launched its first commercial flights in Croatia last summer by connecting Split and Jelsa on Hvar.

A total of 80 percent of foreign campers in Croatia have come for the third or more time, according to the TOMAS Summer research conducted by the Institute for tourism in 2014.

The results were presented in late October 2015 at the Camping Congress organized by the Croatian Camping Union (CCU). The average age of campers in Croatian camps is 43, and a little more than a third are over the age of 50, while 29 percent come from households with incomes that exceed three thousand euro. Campers in Croatia are still most satisfied with the natural beauty, opportunities to have a family vacation, personal safety, and customer service, and they are least satisfied with the way things are adapted for persons with disabilities at destinations, public transportation, and the offer of entertainment, cultural, sport, and shopping facilities. www.croatiaweek.com

November 2015 - January 2016

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WINTER IN CROATIA

Photo archive: Ogulin Tourist Board

Photo archive: Krapina-Zagorje County Tourist Board

Photo archive: Dubrovnik Tourist Board

Photo archive: Tourist Board of the City of Osijek

Issue topic

Photo source: fotolia

Photo archive: Zagreb Tourist Board

Photos: the Advent fair in Osijek (top left); fritters are an integral part of the holiday spread in the DubrovnikNeretva County (top right); Ogulin in the evening hours (middle left); Croatian Zagorje covered in snow (middle right); New Year's Eve in Zagreb (bottom left); the holiday ambiance in Dubrovnik (bottom right).

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tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

WINTER IN CROATIA

Zagreb, Krapina-Zagorje County, Ogulin, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, and Osijek

Written by: Željka Kunštek

That magical Croatian winter..

Photo source: fotolia

Winter in Croatia is full of tempting aromas and flavors, idyllic landscapes that will leave you breathless, cheerful events, and attractive Advent fairs where you will want to get lost.

Winter for all five senses awaits you in many Croatian destinations from north to south...

November 2015 - January 2016

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WINTER IN CROATIA: Zagreb

Photo: Julien Duval (archive: Zagreb Tourist Board)

Issue topic

Zagreb's irresistible winter Magical, idyllic, warm, aromatic... That's what this Advent will be on the streets and squares of Zagreb. This winter the Croatian metropolis awaits you with many experiences...

O

Written by: Željka Kunštek

Photos: the icy Christmas Fairytale will once again adorn King Tomislav Square (top); the holiday ambiance on King Tomislav Square (bottom).

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tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

Photo: Julien Duval (archive: Zagreb Tourist Board)

Photo archive: Zagreb Tourist Board

ver the past few years, Zagreb has positioned itself well on the list of leading European Advent cities, and from year to year its offer for Advent attracts more people who would like to transform the holidays into a special experience. Winter in Zagreb is truly special, which you can see for yourself from November 28 to January 10, 2016, during Advent in Zagreb. A magically decorated city, the Christmas fair with unique decorations and gifts, the icy Christmas Fairytale, the fun Christmas tram, warm cakes and mulled wine, along with many diverse programs are just part of the reason you should walk through the streets, parks, and squares of Zagreb this December.

There are also two large concerts in Zagreb in early December: Eagles of Death Metal

Photo: Mirsad Mehulić (archive: Zagreb Tourist Board)

Photo: Julien Duval (archive: Zagreb Tourist Board)

Photo: Mirsad Mehulić (archive: Zagreb Tourist Board) Photo: Julien Duval (archive: Zagreb Tourist Board)

(December 1), and Editors (December 2).

From December 2 to 5, it will also host the Zagreb Golden Spin, the oldest international ice skating competition held in Croatia. Early 2016 will also be in the sign of sports on January 3 and 6, when the women's and men's World Cup slalom race, the VIP Snow Queen Trophy, will be held on Sljeme.

Set aside some time for culture on January 29, when Museum Night will be held in Zagreb's museums, along with

Photos: the holiday ambiance and many events once again await you this winter in Zagreb's streets, squares, and parks.

museums throughout Croatia. Here you can find various exhibitions, workshops, and concerts, and admission to all museums, from 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM, is free of charge.

Make some time in February for ZagrebDox, the international festival of documentary films, which will feature more than 150 leading new global documentary films from February 21 to 28. There will also be many workshops and interesting lectures held at the festival. 

tip: Take a walk through the streets of Zagreb this Advent, find gifts at the Christmas fair, enjoy hot chocolate, and experience the icy fairytale...

ZAGREB CARD Make ZAGREB CARD your irreplaceable travel companion in the capital of Croatia! ZAGREB CARD offers you unlimited travel on public transport, discounts in the city museums, reduced prices at many restaurants, shops, and much more…

More information is available at: www.zagrebcard.vestars.hr

ZAGREB TOURIST BOARD

November 2015 - January 2016

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WINTER IN CROATIA: Zagreb

Ju

Issue topic

New Advent treats Color Your Christmas with Zagreb © www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr

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tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

This year, Advent in Zagreb brings many new surprises for the people of Zagreb and their guests: the Festival of Christmas Cakes & Cookies will additionally sweeten up Advent from December 16 to 23 in Galerija Karas; ice sculptures will be made live by a great master, from December 12 to 24 on the Gradec plateau, and they will fascinate you with their unique qualities; from December 12 to 24, at Klovićevi dvori the Christmas of Old Zagreb will take you back to the time of antique Christmas ornaments and Advent postcards, while the "Advent Calendar" will hide various weekend events to be held in still undiscovered courtyards and passageways in the Lower Town: Obrtnički prolaz (November 28-29), the courtyard of Ilica 69 (December 5-6), the courtyard of Petrinjska Street 73 (December 12-13), and the block from Žerjavićeva 3 - Mihanovićeva 30/2 (December 19-20). The holiday feeling will also be in the air on the other city squares and streets, each with their own story and programs for various tastes and all generations. See you at Advent in Zagreb!

PROMO

Your Hotel in the Heart of Zagreb © www.hotel-dubrovnik.hr

Hotel Dubrovnik

T

For a complete Advent experience in Zagreb

he holidays are right around the corner and that means only one thing - a handful of good fun and delicious food. In the spirit of that, we wish to share the recipe for best possible Advent experience with you: take one or more people whose company you enjoy, arm yourself with lots of love for holiday props and events, be prepared for good fun and mingling outdoors but, most of all, bring that

''I want to experience it Zagreb-style'' attitude with you.

If you are ready to give it a try, whether staying during Advent or for a New Year's Eve, your ideal choice is Hotel Dubrovnik, located in the main Zagreb square, Ban Jelačić Square. Just a few steps away are the main city attractions, significant cultural and business institutions, shopping areas and many other interesting locations. Due to its

unique position, the hotel is surrounded with Christmas events and a program that gives our guests the possibility to experience Advent in Zagreb to the fullest - through sounds, scents, and tastes. With complete comfort, gastronomic delicacies and supreme service, you will feel like you are at home, and will experience the best of the city.

Stay with us and let Hotel Dubrovnik be your best host in Zagreb! 

Hotel Dubrovnik, Ljudevita Gaja 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia,  +385 1 4863501 / 503  +385 1 4863507, reservations@hotel-dubrovnik.hr, www.hotel-dubrovnik.hr November 2015 - January 2016

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Issue topic

WINTER IN CROATIA: Krapina-Zagorje County

Advent in fairytale Zagorje Written by: Željka Kunštek ◆ Photo archive: Krapina-Zagorje County Tourist Board

Advent in Marija Bistrica, the Museums of Croatian Zagorje, in Kumrovec, or in Veliki Tabor? This December, experience them all!

Photos: idyllic winter in Zagorje's town (large photo, top); lighting Advent candles on the main square in Marija Bistrica (small photo, top); many events take place on the squares of Zagorje's towns throughout Advent (bottom).

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tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

W

hen the snow covers the rolling hills of Zagorje and the aroma of holiday cookies and sounds of Christmas carols waft from the traditional houses, that's a sign that Advent has started in Croatian Zagorje. The locals will await you in this idyllic, northwestern part of Croatia, separated from the Croatian metropolis by Medvednica Mountain, with many events.

From November 28 to December 20, Advent will be celebrated in a special way on Saturdays and Sundays in Marija

Bistrica, the Croatian national sanctuary, and location of a centuries-long tradition of pilgrimage, old trades, and cultural events. This year, Advent is divided into four thematic weekends: the Weekend of Sacred Music, the Weekend of Old Trades, the Weekend of Advent Traditions, and the Weekend of Gingerbread and Gvirc.

All that will be accompanied by a diverse cultural program, performances by superb musicians, theatrical performances, old craft workshops for children and adults, and a Christmas fair where you will be sure to find original gifts for your loved ones. The locals are also preparing a New Year's Eve celebration on the main square in Marija Bistrica.

During Advent, every Sunday you will find programs at one of the Museums of Croatian Zagorje (The "Old Village" Museum in Kumrovec, the Peasants' Revolt Museum, Gornja Stubica, or the

Veliki Tabor Castle in Desinić). For example, at the "Old Village" Museum in Kumrovec, where the houses will be decorated with Christmas ornaments that are traditional in this region, you can participate in creating traditional Christmas ornaments.

Lighting the candles on the Advent wreath, accompanied by interactive educational museum workshops, will also be a special experience. The decorated Well of Joy, located on the edge of the "Old Village" Museum in Kumrovec, will attract attention, along with the center of Kumrovec, where performances by musicians and choirs will be held along with a Christmas program throughout Advent.

Diverse Christmas ornaments, homemade holiday cookies, a live nativity scene, and workshops for the youngest guests are just part of the Advent fairytale that awaits you in Veliki Tabor in Desinić. Experience Advent in Croatian Zagorje! 

Photo: Branka Mašić (archive: Krapina-Zagorje County Tourist Board)

Zagorje - A fairy tale at hand

Photos: a typical winter landscape in Zagorje (top left); a nativity scene (top right); Pope John Paul II. Square in Marija Bistrica during Advent (middle).

Tourist Board of Krapina-Zagorje County Krambergerova 1 49000 Krapina, Croatia  +385 49 233653 info@tzkzz.hr

www.tzkzz.hr

November 2015 - January 2016

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Issue topic

WINTER IN CROATIA: Krapina-Zagorje County

It will be hard for you to resist Zagorje's štrukli, a superb delicacy from Croatian Zagorje, which got its place on the list of protected intangible cultural heritage of Croatia due to its traditional preparation. Made of phyllo pastry, filled with fresh cottage cheese, sour cream, and eggs, rolled up, coated with sour cream, and baked in the oven, Zagorje's štrukli will seduce you with their tempting aroma and fantastic flavor.

Na

Že tio (a ljko na rch K P l T iv op ho ro to ou e: ris Cro lče : t B at c oa ian rd )

The tempting aroma and flavor of Zagorje's štrukli

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tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

PROMO

E

Relaxation at thermal springs

ver since the ancient Romans discovered springs with warm, clean, and drinkable water that they called "aquae vivae", or living water, the area surrounding Krapinske Toplice has become an oasis of health springs. Although the inhabitants of this small town in Croatian Zagorje, located forty kilometers from Zagreb, have never doubted its therapeutic qualities, modern scientific research has confirmed that it is one of the best quality waters in Europe.

So, if you like to take care of your health, and are a gourmet at that, head over to Krapinske Toplice and stay at the unique Villa Magdalena wellness&gourmet hotel.

Each of its nine suites has a jacuzzi with thermal water that is pumped directly from the spring. After relaxing in the pool and the panoramic wellness center on the top floor, don't miss out on the unique food experiences in the hotel restaurant, whose new Zagorje cuisine is also recommended by the prestigious GaultMIllau guide for all five senses. The hotel's abundant offer has also been recognized by the profession so Villa Magdalena has received the award for best small continental hotel in 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Near the hotel you will find the new water park, symbolically named Aquae Vivae, spread over 18 thousand square meters,

Villa Magdalena, Mirna ulica 1 Krapinske Toplice, Croatia,  +385 49 233333 info@villa-magdalena.net, www.villa-magdalena.net

with six indoor and outdoor pools, and 170 water attractions: a wave pool, diving or recreational pools with 75 underwater jets, massage chairs, waterfalls, and geysers. Every visitor to the park can feel the power of living water, which is proven to relax, preserve health, and slow down aging, and the sustainable relationship with the environment is based on sources of renewable energy, without carbon dioxide emissions. At the water park, as of November 2015, you can wind down at the relax zone in one of the saunas, after which you can enjoy a relaxing massage, or your favorite treatment. 

Aquae Vivae water park, Antuna Mihanovića 1A Krapinske Toplice, Croatia,  +385 49 501999 info@aquae-vivae.hr, www.aquae-vivae.com November 2015 - January 2016

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Issue topic

WINTER IN CROATIA: Ogulin

ŠEGRT HLAPIĆ © Maydi Film & video, Zagreb, Croatia

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Šegrt Hlapić Often called the Croatian Andersen (due to her virtuosity as a storyteller for children), and the Croatian Tolkein (due to her delving into the fantastic world of mythology), Ivana BrlićMažuranić is one of the great world leaders of children's literature. Her most famous works: the collection of short stories, the "Tales from Long Ago", and the adventure novel "The Brave Adventures of Lapitch" are still favorite pieces of children's literature.

There is even a movie "Šegrt Hlapić" (The Brave Adventures of a Little Shoemaker), and the trailer can be seen here, by clicking on the video.

tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

Ivana's House of Fairy Tales is open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Winter in the

homeland of fairytales

tip: Experience Museum Night in Ogulin on January 29, 2016, from 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM, with story­ telling and creative workshops.

Photos: the Fireplace, Enchanted Castle Hallways and entrance to Ivana's House of Fairy Tales (top left, bottom left and right); the exterior of Ivana's House of Fairy Tales (top right).

Written by: Željka Kunštek ◆ Photo archive: Ogulin Tourist Board

Winter is the right time to head over the "most fairytale-like" city in Croatia and dive into the magical world of fairytales...

A

lthough it is picturesque all year long, Ogulin is especially magical in the winter. This winter, head over to this city in central Croatia, known far and wide for a magical house Ivana's House of Fairy Tales. The moment you step over its threshold, you will cross over into a world of imagination and magic, where fairytales truly become reality.

The magic forest is the entrance to the world of Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić, the most famous Croatian fairytale author, whose hometown was Ogulin. Here the trees will tell you stories from her collection, and the path will take you through the Enchanted Castle Hallways, which will reveal to you what fairytales are, who writes them, and what happens in them. The hallways will lead you to the Fireplace, a warm corner of the house where the Fairy-tale Jukebox tells plays fairytales from various European countries. In the Fairy-tale Library, you will

find fairy tales, but also some magical objects. The Magic Mirror will reveal an amazing reflection of the person looking in it, but only those who listen to it carefully can get a magical picture as a memento. The Chamber of Mystery is a special part of the house where you can watch educational animate movies and play an interactive game. In the Creative Room, you will have the chance to express your creativity through educational and fun workshops that will reveal a lot about Ivana's fairy tales, but also fairy tales by other Croatian and international writers.

While in Ogulin, take some time out for winter activities on the ski slope in Vučići, to conquer Klek, explore the Local History Museum, the fairy tale trail... and then try some of the domestic delicacies of this area, and await morning in one of the cozy accommodation units in the homeland of fairy tales. 

Ivana's House of Fairy Tales  +385 47 525398 info@ivaninakucabajke.hr www.ivaninakucabajke.hr

Ogulin Tourist Board Kardinala A. Stepinca 1 47300 Ogulin, Croatia  / +385 47 532278 tz-grada-ogulina@ka.t-com.hr

www.tz-grada-ogulina.hr November 2015 - January 2016

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Issue topic

WINTER IN CROATIA: Plitvice Lakes National Park

The winter magic of Plitvice Written by: Željka Kunštek Photo archive: The "Plitvice Lakes National Park" Public institution

Photo: frozen waterfalls are an eternal inspiration for photographers.

If you still haven't had the chance to enjoy the beauty and sound of the bubbly cascades and waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes this year, and take a walk through the magical nature that surrounds them, don't worry because you still have time. Winter turns this enchanting park and its surroundings into an idyllic nook you will never want to leave...

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tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

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he first thing many think of when they hear Plitvice Lakes are thunderous waterfalls, the blue-green lakes, dense forests that surprise visitors all year long with their colors and scents, and the wooden trails that adeptly lead through the picturesque landscape. But did you know the park and surrounding area hide many other interesting features?

One of them is the winter center in the settlement of Mukinje, located only 2.5 kilometers from Entrance 2 to the park, or five kilometers from Entrance 1.

During the snowy months, you can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and sledding on its 400 meter long trails. This recreational ski resort has one ski lift, with a capacity of 400 skiers per hour, and also offers a rental service for ski and snowboarding equipment, as well as sleds, saucers and spoon sleds for heading down the slope. Due to its gentle slope, the ski center is great for beginners, recreational skiers, and children, and night skiing is a special experience for the skiers.

After enjoying the joys of winter, get some refreshments in the modern

"Vučnica" bistro, at the foot of the hill, and try some of the various dishes and warm beverages. You can also enjoy your favorite warm beverage outside on the heated outdoor terrace with a view of the ski slope, as well as on your skis at the small beverage stand next to the restaurant.

As far as gastronomic delights of this area go, the rustic "Lička kuća" restaurant is a must-visit site. In the wooden ambiance of the traditional Lika house, with an open fireplace where lamb is roasted and dishes are prepared under the bell, while listening to the crackling fire, try some of the homemade delights, prepared according to traditional recipes with homegrown ingredients. Prosciutto, basa (Lika cheese), lamb roasted under the bell, grilled dishes, roasted potato slices, trout, buttermilk, Lika fritters, and Lika cheese, apple, or plum strudel are just some of the specialties that will take you on an exciting gourmet journey through the Lika region. This famous restaurant is also a kind of small ethnographic collection where you can see various items the locals used to use in this area.

Photos: the winter center in Mukinje (top); at the "Lička kuća" restaurant, you can try traditional specialties of Lika: Lika fritters, dishes roasted under the bell, prosciutto, and Lika cheese (bottom).

tip: At the rustic "Lička kuća" restaurant, while listening to the crackling fire from the open fireplace, try some of the homemade specialties from Lika: lamb roasted under the bell, roasted potato slices, trout, Lika fritters...

November 2015 - January 2016

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Issue topic

WINTER IN CROATIA: Plitvice Lakes National Park

tip: Bid farewell to the old year and await the new year in the idyllic surroundings of Plitvice Lakes, with a great entertainment program, tasty delicacies from Lika, a New Year raffle, and other surprises...

Photos: idyllic winter in Plitvice Lakes (top); a room, the sauna, and the whirlpool at the "Jezero" Hotel (bottom).

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tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

New Year's Eve Celebration After an exciting day surrounded by this most popular Croatian National Park, you will likely want to extend your stay and continue exploring this interesting region the following day. Seek accommodations in the comfortable and modern "Jezero" Hotel, located in the central part of the park, and only 300 meters away from the largest Plitvice Lake, Kozjak. This favored Plitvice hotel has 229 accommodation units at its disposal, including seven suites on the lake side, and ten semi-suites on the forest side of the hotel, while two rooms are adapted for persons with a handicap. Here, at the hotel restaurant,

your taste buds will be pampered with superb delicacies, and the hotel also offers a whirlpool-massage pool, two Finnish saunas, a Turkish steam bath, and a gym. You will also find various sports, recreational, and congress facilities.

The "Jezero" Hotel is also a famous, and already traditional, host of a New Year's Party, and they have prepared a splendid program for this year. Great fun and dancing until morning, a New Year's raffle, an outdoor picnic the following day with fun and games, a park tour, and skiing and sledding in the Mukinje winter center are just part of the New Year's package that awaits you in the magical winter of Plitvice Lakes. ď ś

November 2015 - January 2016

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WINTER IN CROATIA: Dubrovnik

Winter in the city Text and photo archive: Dubrovnik Tourist Board

Winter in Dubrovnik smells of bay leaf, orange, and fritters, it will relax you with its Christmas Wonderland, intrigue you with many events for all generations...

Photos: the holiday ambiance on Stradun (top); the New Year's party on Stradun (bottom left); the Christmas Wonderland (bottom middle); the Christmas appearance of the large Onofrio fountain (bottom right).

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tip: Experience Christmas in Dubrovnik, participate at workshops of autochtonous delicacies, tour the Christmas fair, try the fritters, and ring in the New Year on Stradun.

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tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

ith the aromas of fritters, traditional holiday sweets, and shots of spirits, walk through the Mediterranean streets that lead down to Stradun, the main street in Dubrovnik, which will await you in the winter months with plenty of cultural, fun, musical, and edible treats. Christmas in the city is truly a special experience, which is additionally complemented by "kolenda", or caroling, which is a custom in Dubrovnik, where with singing from door to door, they wish a Merry Christmas, say goodbye to the old year and await the New Year.

At workshops for authentic delicacies and making protected Dubrovnik spicy orange jam, you can actively participate in a part of Dubrovnik's history, and at the Christmas fair you can get some recognizable

souvenirs and handicrafts from Dubrovnik and delight those closest to you with them.

The New Years' celebration in Dubrovnik is celebrated as in other global cities, with a wild party, and the hot rhythm of music in the open. All of that happens on one of the most beautiful stages in the world, located under the city bell tower, from where magnificent fireworks hit the sky precisely at midnight. That magical night in Dubrovnik will be remembered forever.

Festivity of St. Blaise Still, the people of Dubrovnik are proudest of, and look forward to, the Festivity of St. Blaise, on February 3, which celebrates the feast day of Dubrovnik's protector saint, and the Day of the City of Dubrovnik.

At the Festivity of St. Blaise and the Day of the City of Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik raffle is traditionally held in front of Sponza palace. This game is deeply rooted in Dubrovnik's tradition and the family life of Dubrovnik's locals, so it has still remained a favorite pastime of all generations in many homes.

The Festival of St. Blaise has also found its place on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, and to see why, it's best visit Dubrovnik in early February. The festival is formally opened a day earlier, on Kandelora, in front of the Saint's church, with the releasing of white doves, whose flight reminds us of the value of freedom.

During the festival, the banners of parishes from the city and the surrounding area stretch through the streets of the city, and a procession of followers, dressed in folk costume, follow them. The city is also in its formal attire at the time - it is specially illuminated and adorned with bay wreaths, while St. Blaise's flag flies from Orlando's column on Stradun.

In late January, for the same reason, popular Croatian musicians traditionally gather at the "Festa" charity event, when the best Croatian singers and klapas warm up the winter days. An ancient phrase

With the aim of encouraging tourists to visit Dubrovnik during the winter, every Saturday from November 14, 2015 to March 12, 2016, Dubrovnik Tourist Board has organized a free tour of the old city center with a tour guide for the guests of the city, starting at 10:00 AM in front of TIC Pile (Brsalje 5). To join this tour, you must sign up by the previous day (Friday) by 6:00 PM in TIC Pile, and the condition is a minimum threenight stay in Dubrovnik. The offer is designed for individual visitors and does not apply to group arrangements. After the tour of the city with the professional guide, there is a free performance by the Lindjo Folklore Ensemble at 11:30 AM in front of the Church of St. Blaise, or if it's raining then in the Kino Sloboda movie theater.

This free program will be a great addition to the abundance of various entertainment programs in Dubrovnik during the winter months.

Photos: the Festivity of St. Blaise, Dubrovnik's protector saint, is a special event and the pride of the people of Dubrovnik (top).

"When the Latins go crazy" best describes the days of the carnival and masquerade in Dubrovnik, so if you enjoy life under masks, you will feel great and have a great time in Dubrovnik during the Carnival Days.

Spice up your winter stay in the stone city by trying Ston oysters at the Oyster Festival, which is held around the Feast Day of St. Joseph. While enjoying the full flavor of this aphrodisiac delicacy, you will probably think: "It's great to come to Dubrovnik.

Even in the winter. Then it's a different, special city. ď ś

OGLAS TZG DUBROVNIKA November 2015 - January 2016

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WINTER IN CROATIA: Dubrovnik

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How to organize a Christmas party?

If you haven't already started, December is high time to start with preparations for organizing a Christmas party. In many Croatian hotels, restaurants, galleries, and special venues, you will find everything you need for a party that will be talked about for years to come...

tip: Pay attention to details: hire a photographer, prepare gift packs, designate a wardrobe area and organize transportation...

Find out more information on how to organize a Christmas party at: www.croatiameetings.com

It's never too early to start planning a Christmas party for your co-workers, colleagues, business partners and clients, so below we bring you some preparation advice to help make the organization process run smoothly: • Set a date: Choose a few dates and with your colleagues decide which one would suit everyone best (keep in mind that you will never be able to please everyone).

Parties are usually organized on Thursday or Friday, so days earlier in the week could end up being more affordable...

• Find out what your budget is: The budget defines what kind of party you will have, the program, music, food, drinks, and venue. Once you find out what your budget is, divide it up according to what is important to your colleagues, partners, and co-workers...

• Choose a space: If the party will be held in your company, decorate the space with holiday cheer. Still, most business parties require a special venue so be sure to act quickly since the most attractive spaces are usually reserved first.

• Define the type of party and topic: In order to make your party memorable as special and different, define the theme of the evening: traditional Christmas, vintage 60s, 70s, 80s, Winter Wonderland, ball, film, Santa's Workshop, etc.

• Food and drinks: Talk to the chefs and choose the style of food that suits your event and, if possible, the theme of the evening. Would you like a buffet table or an à la carte three-course meal? Would you like appetizers set on the table or canapes served by waiters? Make sure to have a vegetarian option as well...

• Music and entertainment: The choice of music and program depend on the type of guest who will be at the party. If it is a thematic party, the music should reflect the theme...

Finally, a few days after the party, send a thank you note to all the guests to thank them for coming and to send them a link for the photo gallery of official photos.

Who wouldn't want to see pictures from a party where they had a great time?

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tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

PROMO

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Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel opened

ith the opening of the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel in early October 2015, one of the greatest investments in Croatian tourism has reached its final phase. The newly opened hotel is one of the highest quality hotels under the Sheraton brand on the Mediterranean, and has 239 modernly furnished rooms and eleven suites with many facilities that make it attractive all year long. One of the most modern and largest congress centers in Croatia was also opened at the hotel.

The Spa and Wellness Center is designed according to the latest trends, and upon designing the hotel, the highest standards of environmental and energy efficiency were taken into account.

There are also four villas at the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel complex: Srebrenka, Supetar, Lovorka, and Borovka, which complement the offer with their content. Also, at the center of the Srebreno settlement, the construction of a building is underway, which, along with a shopping center, will also contain 20 luxury suites, and

a garage with 70 parking spots. HUP Zagreb d.d. also pointed out that the renovation of the existing "Češka banja" beach facility is still to happen, and it will be reconstructed and positioned as a lounge bar in accordance with the latest market trends.

After this large investment, the Dubrovnik Riviera Hotels company has nearly 750 accommodation units at its disposal, along with facilities designed in accordance with the latest trends of the international hotel and travel industry. 

HUP ZAGREB d.d., Trg Krešimira Ćosića 9, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia,  +385 1 3658333,  +385 1 3658461 www.hupzagreb.com ; www.sheratondubrovnikriviera.com ; www.dubrovnik-riviera-hotels.hr November 2015 - January 2016

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Issue topic

WINTER IN CROATIA: Dubrovnik-Neretva County

Magic for all the senses This winter, during Christmas, Konavle will once again be filled with the aroma of Green Menestra, it will win you over with Christmas songs, pamper your taste buds with homemade delicacies and delicious wines... Irresistible flavors and aromas await you in the cellars of Pelješac's winemakers...

Written by: Željka Kunštek ◆ Photo archive: Agritourism of Konavle, along with Slobodan Rosić (archive: The Plavac Mali - Pelješac Association)

Photos: Cavtat's Time-traveling Carols (top left); arancini, prosciutto, cheese, fritters, and various strudels are an integral part of the holiday spread in Konavle (top right and bottom).

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tip: Be in Konavle from December 20 to 27, enjoy the flavors and aromas of this interesting area and have a great time.

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tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

t truly isn’t easy to describe the flavors, colors, and sounds that traditionally take over Konavle, one of the most beautiful regions in Croatia, located in the far south of the country, during Christmastime. Magic for all the senses, better known as "The Scents of Christmas

in Konavle", simply must be experienced, and once you discover it, as its loyal guests claim, you will come back again. This year the event, which celebrates rural tourism, will unite many entertaining, cultural, humanitarian, food, and traditional events from December 20 to 27. It will open on

Sunday, December 20 in Cavtat, where Cavtat's Time-traveling Carols will take place, where you can meet famous figures from Cavtat's past. Famous painter Vlaho Bukovac, journalist and publicist Frano Supilo, renowned tenor Tino Pattiera, and many other historical figures who will bring tradition alive will walk down Cavtat's promenade. It will also be an opportunity for you to try the holiday delicacies of this area and enjoy Christmas carols.

The following day, December 21, will be in the sign of the "Christmas Gift for the Children of Konavle" pageant. The youngest members of the local folklore ensembles will share an interesting Christmas program that afternoon, which will be sure to evoke some feelings.

Since Christmastime has always been a time of joy, gift giving, and solidarity, a traditional charity campaign "Let us

all Celebrate Christmas" will be held as part of the most famous festival in Konavle. Reserve the following evening, December 23, for "Wine&art", a food and wine event. Over the course of the evening, the local hosts will take you on an interesting tour of the region.

Just like every other year, the event will end on the Days of Konavle's Green Menestra, on December 26 and 27, with a competition in the preparation of this traditional dish from Konavle.

Although there are many recipes for its preparation, the main ingredients are the same for all: dried mutton, dried pork, and dried homemade sausages.

The hosts will also offer you other delicacies from this region at their farm estates, taverns, restaurants, and tasting rooms for wine and liqueurs: prosciutto, cheese, olives, dried figs, almonds, mantala... Sit at the table with them,

Photos: the people of Konavle of all generations, dressed in folk costumes of their region, participate in various events at the "Scents of Christmas in Konavle" event (top and bottom).

Did you know that Green Menestra is a traditional dish in Konavle and also the oldest written recipe from the Republic of Dubrovnik?

This dish was mentioned in various Dubrovnik records back in the 15th century...

November 2015 - January 2016

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WINTER IN CROATIA: Dubrovnik-Neretva County

The "Scents of Christmas in Konavle" festival bears the Golden Charter Award "Sunflower of Croatian Rural Tourism", which means it was named the best event in Croatian rural tourism.

Photos: motifs from the "Scents of Christmas in Konavle" event (top); Pelješac Cellars' Open House (bottom).

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get to know more about their way of life, enjoy the flavors and aromas, stamped with tradition, and have a good time.

In the Pelješac wine empire However, this isn't the only rural tourism event that awaits you in December in the southernmost Croatian county. Early on in the month, from December 3 to 5, the wine empire of Pelješac, the peninsula that produces some of the best Croatian wines, and doubtlessly the best Plavac, will open its doors. At the Pelješac cellars' open house, the hosts await you with their delicious authentic products at fifteen wineries and cellars, and at several family-run farm estates. The event also includes many events linked to wine and

their story. So, there will be a round table held in Orebić on December 3 on the topic of the Future of Wine Tourism - The Visual Identity of Pelješac, while on December 4, there will be a wine hospitality workshop held in Orebić. On the same day, you will have the chance to try young wine from Pelješac in Trpanj and watch the competition between teams of journalists preparing brodet, and the Brodetijada will also be accompanied by an entertaining program. The following day, December 5, is reserved for touring the wine cellars and wineries where you will be able to try strong wine from Pelješac, respected all over the world. So, be in southern Croatia this December, where a different winter awaits, full of magical aromas, tastes, experiences... 

RIVIERA & ISLANDS Dubrovnik-Neretva County Tourist Board www.visitdubrovnik.hr November 2015 - January 2016

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WINTER IN CROATIA: Osijek

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tio (a na rch Mar P l T iv i h o u e : n To o t o ris Cro pi : t B at ć oa ian rd )

Osijek's cathedral

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Even though it is a co-cathedral, the people of Osijek call their parish church of St. Peter and Paul a cathedral, so the name has become ingrained in all of Croatia. Built a little more than a hundred years ago in the Neo-Gothic style, it has become a recognizable symbol of the city on the Drava.

So today Osijek's panorama is unimaginable without the 90-meter-tall bell tower, the second tallest in Croatia and southeastern Europe.

tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

Photos: Advent in Osijek (top left); Bunny's Easter Fair and Osijek Summer of Culture (top right); Osijek beer and "Blažeković" Licitar (middle); the Pannonian Challenge (bottom).

Winter in Osijek and events in 2016 The "City on the Drava" is located 20 kilometers from its confluence with the Danube, in the very middle of the European Danube region. Even though it is near four wine regions, it's most popular for its beer...

Text and photo archive: Tourist Board of the City of Osijek

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handful of events await you in Osijek during December. In early December, come to the National Competition in cooking fishpaprikash and warm things up. At the Wine Os festival, taste wine from the Croatian Danube region and beyond, and during Advent in Osijek, hop onto the fun "Christmas Tram", and visit the most popular Christmas fair in the romantic old fortress from December 2 to 24. Stay a few days longer and dance in the New Year with a glass of mulled wine, and the favorite "Beautiful Blue Danube" waltz.

From January to December 2016, Osijek awaits you with many events: Antique fair (all year long), the Bunny's Easter Fair, the Days of Wine and Tourism (May), UFO-Urban Fest Osijek

(June), Osijek Summer of Culture, Osijek Summer Nights (summer), the Pannonian Challenge, the Land without Borders (August), the Days of the First Croatian Beer, Grand Prix Žito Challenge Gymnastics Championship (September), Gastro Os (October), the National Championship in Fish Paprikash, Wine Os, and Advent in Osijek (December).

There are truly many tourist events in Osijek and the Croatian Danube region.

After you find those most interesting to you, check out the accommodation packages Osijek, make reservations on time, and take advantage of a bigger offer at the same price. Find out more at: www.tzosijek.hr  Tourist Board of the City of Osijek Županijska 2, 31000 Osijek, Croatia  +385 31 203755 tzosijek@tzosijek.hr

www.tzosijek.hr

November 2015 - January 2016

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Photo archive: Tourist Board of the City of Osijek

Chocolate Festival in Opatija If you are a fan of chocolate, make sure to be in Opatija from December 4 to 6, 2015, when the "Chocolate Festival" will be held, the sweetest event in Opatija with the best chocolate brands, but also with small specialized producers of original chocolate treats. The exhibition and sales portion of the event will be in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hotel Kvarner, although attractive programs also await you in all of Opatija's hotels and restaurants, galleries, museums...

Photo source: PHOTOnet.hr

Advent in Osijek Visit Osijek during Advent, its Christmas events, exhibitions, and concerts. Take a ride on the cheerful "Christmas tram", and take advantage of the hotel's special offer. The main events are the Christmas fairs, and the most popular one is held in the romantic old Fortress from December 2 to 24, 2015. Stay a few days longer and welcome the New Year dancing with a glass of mulled wine on Osijek's main square to the sounds of "On the Beautiful Blue Danube".

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Photo archive: Hotel Malin

www.hotelmalin.com

www.tz-delnice.hr

tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

Photo archive: Vukovar Tourist Board

Experience the holiday magic that awaits you every Saturday starting November 28, 2015 to January 6, 2016 from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM in Delnice, or more precisely in Mrs. Claus' Village. Delnice's Advent Wonderland awaits you with a Christmas Fair, horsedrawn carriage rides, ice skating, interactive fairy tales for children, elves' play groups...

Cod Days in Malinska From December 11 to 24, 2015 be at the Cod Days at Hotel Malin in Malinska (on the island of Krk), where they have prepared interesting packages for you, and try the cod, prepared in twenty different ways, according to the recipes of grandmothers from Krk.

www.opatija-tourism.hr

Delnice's Advent Wonderland

www.tzosijek.hr

Photo archive: Opatija Tourist Board

u o y 4 s tip

Silent Night in Vukovar In December Vukovar is in the sign of the "Vukovar Advent Celebration". Along with lighting the Advent candles on Sunday, concerts, exhibitions, and the Christmas fair, the highlight of the event is the Croatian Radio Television Christmas concert, "Silent Night", which is traditionally held in the Church of St. Phillip and Jacob. www.turizamvukovar.hr

Photo archive: Dubrovnik Tourist Board

Photo source: PHOTOnet.hr

Ski race on Sljeme In January 2016 Sljeme will once again be the place to be for all fans of skiing. If the weather conditions in Zagreb are right, the first race of the "Snow Queen" World Ski Cup will be held on January 3, and three days later, on January 6, the men's night race is scheduled. As has been in the past, after the women's race an entertaining race of legends will be held.

Rijeka's Carnival Photo archive: Studio Hrg

Rijeka's attractive carnival, which traditionally attracts many tourists to this city in Kvarner, starts on January 22, 2016 with the selection of the Queen of the Rijeka Carnival, and the handing over of the keys to the city to the carnival participants. The carnival ends with a grand celebration, the International Carnival Parade, on February 7, 2016.

www.vipsnowqueentrophy.com

New Years' Eve on Stradun

www.rijecki-karneval.hr

Photo archive: Kino Mediteran

Dubrovnik's many visitors and locals will start off New Years' 2016 on a unique stage, Stradun, with a great entertainment program, and performances by Croatian stars: Severina, the Silente group, and DJ Kameny. The program will start on Wednesday, December 30, with a concert by the Valetudo and DaRiva rock bands from Dubrovnik on Stradun. experience.dubrovnik.hr

Kino Mediteran

www.fmfs.hr

St. Vincent's Day in Kutjevo January 22, St. Vincent's Day, is especially cheerful in winegrowing and winemaking regions in continental Croatia.

If you visit Kutjevo at that time, you are sure to have a good time all night long with excellent traditional specialties and superb wine.

Photo archive: Kutjevo d.d.

For the third year in a row, Kino Mediteran has prepared an interesting program for film aficionados, but also those nostalgic locals who longingly recall the old cinemas in Dalmatian cities. This travelling cinema has shown more than 50 attractive films in 23 Dalmatian cities, and thanks to bilingual subtitles in the summer season, more than 30 percent of the visitors to the cinema are tourists.

www.kutjevacki-vinari.hr

November 2015 - January 2016

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Historical traces...

ZAGREB

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Art Pavilion

Address: Trg kralja Tomislava 22 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

tip: If you love to skate, head over to the icy Christmas Fairytale (skating rink) in front of the Art Pavilion.

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Prepared by: Željka Kunštek Photo: Igor Nobilo (archive: Zagreb Tourist Board)

Art Pavilion A

lthough it was built for the Millennium Exhibition in Budapest in 1896, since December 1898, the Art Pavilion has dominated King Tomislav Square, an integral part of the famous Lenuci horseshoe, and one of the most beautiful squares in Zagreb. Its construction was encouraged by the painter Vlaho Bukovac with the aim of opening a representative exhibition space where large exhibitions could be held. After the exhibition in Budapest, where it was built, the pavilion construction was transported to Zagreb and constructed on its current location. The construction of Zagreb's Art Pavilion was entrusted to Viennese architects Hellmer and Fellner, the designers of the Croatian National Theater. So the Art Pavilion became the oldest exhibition space in the Slavic south, and the only building constructed for the purpose of holding large, representative exhibitions. 

November 2015 - January 2016

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Experience Croatia

ZAGREB COUNTY

Photos: the Chapel of St. Peter and Paul in the village of Pokupsko Cerje (top); the rectory in Velika Mlaka and a detail from the Chapel of Wounded Christ, in the settlement of Pleso (bottom left); the County Folklore Festival (bottom middle); the Robić čardak in Buševec and the Chapel of Wounded Christ in the settlement of Pleso (bottom right).

Trailing wooden beauties Relax in the tame nature of Turopolje and Pokuplje, only twenty kilometers south of Zagreb, and discover the beauty of traditional construction in that area.

Written by: Alma Radoš Photo: Hrvoje Mareković, Josip Škof and Mario Žilec (archive: Velika Gorica Tourist Board), and archive of Pisarovina Tourist Board

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elika Gorica is the center of the Turopolje region, which has a history intertwined with the Sava, Odra, and Kupa rivers, and abundant with oak forests. Oak has proven itself to be a fundamental material in the traditional construction methods in Turopolje, so even today visitors and travelers, but also architects around the world, admire the artwork of the village constructers. Wood village and country houses, čardaks, and chapels delight with

their simple beauty, and amongst them St. Barbara in Velika Mlaka, Wounded Christ in Pleso, and St. John the Baptist in Buševec stand out.

The Turopolje Museum in the center of Velika Gorica, located in the former City Hall of the "Aristocratic Turopolje Municipality" established by independent aristocrats in the 13th century, will tell you a lot about the culture and history of the area. For centuries, their honorable guard, the famous Turopolje troop, fought

as an independent unit, and today, as an honorable troop of the Croatian army, they attract attention wherever they go. A main part of their uniform is the predecessor to the tie - podgutnica, a red scarf that girls tied under men's necks. You will have s chance to buy this souvenir from Turopolje at the celebration of the feast day of St. Lucy, on December 13. The day of the city's protector saint is celebrated in December with many events, and is a great prelude to Christmas time in Turopolje.

In tame Pisarovina The municipality of Pisarovina in Pokuplje also has valuable examples of traditional wooden construction, of which the chapels of the Holy Trinity in Dvoranci, the Holy Spirit in Lučenica, St. Leopold in Gradec Pokupski, and the wooden kurija

next to the unique church of St. Marin the Bishop in Jamnica Pisarovinska stand out.

Located between the Vukomerec mountain range, the Kupa River, and the Draganić forest, Pisarovina and its 14 settlements beckon you with tame nature, and the fishing spots on the Kupa are an oasis for fishing aficionados, but also for birdwatchers. White-tailed Eagles, many herons, and, in warmer months, storks will delight the youngest visitors, so make sure to visit Donja Kupčina, one of the largest outdoor museums in Croatia with traditional wooden houses and čardaks.

If you missed out on the traditional Kupa Nights and Ethno Concert this summer, maybe next weekend is the right time to head over to this area and visit Krašograd Ecopark in Bratina, Jamnička Kiselica famous for its abundant sources of mineral water and try the famous honey from this region. 

Photos: the Chapel of St. Barbara in Velika Mlaka (left); the Krašograd Ecopark, podgutnica and storks in Donja Kupčina (middle); the Donja Kupčina Local History Museum (right).

tip: In Ščitarjevo visit the Andautonija archeological site, and in Bratina visit Krašograd Ecopark.

Explore Zagreb County

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DOMESTIC DESTINATION OF THE YEAR 2014/2015

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BEAUTIFUL NECKLACE AROUND THE CAPITAL CITY

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Zagreb County Tourist Board Preradovićeva 42, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia  +385 1 4873665,  +385 1 4873670 info@tzzz.hr, www.tzzz.hr

November 2015 - January 2016

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Interview

JASNA VANIČEK-FILA

JASNA VANIČEK-FILA, Head of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board

Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board

www.tzbbz.hr

Photo: Robert Kunštek

We spoke to Jasna Vaniček-Fila, Head of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board about the development of tourism and new tourism products.

Collaboration and new products for success Conducted by: Željka Kunštek ◆ Photo archive: Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board, Daruvar - Papuk Tourist Board, Bilogora - Bjelovar Tourist Board and Christmas Fairytale Cooperative Society

In the first nine months of 2015, the Bjelovar-Bilogora County has recorded a growth in tourist traffic of 30 percent in arrivals and 76 percent in overnight stays.

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n late 2014, you took over control of Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board, and this year, your county has already recorded double-digit growth of tourism traffic. Which actions preceded these results?

The key definitely lies in the publicprivate partnership we launched, and in the constant collaboration between the Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board and the system of local Tourist Boards and the private sector in tourism. We are working together on developing the tourism offer and presenting ourselves together.

Family-run farm estates, wineries, and excursion sites are being connected with

other content, so that the entire county content is branded. We are focused on health and wellness and food and wine as key products. We have boosted marketing and advertising, in all channels, on both the domestic and foreign markets. There are also many events and attractions in the county, from the Christmas Fairytale with more than 70 thousand visitors, to Daruvar's Vinodar, Bjelovar's Terezijana, BOK-fest, Doku-Art, and many others.

We have also linked them to the offer of country estates and the Daruvar spa, so that one-day excursions (which, unfortunately, are not recorded by any statistics in Croatia, and we have around

Photo: Darko Kokot (archive: Daruvar - Papuk Tourist Board)

400 thousand such visitors annually), with the offer of additional tourist experiences, have contributed to guests extending their stay in the destination, which increases overnight stays. I am happy it has also contributed to the opening of new agricultural tourism estates and the creation of new thematic stories and reasons to come.

The long tradition of health tourism, and wine and hunting tourism are the county's strong points. What do you foresee for their future development?

The Daruvar Spa has a rich history and tradition. Ancient Romans enjoyed the healing thermal water and mineral mud, and it was also a famous Austro-Hungarian spa. Tourism has been developed here thanks to the preserved environment and optimal combination of natural features and the most modern procedures in treating rheumatic illnesses, medical rehabilitation and sports recreation.

The Daruvar Spa is in elite company in the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA), together with renowned European health tourism

destinations, such as Vichy, Evian, Baden-Baden, and Karlove Vary. Julij's Park, one of the unique landscape parks in Croatia, is also nearby. The Villa Arcadia was completely overhauled this year, and all the rooms have been renovated. The Daruvar Spa offers quality, which is recognized by many, and their loyal guests include many sports greats, and amongst the health packages they offer is a unique fertility treatment, "The Joy of Life". The guests have recognized all that, and because of that the Spa is booked through to the end of the year, and even athletes from Kuwait come here for rehabilitation.

Hunting tourism is also experiencing a new boost. For example, Hotel Garić in Garešnica has recorded a double-digit increase in the number of guests from Italy, Austria, and Germany, who come to us for hunting tourism. We are also developing it with additional content, such as a high quality of food and wine, where, with its excellence and many awards, the Ethno Culinary Academy definitely takes the cake with its restaurant in Garešnica, along with the other wineries and restaurants on the Bilogora wine road.

Photos: The Christmas Fairytale in Grabovnica near Čazma (top and middle right); the main mud bath in Daruvar (middle left); the diverse offer of food is one of the county's strong points (bottom).

November 2015 - January 2016

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JASNA VANIČEK-FILA

Photo: Darko Kokot (archive: Daruvar - Papuk Tourist Board)

Photo: Damir Bakarić (archive: Daruvar - Papuk Tourist Board)

Interview

Photos: The Spa Park - Julij's Park in Daruvar (left); the "Na malenom brijegu" excursion site (top); a vineyard on Daruvar's wine road (middle); the cathedral of St. Teresa of Avila in Bjelovar (bottom).

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You have also been working hard on creating new tourism products, and are starting a photo safari project.

What is that about?

It is incredibly important to offer guests the best of what we have, to create new motives to come and stay in a destination.

The natural attractions of the county, along with the famous springs, include the forested hills of Bilogora, Moslavačka gora, and Papuk, which are crisscrossed with valleys, waterways, and fishing ponds.

They have become a mecca for excursion tourism and special interest tourism all year long. This year, we have also enriched the tourism offer of destinations with a photo safari, as a new tourism program. So we have revealed the abundance of flora and fauna in the region to our guests, for now the first five Bilogora hunting grounds, which along with professional tour guides, and an excellent existing infrastructure of lookouts, offer a great photo experience.

Besides this project, this year we successfully applied for an education project through the Croatian National Tourist Board's tender - professional courses for animators on rural estates. So this autumn, we got the first 16 educated animators, who also created new tourist

animation programs that we will offer to tourists who want new experiences.

The Daruvar area is also known for a long tradition of beer production, and along the Daruvar and Bilogora wine roads, there are many family farms, some of which take guests to the world of mythological stories... Is that the starting point for the development of a new tourism story?

Definitely. We have a strong foundation of tradition and heritage. For example, back in the 18th century, Count Janković had excellent equipment for making and resting wine in the cellar of his castle in Daruvar. Today, that castle houses the first wine salon in Croatia that offers products from the Daruvar wine road, to which we added a new, excellently received tastingtourist story, "The Ballad of Wine, Cheese, and Daruvar". We are also an incredibly multicultural area, so, for example, the 200-year long coexistence with the Czech national minority in the Daruvar region has reflected in the gastronomy of that region, which is known for the influence of Czech cuisine. Some of the famous Czech specialties are dumplings with sauerkraut, steamed dumplings, and

Photo: Darko Kokot (archive: Daruvar - Papuk Tourist Board)

tip: Don't miss out on relaxing your body and soul at the Daruvar Spa, the most beautiful Christmas Fairytale in this part of the world at the Salaj family estate in Grabovnica near Čazma, and discover the giant mythological creatures of the Bilogora forest, the good Ved giants.

potato pancakes, which can rarely be tried elsewhere in Croatia.

Another part of the unique offer is Staročeško beer, which has been produced according to the original recipe since 1893, which is two years earlier than in the famous Czech beer town of Plzen.

New tourist stories that we, together with the local tourist boards, are developing in the Bilogora tourist trail, include those about Bilogora's mythical creatures, the Veds. So at the "Na malenom brijegu" site, they are successfully conducting the program, the Hidden Treasure of Bilogora's Giants - Veds, which takes tourists into the world of the mythical creatures of Bilogora and on a hunt for their hidden treasure.

We have also opened the doors to photo tourism, since the ethno heritage of picturesque Bilogora is a true photographic challenge. And we know that today photographical impressions travel the speed of light through the internet and social networks.

The Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board is one of the finalists of this year's EDEN awards. What advantages does this bring to you, and what activities preceded it?

Truly, many activities preceded our placement amongst this year's finalists in European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN), because according to the instructions from the European Commission, besides offer of food, other conditions important to tourists were also evaluated: offer of accommodations, bike and other thematic trails, offer of excursions, offer of food festivals. The availability of traditional dishes on menus was checked, along with the use of authentic ingredients, knowledge of chefs and waiters... However, being an EDEN finalist is valuable not only because of the further branding of our local gastronomy, but also because of the continued care for the development of sustainable tourism, preserving heritage, culture, and tradition, use of authentic ingredients, etc. It is also definitely an advantage that, as one of four finalist destinations, the destinations of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County Tourist Board, "Daruvar-Bjelovar-Garešnica", will be presented as examples of good practices throughout Europe and will become part of a European network of destinations that promote sustainable forms of tourism. And that brings another recognition factor in the promotion of the qualities of diverse destinations.

Photos: The Christmas Fairytale (top); the castle of Count Antun Janković in Daruvar (middle).

Early 2015, the students of Daruvar's School of Economics and Tourism won first prize for their "Sweet Souvenir" project at the "Alpe-Adria" fair. The souvenirs are gingerbread and chocolates prepared according to old recipes.

November 2015 - January 2016

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Interview

JASNA VANIÄŒEK-FILA

Photos: this winter, the Christmas Fairytale is illuminated by 1.88 million lights.

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The Christmas Fairytale of the Salaj Family in Grabovnica, near the city of ÄŒazma, has become a global attraction.

When will the magic start, how long will it last, and what can visitors expect to see there?

The Christmas magic on the Salaj estate will open its fairytale gates before St. Nicholas' Feast Day, on December 5, 2015, and will last until January 9, 2016.

This year, there will be 380 thousand new lights, for a total record-breaking 1.880.000 lights. An additional 130 new plants will be illuminated, and the novelties include a Japanese garden.

Visitors will also be able to see illuminated water surfaces, and on the main lake with two islands, there

will also be a replica of the North and South Poles with Santa's igloo, floating icebergs, penguins...

For the first time, together with the travel sites in the county, we will hold a special presentation of tourism throughout the county during the

fairytale, and so present our travel features to the many domestic and foreign guests. The Christmas fairytale is truly becoming a true global attraction, which is confirmed by the growing number of foreign guests, and agencies in Vienna have also added it to its packages.

When the Viennese decide to spend Advent at the Christmas fairytale in Grabovnica near Čazma, then it is truly fantastic news!

What is your favorite part of Croatia, and the world?

I would say that even privately throughout my life I have been curious and truly travelled a lot to get to see as much of Croatia as possible, from Dubrovnik, Pelješac, Korčula, Lošinj, and our entire coast, as well as many beautiful places inland. I am not one of those people who is tied down by a place, and every year, I head out to discover something new, as often as possible. Which part of the world? I lived and worked in the foreign trade-tourism sector in Prague and Karlovy Vary, that is a culture that is familiar and close to me, not only for my roots, but also professionally. I was thrilled by China, but my favorite part of the world is the irresistible, and truly eternal, Rome. 

November 2015 - January 2016

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Photo archive: Ramova Saltworks

The best of the sea, sun, and wind

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Winter in Ilok is a special experience, especially for gourmets and fans of superb wine, so we recommend you spend a few days off there. A great time to visit is for New Years' Eve. That time of the year is especially joyous in Ilok Cellars, the largest winery in this part of Croatia. See the old year off and welcome the New Year with an abundant program accompanied by cheerful music and specialties of Srijem cuisine and renowned wine in the formal Princeps hall. Use the chance to tour the Old Cellar, and take a ride on the "Traminac express" tour train to the medieval town center and beautiful Srijem vineyards. The next opportunity to visit Ilok and Ilok Cellars will be for the Feast Day of St. Vincent, the patron saint of winemakers, which is celebrated on January 22. The main celebration is traditionally held on the Vukovo vineyard site with plenty of food and entertainment.

The corn maze in Viškovci, a Slavonian town between Pleternica and Požega, is fun for the entire family. Children find their way easier than adults, even though all visitors receive a map that should help them find the exit in the shortest time possible.

The average time needed to pass this fun game is about 10 minutes. If someone happens to get lost and requires assistance to find their way out, there is a watchtower that has a view of the entire maze. This tourist attraction is the first of its kind in Croatia, and the Family-run farm estate run by Štefica Pilaš came up with the idea two years ago.

The corn maze is just another reason to visit the PožegaSlavonia County, famous for good wines, a wealth of traditional cuisine, but also active holidays.

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A hot winter at Ilok Cellars

Corn maze

Photo archive: Požega-Slavonia County Tourist Board

Photo archive: Ramova Saltworks

In the Dalmatian cove of Ramova in Krvavica, next to Makarska, fleur de sel is produced in innovative wind-powered saltworks using an entirely environmentally friendly method.

These unique saltworks with 12 pools have been producing large quantities of this renowned highly valuable mineral for three years. In order to get fleur de sel, the Ramova saltworks use exclusively solar and wind power. With the help of these unique technologies, production lasts all year long, and its peak is in the winter months, when the sea evaporates most. The crystallization process takes place during the hot summer months, when air humidity falls below 40 percent, forming the crystals with plenty of minerals from the sea. Fleur de sel is the highest quality mineral with a gentle effect on health, with high nutritional value, and it complements dishes with a special flavor when added.

Photo archive: Požega-Slavonia County Tourist Board

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DARUVAR

Health tourism

Photos: the outdoor pool at the Daruvar Spa, the pool and massage at Aquae Balissae (top); the Arcadia auxiliary building at the Daruvar Spa (bottom).

At thermal springs Prepared by: Željka Kunštek ◆ Photo archive: Daruvar - Papuk Tourist Board

Imagine a holiday for the soul and body at thermal hot springs, whose benefits were also enjoyed by the ancient Romans. And then relax in the medicinal aquatic magic of Daruvar. surroundings, a large selection of sports facilities, and a superb team of doctors, you will often see Croatian and foreign sports greats there, such as Ivica and Janica Kostelić, Sandra Perković, Mirko Filipović, and others.

Near the spa, and only three hundred meters from the center of the city, is a somewhat more fun water story. The Aquae Balissae thermal water park is an endless source of relaxation, enjoyment, and fun, both for children and adults.

Pools, slides, a cave, whirlpool, sauna, restaurants and cafés... This water park with therapeutic warm water has everything you need to relax and escape from the rush of daily life. 

tip: Add relaxing at the Daruvar spa to your agenda this winter.

Photo: Predrag Uskoković

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n the center of Daruvar, surrounded by a centuries-old park and at the very source of medicinal thermal water and mineral mud, where the Ancient Romans regularly recharged their batteries, you will find the Daruvar Spa. This modernly designed health care center was built on the ruins of the Roman settlement, Aquae Balissae and a long tradition and experience in using therapeutic water and mineral mud. The spa is specialized in healing rheumatic ailments, fertility issues, medical rehabilitation, and conducting preparation for athletes in the Center for Kinesiologic Diagnostics and Sports Rehabilitation. Due to the unique natural

Daruvar - Papuk Tourist Board Julijev park 1, 43500 Daruvar Croatia,  +385 43 331382 turizam@daruvar.hr, tic@daruvar.hr

www.visitdaruvar.hr

November 2015 - January 2016

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Active tourism

KARLOVAC COUNTY

Relaxation on the go with unforgettable experiences Text and photo archive: Karlovac County Tourist Board

The Karlovac County offers many opportunities for your active holiday on bike and by canoe, as well as for hiking, alpinism, Nordic walking... or just swimming in the magical rivers.

Photos: bicyclists (top left); Vivodina (top middle); Ogulin (top right); canoeing on Mrežnica (bottom left); Rastoke, a part of the city of Slunj (bottom right).

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ore than a thousand kilometers of bike trails connect parts of the Plitvice Lakes National Park and the Žumberak-Samoborsko gorje Nature Park, along the picturesque valleys of the Kupa, Korana, Mrežnica, and Dobra rivers, the shores of Sabljaci Lake, the forests and glades of Kapela,

Klek, Sveta Gera, Lović Prekriški... Enjoy touring the Renaissance center of Karlovac, the medieval fortress, castles, churches and chapels, wooden and stone bridges, the mill in Rastoke...

Rafting and canoeing on the gorgeous rivers, whose 200 kilometers of length offer exciting adventures, are an unforgettable

experience. Karlovac's rivers lure you with rocky passes, but also with gentle inlets with flowery meadows, a blue green color, travertine waterfalls, islets, traces of human heritage. Summers are swimming heaven and perfect refreshment on hot days, especially on the Mrežnica and Korana rivers. Lešće hot springs, one of the most therapeutic hot springs in Croatia, with an outdoor pool (28-30°C) next to the shores of the Dobra, are a special place. There is also a spa center with an indoor pool (34°C). With its wealth of water, the Karlovac County is a true attraction for fisherman. The purity of the water has been awarded with a large number of fish species, and time spent near the water relaxes and calms people.

An oasis of wild romance Near the river, in the shallow limestone karst, you will find some of the most beautiful caves, caverns, and underground tunnel systems. The Barać Cave near Rakovica is adorned with abundant calcite deposits, the Matešić Cave near Slunj has

two entrances, the lower one in the Korana pass, the Bubi cavern near Siče hides a unique ancient necropolis, Vrlovka near Kamanja is an example of a defense cave, and many other caverns are a challenge for adventurers.

You can also enjoy the beauty on horse­ back, but also by hiking up marked hiking trails, or taking a relaxing walk down the Nordic walking paths. Klek above Ogulin, which looks like a sleepy stony giant, is the most attractive hiking destination in Croatia. You can also hike up to the highest peak of Gorski kotar, Kula on Bjelolasica, visit the Bijela and Samarska cliffs, true oases of wild romance.

Taste superb gastro delights in some of the award-winning family-run restaurants or in the relaxed atmosphere of small tasting rooms. Here your hosts will tell you the story of preparing dishes in the traditional way, and domestic specialties made of fresh-water fish, game, mush­ rooms, homemade cheese... All that, of course, with wine, beer, honey, and honey delicacies. 

Photos: bicyclists visit the Karlovac County daily (top right); a dozen cheesemakers await you on the Karlovac County Cheese Road (middle).

Karlovac County Tourist Board Ambroza Vraniczanya 6 47000 Karlovac, Croatia  +385 47 615320, 601415 info@tzkz.hr

www.tzkz.hr

November 2015 - January 2016

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Active tourism

DALMATIAN HINTERLAND

Cycling through the Dalmatian Hinterland Explore the emerald Cetina River, PeruÄ?a Lake, natural phenomena, fortresses, mills, and towns, and relax with the abundant spread in the Dalmatian Hinterland.

Written by: Alma RadoĹĄ Photo archive: Biking Club Marjan

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Photos: while riding through the Dalmatian hinterland, you will pass by waterfalls, water springs, stone houses, beautiful landscapes...

There are a total of 20 bike trails, more than 600 kilometers long in total, running through Dugopolje, Trilj, Sinj, and Vrlika, on the bike map of the Dalmatian hinterland made according to all European standards.

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tone, scarp, and sinkholes of the rugged karst, high mountain peaks, fertile fields and valleys along the clear Cetina River, water springs, stone houses and churches are scenes you will see while you enjoy cycling through the Dalmatian hinterland. It is a region fraught with history, rich in cultural heritage, where tradition is respected and

natural benefits appreciated. Its fruits are used to prepare delicious dishes, fantastic delicacies, such as cheese and prosciutto, and superb wine, which have won over even the most demanding taste buds. Whichever bike trail you choose, you will enjoy the beautiful landscape and hospitality of the people here. Exploring the hinterland will be

easier accompanied by a licensed bike guide, and with a cycling map that includes Prilaz braće Kaliterna 10/1, 21000 Split, Hrvatska all trails in the area of the Dugopolje and tel/fax: +385 (0)21 490 032, 490Trilj, 033,Sinj, 490and 036 Cetina region, which include Vrlika, and their surroundings. The bike trail signs, which you will easily recognize for their depiction of the "Cyclist" sculpture by famous artist Vaso Lipovac, are just as unique as the Dalmatian hinterland.

www.dalmatia.hr

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For all kinds of cyclists Upon consultation with your guide, choose the trail that suits you best and enjoy the ride. The choice is truly large, and thanks to various lengths, inclines, and trail difficulties, recreational athletes, topnotch athletes, but also those who are just discovering the charms of riding bikes can do so. Of the 20 trails, the longest one is "Peruča" at 42.80 kilometers, which passes through the Vrlika plains by the lake of the

same name. The shortest one is the one by the unforgettable Cetina canyon at ten kilometers, the highest peak (1397 m) is on the "Žlabina" trail that starts out from Ruda near Sinj, and the lowest point (270 m), is on the "Rera Dugopolje" trail. Wine aficionados will enjoy the "Wine Trail" that passes runs to dthrough a l mthe a tcenter i a Čaporice, . ofh Trilj r and Strmendolac and and back to Trilj, and the "Aequum" trail, near Sinj, and "Gaj Laberije" trail near Trilj will take you back to ancient times.

While you're testing your abilities on one of the bike trails, you will feel a deep peace that is hard to find in the bustle of cities. Here, vacations take on a completely different form, and don't be surprised if you feel like suddenly extending it because the Dalmatian hinterland is truly unpredictable: wild and seductive at the same time. 

Photos: the picturesque qualities of the Dalmatian hinterland are additionally enhanced by the remains of stone houses and the stone bridges you will pass on your ride through.

tip: Find the bike map of the Dalmatian Hinterland here:

Prilaz braće Kaliterna 10/1, 21000 Split, Croatia tel/fax: +385 (0)21 490 032, 490 033, 490 036

www.dalmatia.hr

info@dalmatia.hr November 2015 - January 2016

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Interesting facts

DALMATIAN PROSCIUTTO

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A reflection of tradition and the region Strong Dalmatian bora winds, moderate exposure to smoke, sea salt, and the traditional method of maturing have given Dalmatian prosciutto a distinctive aroma, mildly salty flavor, an even red color, and a special scent. This superb delicacy, protected with a mark of geographical origin, has seduced the pickiest gourmets, who will always ask for hand-sliced prosciutto for their demanding taste buds because, as they say, its unique flavor is preserved that way.

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DUGOPOLJE

Experience Croatia

Photos: the picturesque landscapes in Dugopolje are perfect for cycling (top); the Vranjača cave (bottom left); the Kutska strana rest stop (bottom right).

tip: Walk down the Roman Road, a thematic walking trail, and if you like to hike, choose one of the three hiking trails.

The two sides of Dugopolje Written by: Alma Radoš Photo archive: Dugopolje Tourist Board, Sinj Tourist Board, and Biking Club Marjan

Upon exiting the A1 highway towards Split, you will come across Dugopolje, a municipality that hides attractive nature and a traditional lifestyle behind a modern business zone.

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ust like two thousand years ago, today Dugopolje lies on the crossroads of main roads that connect the coast and the Dalmatian interior. Located alongside a plain on the northern face of the Mosor Mountain, twenty years ago it joined three other settlements in the municipality of the same name to create a business zone that has become an important business center and an unavoidable shopping destination.

Besides this modern side, Dugopolje also has the traditional façade of a typical town in the Dalmatian hinterland. If you decide to explore the Dugopolje region, you will discover a rich cultural heritage, unique delicacies such as the awardwinning Dalmatian prosciutto, and the uninhibited nature of the Mosor hinterland with many fresh water springs, and unique karst phenomena. Cycling aficionados will especially enjoy it if they head out on one

of the three mapped and routed trails that will soon get bike stops. The longest of them is "Vranjača", which meanders 36 kilometers from the Roman Road through the Dugopolje plain towards the town of Kotlenice and the unique Vranjača cave, and on towards the towns of Bisko, Liska and Ercegovci. There is also an 18-kilometer long trail running through Liska and Ercegovci, which leads from Dugopolje towards Kotlenice, next to the former mine that gave it its name of "Miotto's Mine".

At 12.5 kilometers, the shortest trail is "Rera Dugopolje", which partially runs along the former narrow railway. So, if you are a fan of cycling, make sure to visit Dugopolje the first chance you get, a place many consider to be a suburb of Split, although it is still far enough to enjoy the peace and beauty of the Dalmatian hinterland. 

Dugopolje Tourist Board Matice hrvatske 11 21204 Dugopolje, Croatia  +385 21 655189 +385 98 744326 info@tzo.dugopolje.hr

www.visitdugopolje.com

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Photo: Ante Gašpar (archive: Sinj Tourist Board)

Photo: Ante Gašpar (archive: Sinj Tourist Board)

SINJ

Photo: Branko Čović (archive: Sinj Tourist Board)

Experience Croatia

Capital of a rich heritage In the center of Dalmatian zagora is the city of Sinj, which lovingly nurtures tradition, deeply respects the miraculous Lady of Sinj, and welcomes every guest with an open heart.

Written by: Alma Radoš ◆ Photo archive: Sinj Tourist Board, The Alka Knight's Society, Museum of the Sinj Alka, and Alisa Erceg

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Photo: Boris Filipović Grčić (archive: Museum of the Sinj Alka)

tip: In Sinj you can choose between horseback riding, cycling, hiking, canoeing, paragliding, parachuting, fly fishing...

Photo: Nikola Belančić (archive: The Alka Knight's Society)

Photos: a procession of believers for the Feast of the Assumption of Mary (top left); an alkar spearman (top middle); the children's alka (top right); a girl in a folk costume (bottom left); the Museum of the Sinj Alka (bottom right).

he city of Sinj is the center of Cetinska Krajina, a region of the Dalmatian hinterland that is linked to the beautiful karst Cetina River, both geographically and by life. For generations, its inhabitants have been telling the legend where in 1715 the Lady of Sinj saved the city from an attack by Ottoman forces. In honor of this battle, every year on the first Sunday in August, the Sinj Alka is held, one of the most attractive Croatian events, which formally celebrated its three-hundredth

enactment last summer. This horse and knight competition, enlisted on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, isn't just another tourist event with elements of folklore. It is much more. It simultane­ously depicts history, tradition, lifestyle, customs, bravery, and the faith of the local population. Last August, the Museum of the Sinj Alka was opened, and it shows this unique phenomenon, for which every inhabitant of Sinj and Cetina lives, in a lively way.

Photo: Ilija Veselica (archive: Sinj Tourist Board)

Photo: Ante Gašpar (archive: Sinj Tourist Board)

Ana Rucner - "Alkarski ponos" © Ana Rucner

Photo: Ilija Veselica (archive: Sinj Tourist Board)

Photo archive: Sinj Tourist Board

Besides having a rich cultural heritage, Sinj will also surprise you with its fantastic

Photos: prosciutto is an integral part of the spread in Sinj (top); canoeing on the Cetina River (middle).

The Our Lady of Sinj route is a pilgrimage trail that leads from several directions, and for centuries, every year before the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, in the nights between August 8 and 15, people walk to one of the largest Marian shrines in Croatia, in the center of the city of Sinj.

Photo: Alisa Erceg

Fantastic gastronomy: Sinjski arambaši

gastronomy. You will enjoy the most diverse delicacies, such as excellent prosciutto, cheese, and sudžuk (spicy dried sausages), served with sinjski uštipci. Fans of freshwater specialties will choose dishes made of crab, Cetina trout, or frogs, and true gourmets will discover arambaše, an authentic dish from Sinj, made with the best ground or chopped beef, wrapped in sour cabbage leaves. Even those with the strongest willpower cannot resist when they are in the company of generous hosts and abundant spread of Sinj's table. Since this area is also known as a destination for active vacations, the calories will soon melt away if you choose one of the many sports. 

Sinj Tourist Board Put Petrovca 12, 21230 Sinj, Croatia  +385 21 826352, info@visitsinj.com

www.visitsinj.com

Photo: Nikola Belančić (archive: The Alka Knight's Society)

The museum is located in the renovated Alka halls, the former quartier (horse barracks), which are connected to the Kamičak fortress, which dates back to 1712, on the northeastern side. The bell tolls on the Kamičak tower three minutes before the top of the hour, and at the top of the hour the precise time strikes. The bronze bell was cast in 1828, in the famous Italian foundry owned by the Colbachini family.

The foundry was established in 1745, and after a decision made in 1898 by Pope Leon XIII, it is the only one that has the special right to use the papal crest on its products.

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: to ho štek ,p IR Kun O G ert b Ro

DALMATIA

TR

Interesting facts

UNESCO Dalmatian cities The unique preserved architecture and attractions of four Dalmatian cities are on UNESCO's list of cultural heritage monuments. The Cathedral of St. James is the cultural and religious center of the city of Šibenik.

For more than a hundred years, five generations worked on that UNESCO monument, creating perfect proportions and the impression that it was made from one piece of stone.

Trogir is another Dalmatian pearl on UNESCO's list that also bears the title of the best-preserved Romanesque-Gothic city in central Europe. The historical city center of Split with Diocletian's palace, built in 295, and the historical medieval center of Dubrovnik, encircled by the city walls and preserved despite the earthquake that destroyed almost the entire city back in 1667, are also on the list.

Split

Airport

Cesta Dr. Franje Tuđmana 1270, 21217 Kaštel Štafilić, Croatia Passenger information: +385 21 203506, +385 21 203507 informacije@split-airport.hr, www.split-airport.hr 56

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SOLIN

Announcement

International Congress of Ancient Cities Written by: Željka Kunštek ◆ Photo archive: Solin Tourist Board

From March 16 to 18, 2016, Solin will host a congress with the aim of promoting and developing new travel products in ancient cities throughout Croatia...

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ollowing the first International Congress of Ancient Cities, held in late February 2015 in Solin, the city will also host the second International Congress of Ancient Cities from March 16 to 18, 2016, under the motto: "Meet, share, and build". The aim of the congress is to bring together the leading people in tourism from ancient cities for the purpose of promoting and developing new travel products in ancient cities throughout Croatia through benchmarking with cities abroad. At the congress, ancient cities from Croatia and abroad from various eras - from prehistoric to medieval times, will be shown, with emphasis on ancient times, and lectures will be held by, amongst others, representatives from Oxford

Site management (product presentation and development), and cooperation between travel agencies and DMO (Destination Management Organization) in the creation of new products will be some of the lecture topics.

University, the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies, and the Archeological Museum in Zagreb. A B2B workshop will also be held at the congress, along with a panel discussion, and a tour of the historical sites of Split and Solin will also be organized. The congress will be held under the organization of Solin Tourist Board, Hotel President Solin, and the City of Solin, with the support of the Association of Ancient Cities. 

Photos: the congress held in late February 2015 gathered more than a hundred participants (top); a tour of Solin is also organized as part of the congress (bottom).

Solin Tourist Board Kralja Zvonimira 69, 21210 Solin Croatia,  +385 21 210048 tzg-solin@st.t-com.hr

www.solin-info.com

November 2015 - January 2016

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Experience Croatia

BAŠKA VODA

With the taste of the sea and the mountains With the taste of the sea, with the taste of the mountains - that's what your holiday will be like in Baška Voda, the place with the most beautiful panorama in the world...

Written by: Željka Kunštek ◆ Photo archive: Baška Voda Tourist Board

Photos: the center of Baška Voda at dusk (top left); you can try various seafood specialties in the taverns and restaurants in Baška Voda (top right); the collection of shells in the Malacological Museum (bottom).

I

Baška Voda's oldest award dates back to 1936, to the world exhibition in London, for the quality of accommodations, food, and wine in Hotel Slavija.

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t is truly difficult to count all the awards this tourist destination with a Mediterranean air has received so far, but we will single out a few of the newer ones: in May 2015, Baška's beach was named one of the top ten in the Mediterranean, according to the Daily Mail. The quality and attractiveness of this beach was confirmed in this year's

selection for Croatia's Tourism Awards, which placed it amongst the top three beaches. In June 2015, another award was handed out, this time for the view from the web camera of the Baška Voda panorama, which the Earth Cam website chose as the most beautiful in the world. Yes, you read that right - the most beautiful in the world! This information alone will likely be enough to get you to head over to this pearl of tourism on the Makarska Riviera to see its beauty with your own eyes. Still, we'll point out some of the attractions and experiences that you shouldn't miss out on in this former settlement of fishermen, sailors, and tradesmen. Upon arrival in Baška Voda, you will be intoxicated with the fresh air, which is much different than most other coastal towns. Here the mountain air mixes with the sea air in an area full of oxygen from various Mediterranean plants, which makes it especially healthy.

You will also notice Biokovo right away, the nature park and impressive mountain that watches over the town and is one

Follow Your Heart | Baška Voda © www.baskavoda.hr

of the most picturesque landscapes on the Adriatic. Biokovo, with its protected endemic species, is one of the natural attractions worth exploring. If you plan on heading out on this adventure, we recommend you do so accompanied by a professional guide. Although heading out on your own is interesting, it is also very dangerous. Once you reach the summit, you will be awarded with one of the most attractive views imaginable.

Head down to the town and duck into its streets. If you love the sea and everything associated with it, you will definitely love the valuable shell collection at the Malacological Museum. Besides shellfish from the Adriatic waters, shellfish and fish from the world's seas and oceans are also shown. Interesting exhibitions can also be found in the Archeological Museum's

collection, while the churches in Baška Voda and the surrounding towns are little galleries of their own.

The pleasant Mediterranean climate enables many outdoor activities all year long, while the summer months are a favorite time to relax in the shade of palm trees or aromatic pines on the long, heavenly, awarded beaches of Baška for an ever growing number of visitors.

Whenever you head over to this part of the Adriatic, enrich your stay in Baška Voda with delicious food specialties: Baška rafioli, Biokovo peka, pašticada, cooked monkfish, grouper stew, and the must-have fritule. Await the next morning in one of the comfortable hotels or apartments and continue exploring one of the most awarded travel destinations in Croatia. 

Photo: the statue of St. Nicholas in the center of Baška Voda (top left).

Over time, a total of 12 priests have come from Baška Voda, and due to its long religious tradition, they called it Little Vatican.

Baška Voda Tourist Board Obala sv. Nikole 31 21320 Baška Voda, Croatia  +385 21 620713 info@baskavoda.hr

www.baskavoda.hr

November 2015 - January 2016

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Trends

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Green travel trend Written by: Nedjeljka Prevendar

Photo: cycling through Swiss landscapes is an unforgettable experience.

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Markus Greber

Over the last few years, terms such as "sustainable", "responsible", "eco", and "green" have been linked to tourism and travel more and more. Hotels and travel agencies want to be "sustainable", and tourists and travelers are more inclined to head out on "sustainable" vacations and "responsible" and "green" trips.

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Photo: Ivo Pervan (archive: Croatian National Tourist Board)

Photo: Henrik Trygg / imagebank.sweden.se

Responsible approach Today, tourism is a huge global industry with one of the fastest growth rates, which affects people and the environment in many ways. Its dynamic development brings about positive effects, but also possible negative effects, in regards to environmental destruction, an increase in pollution of the earth, air, water, etc.

Photo source: Ski amadĂŠ

Photo source: swiss-image.ch

Photo: Friluftsbyn HĂśga Kusten / imagebank.sweden.se

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or most people, "sustainability" is synonymous with "eco-friendly", and is mostly in regards to hotels and other accommodation units that implement measures to protect the environment, use renewable sources of energy, and take care about their carbon footprint. "Green" trips are mostly related to traveling to rural and areas with preserved nature. The fact is that environmental awareness is an important step towards sustainability, but it isn't the only one, nor is it enough. What makes, and can make, tourism and travel "sustainable", "responsible", and "green"?

So now, more than ever, the need to develop responsible tourism, sustainable for current and future generations, has been emphasized.

The principles of sustainable development can be applied to all forms of tourism: nautical, health, ecotourism, cultural, congress, religious, adventure, cycling, etc., as well as to all destinations: rural and urban, mountain and sea... The only important thing is to respect three main rules, in regards to ecological/environmental, social-cultural, and economic sustainability.

In other words, sustainable tourism needs to use the surrounding resources in an optimal manner and preserve natural wealth and biodiversity; respect the host's local community, preserve their cultural heritage and traditional values, encourage intercultural understanding and tolerance; ensure the long-term economic development for the benefit of all those involved.

To achieve these goals, the cooperation and active participation of all is essential: providers and users of travel services,

Photos: kayaking and hiking in Sweden (top and bottom left); sailing in Croatia (top right); paragliding in Fiesch, Switzerland (bottom middle); enjoying culinary delights in the Austrian Ski amadĂŠ ski region (bottom right).

"Sustainable tourism satisfies the needs of tourists and hosting regions and at the same time preserves resources for future development".

(UNWTO, 1998).

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SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Stephan Schacher

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Christof Sonderegger

Trends

Photos: cycling in Switzerland (top left); buying homegrown products at the marketplace (top right); responsible tourists will respect local traditions and use public transportation while traveling (bottom).

• Use public transportation (whenever possible, use the train or bus, rent a hybrid vehicle, bicycle, or walk) • Keep to marked trails when hiking or walking (avoiding marked paths may mean trampling on protected or endangered plant species) • Shop and eat locally (instead of in large supermarkets, which use a lot of energy to ship food over great distances, stop by the marketplace or visit a street vendor with local products) • Explore the destination (find out more about the history, customs, local cuisine...)

• Respect cultural differences (inform yourself about the local customs of the people who live in the destination you are visiting and respect them)

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Photo: swiss-image.ch / Marcel Steiner

• Behave as you do at home in the hotel (don't take long showers, turn off the TV, lights, air conditioner, and other devices when you leave your room, etc.)

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Andrea Badrutt

TIPS

FOR RESPONSIBLE TOURISTS

national governments, local communities, workers in accommodation units, transport service providers, travel agents, but also the tourists themselves.

According to a lot of research, when choosing destinations to visit, tourists take the ethical, social, and environmental components more into account. Such an approach to traveling, where the aim is to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the destination being visited,

and creating more of a positive than a negative local and global effect, makes travel "green" and "responsible".

However, that does not mean comfort is sacrificed, but simply a little more effort is put into preserving and protecting the environment of the destination's host, and their cultural and traditional values.

Sustainability in Croatia After a period of massive and elemental global tourism, large changes are occurring the travel industry due to an increase of awareness of the importance of a clean and healthy environment, along with the need to get to know other cultures and their customs. Besides "sun and sea", today other forms of tourism are encouraged: eco-tourism, nautical, adventure, etc., which Croatian tourism is focusing more on and adapting while respecting the principles of sustainable development. More and more, Croatia is recognized as a destination with a unique natural and cultural-historical heritage, which gives it attractive tourism potential.

In the Strategic Development of Croatian Tourism by 2020, it is clearly emphasized that the development of tourism in Croatia will "continue to be based on the improvement of environmental protection, preservation of the quality of natural resources, and the sustainable management of the content of the tourism offer". 

PROMO

Hotel Split - The Day | Hotel Split © www.hotelsplit.com

Hotel Split

Responsibility towards guests and the environment

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ith a dash of the luxury of modern yachts, surrounded by the blue sea and sky, you will enjoy your holiday or business meeting in the pleasant Mediterranean climate. That is the feeling you will get at Hotel Split, with a modern design that respects space, the location, and time, so the right dose of measure and unobtrusiveness has been achieved, which is necessary to truly relax in central Dalmatia.

Hotel Split, located only nine kilometers from the center of the city that bears its name, is located near the main road in the municipality of Podstrana, which is close enough to the happenings and buzz of the city, but still far enough to feel the peace and quiet of a small Dalmatian town.

The benefits and traditions of this region have been expressed in the dishes at L'Aroma, the hotel restaurant. As far as food and wine is concerned, no compromises are made at Hotel Split. Only the best and highest quality is offered. Dishes are

prepared with great joy and love based on authentic, organic home-grown ingredients from family-run farms located within thirty kilometers of the hotel. The L'Aroma restaurant is a kind of gourmet shrine at the hotel where the Mediterranean food culture is celebrated, which is also based on a dose of measure, and considered to be the healthiest in the world.

The seductive aromas of Dalmatia can also be enjoyed elsewhere. Their power and profusion can be felt in the treatments and

rituals at the Sea L'Aroma Spa&Wellness oasis, where only natural products are used, so you will experience the peak of hedonism with relaxing music, aromas, and flavors. Not only is Hotel Split responsible for every one of their guests, but also to nature. At the first green hotel in Croatia, the proud bearer of the highest A-level certificate of energy efficiency and ECO certificate, care is taken for cleanliness and protection of the environment, sea, and sea bed. 

Hotel Split, Strožanačka 20, 21312 Podstrana, Croatia,  +385 21 420420, info@hotelsplit.com, www.hotelsplit.com November 2015 - January 2016

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SAILING

Na

tio (a na rch Ivo P h l T iv ou e: Per oto ris Cro van : t B at oa ian rd )

Beauties of Croatia

Nautical paradise A total of 1244 islands, islets, and reefs, scattered throughout the crystal clear Adriatic Sea, represent 1244 reasons for many sailors to visit from all over the world throughout the year to fulfil their sailing dreams.

The Adriatic archipelago will tell you many stories, and it will also fulfil the expectations of those who love to sail at full sail, with the wind whistling between the ropes, as well as those who would like to explore while cruising on motor boats with more comfort. In more than one and a half thousand bays and harbors on islands and the mainland, you can find docking berths, set anchor, or spend the night, and you will also find great comfort in the many superbly equipped, safe, and protected Croatian marinas.

A great place to start out from to explore the Adriatic is Šibenik, the heart of central Dalmatia, whose archipelago will not leave you unfazed. Besides the picturesque and interesting islands of the Šibenik archipelago, you will also easily reach nautical heaven with more than 150 islets - the Kornati islands. One of the most attractive nautical routes in this part of the Adriatic, 26 miles long, connects two national parks Kornati and Krka. It is also a special experience to sail to the island of Murter, whose inhabitants have always had a strong connection to the sea, gajeta boats, and sails. The island is also a famous destination for gourmets who, after a day spent at sea, sail through gastronomic waters in the taverns and restaurants of the island's towns. 

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PROMO

T

A different sailing experience

hanks to one of the most beautiful and diverse coasts, with more than 1244 islands, Croatia is one of the top nautical destinations in the world, while Šibenik, as a city in the center of the Adriatic Sea, is an ideal starting point for travelling to, for example, Vis, Hvar, Korčula, and Dubrovnik in the south, as well as to Istria or Brijuni in the northern Adriatic. So it is no wonder that NCP & mare, as the leading Croatian charter fleet, set up head­quarters there, only five minutes away from the A1 junction and a 40-minute drive from the inter­national airports in Split and Zadar.

Their fleet includes 60 motor­boats, sail­ boats, and catamarans, which can be rented with or without a crew. The fleet includes luxurious Yaretti, Fairline, and Sea Ray yachts, as well as more economical Beneteau and Adria boats. Fans of challenging sailing will be awaited by Grand Soleil sail­boats, while for those who favor a smoother family sailing trip, the

ideal boats are Dufour, Beneteau, Jeanneau, Elan, and Hanse, or the incredibly spacious Lagoon catamaran.

Support 24/7 In order to make vacation for sailors as safe and comfortable as possible, NCP & mare has introduced an online reservation system, which ensures the timely reservation of the desired boat. Also, it secures payment and deposits and a free berth in the Mandalina marina. During the preseason and post­ season, courses are given at a 50 percent

discount so that sailors can get to know the yachts and navigation routes and be as carefree as possible while on vacation. This team offers technical support 24/7 on land and sea, and as a result of all those facts, the NCP & mare company was awarded the title of the Best Business Yacht Charter Company for Europe in 2008 by Business Destinations magazine.

RYA sailing school NCP & mare also has a long tradition in the organization of various sea events: corporate regattas, team building and incentives, as well as various tailor made programs. The company also houses a sailing club. It is a certified RYA (Royal Yachting Association) sailing school and, in cooperation with the RYA, offers the most prestigious globally renowned courses and licenses for motor boats and sailboats. So, Šibenik was also added to the prestigious list of RYA training centers in the world. 

NCP & mare, Obala Jerka Šižgorića 1 (Mandalina marina), 22000 Šibenik, Croatia,  +385 22 312999  +385 22 312988, +385 98 336580, ncp@ncp.hr, www.ncp-charter.com November 2015 - January 2016

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Interesting facts

PRVIĆ ISLAND

Faust Vrančić Memorial Center Written by: Željka Kunštek Photos: Robert Kunštek

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Today, after researching his life for more than a century, Faust Vrančić's story has yet to be completely told. Still, a lot can be found out about the life of that versatile scientist and innovator, the author of many lexicographical works and poetry pieces at the Faust Vrančić Memorial Center,

located on a small island in the Šibenik archipelago, Prvić. The picturesque island is where Faust, born in Šibenik, spent his childhood. The world remembers him most for his invention Homo Volans (the flying man), or the parachute, even though he was much more than that... See for yourself and tour the interesting collection of models of his inventions, some of which are full scale, and have a look at his most important written works. Find out why this great inventor still leaves visitors from all over the world speechless... 

Photos: entrance to the Faust Vrančić Memorial Center and Homo Volans - flying man model (background and top right); an oil press model (bottom left); Faust Vrančić (bottom right).

November 2015 - January 2016

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Interesting facts

PRVIĆ ISLAND

Photos: The Faust Vrančić Memorial Center will take you to a world of numerous inventions by this great Croatian inventor who was far ahead of his time with his ideas (top); many models of Faust's bridges are displayed at the center (middle and bottom right); a mill with a moving roof (bottom left).

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PROMO

A new hotel for modern globetrotters

S

Solaris Hotel Jure

imultaneously elegant and playful, the new Solaris Hotel Jure, which is opening its doors in May 2016, will fulfil the expectations of modern globetrotters who want to relax, have fun, and recharge while on vacation. The modern interior with lively colors and maritime details will impress you upon entry where the spacious lobby and reception are open and airy with a personalized approach to each guest.

The stylish bar is perfect for starting the day with warm beverages and refreshing juices, and is also the ideal place to take a break in the afternoon hours, or to have some fun in the evening. You will be able to enjoy tasty local specialties

in the pleasant ambiance of the hotel restaurant, while at the pool in front of the hotel, you can enjoy relaxing in the warm Mediterranean climate. The pool at the Hotel Jure is the central location for good times and great fun where young, modern travelers, and all those who feel that way, can enjoy themselves. It is a true hot spot where you experience a different kind of fun and make your vacation unforgettable.

Discover your favorite treatment at the spacious Wellness & Spa center with carefully chosen programs based on maritime themes, and after an active day and a great time, rest and relaxation in an airy and elegant room will come in handy.

2016

Located at the Solaris Beach Resort, in the heart of Dalmatia, six kilometers from the center of Šibenik, Solaris Hotel Jure is surrounded by a unique Mediterranean garden, perfect for meditation and walks, while you are sure to find your favorite spot on one of the five beaches. Relax in the traditional ambiance of the Dalmatian ethno village with an abundant offer of food and wine, while the clubs on the beach await you with entertainment late into the night. If you are a modern traveler searching for a new vacation experience, reserve your stay at the Solaris Hotel Jure.  All the materials and photos are of an informative character and do not represent the real state, but the design plans and the atmosphere of how the hotel will be built.

Solaris Beach Resort, Hoteli Solaris 86, 22000 Šibenik, Croatia  +385 22 361001, info@solaris.hr, www.solaris.hr November 2015 - January 2016

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Furnishing

HOTELS

Photo: every designer will agree that details enhance spaces.

Architects and designers agree on one thing: regardless of categorization, luxury services are achieved with good design.

Written by: Alma Radoš

Photo: Stephan Lemke (source: 25hours Hotels)

According to estimates, hiring a designer to furnish an area costs 15 percent of the price, but can also affect 70 percent of the profit.

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Experience design

Photo: Stephan Lemke (source: 25hours Hotels)

Photo: Stephan Lemke (source: 25hours Hotels) Photo: Stephan Lemke (source: 25hours Hotels)

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e quickly forget uninteresting and "ordinary" hotels, and remember those with recogniz­able architecture, fascinating interiors and elegance, and the unique stories that permeate them.

Globali­zation, urbanization, and the daily rush are the features of the modern world, over­crowded with an abundance of visual signals, so the modern traveler seeks not only accommo­dations with well-known services and aesthetics, but also individuality and originality. So, hotel owners, in collaboration with architects and designers, need to think about how to transform a product into a lifeenriching experience.

When building new hotels and apartment suites, responsible architects and designers need to offer a unique story that follows the natural and cultural surroundings, while using local resources, but also taking into mind protection of the area. Non-toxic construction materials are used, and heating and cooling systems are solved with the use of renewable energy sources.

Sniježana Torbarina, an architect and designer who lives and works in London and Croatia says that entering the 21st century symbolically meant saying goodbye to the traditional appearance of hotels, and welcomed a new generation of hotels and guests who are now more refined and demanding.

"Good design is becoming, first and foremost, a backdrop, and like the scenography in a theater performance, it contributes to the total emotional experience. Hotel design is created by architects and hoteliers and mostly by the guests themselves with their demands.

Architects are moving away from the traditional methods of planning, and are creating new rules where individuality and personality mean success", emphasizes Torbarina. She goes on to explain that boutique and lifestyle hotels are finding their place in the world today because of the individuality that makes them attractive to modern guests. Such hotels - small, exclusive, and individual - are compatible with Croatian tourism, mostly due to the preserved, gorgeous

tip: If you would like to offer your guests a new experience in your hotel, come up with a unique story that will be seen in the interior and your offer.

Photos: If you feel as if in a room aromas are more intensive, colors stronger, and a glass of wine or food is different and better, it’s the ambiance that affects all your senses and positive mood.

Hotels have become destinations of their own by offering impressive design with pieces of art, innovative architectural concepts, and plenty of added value and services.

November 2015 - January 2016

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HOTELS

Photo archive: Bernarda d.o.o.

Photo source: L'Hotel du Collectionneur

Furnishing

Photos: harmony between colors and patterns, enriched with details, and immaculate cleanliness are the best welcome (top); when designing a hotel, care should be taken regarding the quality of furnishings in rooms and bathrooms (bottom).

Are you following trends?

When choosing furnishings for hotels today, flexible, simple, and reliable solutions that follow trends are sought after. Although the exterior tells the story of the quality of the building, the guest first sees it at the reception. So, the design of the lobby and reception requires special attention, and maintenance, regardless of whether ceramic tiles, hardwood floors, or carpets are in question, must be easy.

The room is a place to rest and relax. The best welcome includes harmony between colors and patterns, enriched with details, and immaculate cleanliness. Guests must wake up completely relaxed so the choice of a good ergonomic bed and mattress is incredibly important. On the market today, there are mattresses with various types of fabric that have special molecules imbedded in their structure, so according to preferences, they can eliminate mites, regulate temperature, neutralize odors, or electromagnetic radiation. Those with built in microcapsules of essential oils ward away insects, while those with aloe vera help gently regenerate skin.

Photo source: L'Hotel du Collectionneur

Photo archive: Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin

The finest sheets, pillows, and mattresses are important for guests' comfort so today, hotel chains compete over whose rooms have more comfortable and beautiful beds.

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The bathroom is the most intimate space in a hotel or suite. Producers of ceramic tiles and bathroom fixtures will claim that the quality of a bathroom differentiates good buildings from bad, so wall and floor coverings and bathroom fixtures define its comfort and functionality, and small details, like various cosmetics, enhance the impression.

Areas the guests don’t see in hotels, such as the kitchen and laundry room, also must be of high quality and easy to maintain. Kitchens and modern laundry rooms are equipped with systems that offer energy savings, a high level of quality and safety, along with environmental protection in order to, finally, cut down on operating costs. Don't forget that the modern guest demands better, more, and cheaper. So, follow trends, and be original. ď ś

Photo source: Viceroy Bali

nature, and historical architecture, explained Torbarina.

PROMO

G

Good sleep for a healthy life

ood rest and peaceful sleep are incredibly important for every guest. So many hotels worldwide have entrusted this important mission to Bernarda beds and mattresses. The high-quality products made by the Bernarda Company are based on twenty years of experience and modern scientific innovations, and approximately 85 percent of the products are exported to the European Union market. Bernarda's bed systems can be found in hotels throughout Europe: Astron, Ramada, Kempinski, Holiday Inn, Sheraton, Intercontinental, Hilton, Plaza, Marriott, and Radisson. There are also many hotels in Croatia: Antunović,

Dubrovnik, Jadran, Panorama, Central, Bellevue and Excelsior; in Serbia: Crowne Plaza, Falkensteiner, Zira, Mona; in Macedonia: Central, Leonardo, Tims, City Park, Queen... Along with this lengthy reference list, and several stores in Croatia, Bernarda also has its own specialized stores in Zürich, Moscow, Belarus, Belgrade, and Skopje.

Besides simple cleaning procedures, Bernarda beds also feature certified materials of an extremely high quality, which are resistant to wear and tear.

The box system beds with a built-in spring core are constructed according to double elasticity principles so the mattress is set on a highly flexible base.

So up to 30 percent of the pressure is taken off the mattress, with an additional improvement of anatomic formation to the sleeper's body, while also ensuring incredible air circulation within the bed system.

The materials used to make Bernarda hotel mattresses eliminate foul odors, and are especially fire resistant with their self-extinguishing system. The exclusive Thermocare 3+ system enables mattress sterilization by heating it to 85 degrees.

The features of Bernarda beds and mattresses guarantee not only incredible durability, but also the superb relaxation of your guests, regardless of whether you have a hotel, B&B, or apartment. 

Bernarda d.o.o., Čakovečka 136a, Pušćine, 40305 Nedelišće, Croatia  +385 40 895300, bernarda@bernarda.hr, www.bernarda.hr November 2015 - January 2016

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ANNUAL CARNIVAL BELL RINGERS' PAGEANT FROM THE KASTAV AREA

Photo: Ivo Pervan (archive: Croatian National Tourist Board)

UNESCO

The traditional paths of Kastav culture Prepared by: Alma Radoš ◆ Photo: Ivo Pervan (archive: Croatian National Tourist Board) and PHOTOnet.hr

Photos: Rukavac bell ringers (top left and right); detail of a bell (top middle); Halubje bell ringers on their way (background).

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Photo: Ivo Pervan (archive: Croatian National Tourist Board)

Legend has it that during the invasions of the Tartars and the Ottomans, wise shepherds donned sheepskins, put on bells, and masks on their heads, and dressed like that, with a lot of noise, they chased away their enemies.

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arly in the year, during the time of the carnival in the Kastav area (a region in Kvarner, between the city of Rijeka, and the UÄ?ka Mountain), a dozen groups of men pass through the village. During their pageant, they move and jump around in various ways along with the sound of the bells tied to their lower backs.

Cloaked in sheepskins and wearing white pants and short-sleeve shirts, with animal masks or floral headdresses, they chase away the evil spirits of winter and beckon spring to come.

Although over the centuries this magical belief in beckoning warm spring weather fell into oblivion, the custom became part of the tradition in the villages and towns above the city of Rijeka.

The entire area lives for the carnival parade: masks, headdresses, and bells are made, special dishes are prepared, and special dances are danced.

Not everyone can become a bell ringer.

Only strong men with stamina can endure it because it takes great skill and incredible endurance to handle the long trip, where they must jump regardless of the weather conditions.

Today, the unique performance of the bell ringers is a great tourist attraction, and they have become famous to the general public as participants at the international Rijeka carnival, one of the most attractive carnivals in Europe. So this unusual group has stepped out of its regional boundaries, awakening interest wherever they show up. ď ś

Photos: the Halubje bell ringers are dressed in sheep skins (top left); the bell ringers of Rukavac are recognizable for their floral headdresses (top right and middle).

The annual carnival bell ringers' pageant from the Kastav area has been on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage since 2009.

November 2015 - January 2016

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Croatia through philately

150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GAS NETWORK IN ZAGREB

Presenting postage stamps

Under the light

of gas lanterns

Prepared by: Željka Kunštek

The first three hundred gas lanterns lit up Zagreb's Lower and Upper Town in October 1863.

Today, two hundred remain and they, and the lamp lighters that light them every day, have become a true tourist attraction. tip: Philatelists in Croatia can get the stamp in Croatian Post's postal offices. Readers and philatelists from abroad can order the stamp online:

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ong ago, on October 31, 1863, the Zagreb gasworks, owned by an entrepreneur from Augsburg, L.A. Riedinger, were opened for business. Despite the fact that the beginnings of the gas network started nearly half a century after the construction of gasworks in Vienna, the installation of gas lights represented a great turning point in life in Zagreb, and the modernization of the city's infrastructure. The citizens of Zagreb were ensured modern public lighting, and candles and petroleum lamps in

the homes of well-off citizens of Zagreb were slowly replaced with gas lights. At the same time, the gasworks started making a great profit and shares of the company were bought by domestic entrepreneurs in 1873.

Gas lanterns still illuminate Zagreb's Upper Town, and every night, before dark, regardless of the weather conditions, two lamp lighters in uniform walk through the Upper Town and manually light them. The lighting process takes two to three hours and is a real tourist attraction.

The stamp with the motif of the gas lamp on the Upper Town was issued on October 3, 2013, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the introduction of the gas network in Zagreb. It was issued in an eight-stamp sheetlet with a label, and the Croatian Post also issued a First Day Cover (FDC). The stamp was issued in a hundred thousand copies, 35.50 mm x 35.00 mm in size. The author of its photograph and design is Alenka Lalić, a designer from Zagreb. 

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Find out more at: www.korcula-hotels.com

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What kind of bed to choose?

As of this year, the city and the island of Korčula have three newold hotels that will fulfill the expectations of even the most demanding guests. The Hotel Korčula De La Ville, a small luxury hotel with 20 rooms, is a true legend of Korčula, and some of its guests in the past included, amongst others, King Edward VIII, Rebecca West, and Jackie Kennedy. The hotel is located on the main promenade and is famous for its attractive view of the Pelješac channel and spectacular sunset. The Hotel Liburna also retained its recognizable exterior, while the interior underwent a complete renovation. The 112 rooms, along with the other hotel areas are characterized by modern, attractive design. Here you will enjoy yourself on the coast, near calm beaches in perfect comfort. There are 92 suites hidden away at Korkyra Gardens with a modern design and refreshing colors, which makes it a favorite amongst families. Here, at the calm Seashell Bay, surrounded by olive groves, and aromatic Mediterranean pines, relax and experience a totally different vacation.

Find out more at: www.hotel-dubrovnik.hr

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Hotel Dubrovnik has prepared special accommodation deals for its loyal, and new, guests for the upcoming holidays. Await them in this hotel in the center of Zagreb and get a 20 percent discount on the lowest room price from November 28 to December 28, a 10 percent discount on the lowest room price from December 29 to January 3, 2016 (without a reservation for the New Year's Dinner), and 20 percent off the lowest room price in the period from December 29 to January 3, 2016 (with a New Year's Dinner reservation). If you would like to see off the old year and await the New Year in the special ambiance of your favorite hotel in Zagreb, with an unforgettable program, the price of the New Year's Dinner is 88 euro per person.

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On average, we spend a third of our lives in bed, so it is very important to choose a high-quality bed, mattress, base, and pillow, which must be mutually in line with habits and individual needs.

The Bernarda company makes top-notch bed systems under the motto "Good sleep for a healthy life". You can choose between box beds, or with a flexible board base, or in a small apartment, a bed that combines sitting, sleeping, and bedding storage will fit in nicely.

Flexible and comfortable Bernarda mattresses are made of natural, environmentally tested materials, while mattress coverlets, bed toppers, and pillows eliminate negative effects of the surroundings. At Bernarda, the professional staff will help you choose the bed and mattress that suits you best.

Find out more at: www.bernarda.hr

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Croatia

ONLINE

Photo archive: Vodice Tourist Board

Photo: Rino Gropuzzo (archive: The Island of Krk Tourist Board)

websites and mobile applications

Explore Krk and Vodice

WEB&APP The new Pointers Krk application will show you more than a thousand sites on the island, and after you visit the new website of the Vodice Tourist Board, you will want to spend your vacation there.

Vodice's new website

Prepared by: Alma Radoš

With a modern design, plenty of information and high quality photos, the Vodice Tourist Board's new website has been adapted for viewing on screens of various resolutions in all modern browsers. Especially attractive on smartphones, the website is made for Vodice's visitors and tourists who want to enjoy their stay in the city, visit its sites, enjoy an active vacation, or do something for their health. If you are a fan of the Mediterranean climate and gentle winters, visit the site, see what events await you there, and everything you can enjoy... After the 360 degree panorama thrills you, you will want to spend your first days off in Vodice. www.vodice.hr

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Pointers Krk with more than a thousand sites

With the free Pointers Krk application for iOS and Android devices, vacation on this island in Kvarner has become simpler.

Using the application, you can explore more than a thousand sites, with detailed information in four languages: Croatian, English, German, and Italian. Restaurants, taverns, beach bars, night clubs, hotels, apartments, villas, camps, attractions, museums, galleries, sports facilities are also presented with GPS data, along with cultural and entertaining events...

The application was launched this summer as the first Pointers mobile application made for travel destinations in Croatia.

Besides the application, you can also find Pointers Krk on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and at: www.pointers-krk.com

Photo archive: "Te

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Photo archive: The "Northern Velebit National Park" Public Institution

Buy tickets to the most beautiful parts of Croatia, which also look magical in the winter, quickly and easily via an online ticket service www.croatia-tickets.com

CROATIA TICKETS > of them is unique and attracts an evergrowing number of visitors, more than 2.7 million annually, of which 90 percent of the visitors are foreigners.

Since they are equally attractive all year long, use this time to visit one of the 19 protected natural sites throughout Croatia, because the prices are lower, and the colors magnificent. In Lika, you will be thrilled with the oldest and most popular national park in Croatia - Plitvice Lakes, and if you find yourself near Zagreb, make sure to head over to the Medvednica nature park, where you can visit the Veternica cave, Zrinski mine, or Medvedgrad fortress for 15 to 30 kuna.

In Slavonia, visit Papuk for only 25 kuna, and at the price of 80 kuna, take a ride through the picturesque Kopački rit.

Climbers and hikers can choose between Paklenica NP, Biokovo NP, Velebit NP, North Velebit NP, and Risnjak NP. Sailors will also have a difficult time choosing between the Lastovo islands, Mljet, Telašćica, or Kornati. Once you decide on a favorite location, buy the tickets quickly and easily with an online travel service at www.croatia-tickets.com 

Photo archive: Croatia Tickets (source: Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection, Republic of Croatia)

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roatia is amongst the richest countries in the world for its protected areas, and considering that a third of its territory is part of the largest environmental network of protected areas "Natura 2000", it isn't an exaggeration to say that it is Europe's national park. All protected areas, under the joint name of "Croatian Parks", include eight national and 11 nature parks. Each

Photo: Marko Vrdoljak (archive: Zagreb Tourist Board)

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Attractive all year long

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Zagreb Ă la carte at the Sheraton Zagreb Hotel In December 2015, the Sheraton Zagreb Hotel is preparing a true treat for the people of Zagreb and their guests - the premier dinner theater project called "Zagreb Ă la carte". Enjoy the magical story of Zagreb, try the beauty of Zagreb's legendary charm, be a part of the theater scene, and enjoy a superb dinner with three courses of Zagreb's old specialties, which will be prepared by the hotel's culinary team. The price of 350 kuna covers a welcome drink, appetizer, main course, dinner, and drink package, as well as a theatrical performance performed by stars of Croatian theater. The premier evenings are December 14, 15, and 16, and the gala dinner is planned for 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM. Find out more at: www.hotel-sheratonzagreb.com

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If you also think spring is the most beautiful part of the year and you would like to treat yourself to a few days of holidays, visit Solaris Beach Resort in central Dalmatia. You can visit it in late March during the Easter holidays.

Feel the charm of Easter in Dalmatia and enjoy a traditional Easter breakfast in the unique ambiance of the Dalmatian ethno village, with great attractions that will draw you to the authentic architecture and superb specialties. After spending the first days of spring in this resort, you will definitely want to visit Dalmatia again. The next chance you'll get is on May 1, when the sea will also be warm enough for swimming and sunbathing.

Reserve your stay in one of the five hotels of the Solaris Beach Resort and find out why Dalmatia is simply irresistible in spring.

The Days of Traditional Chinese Medicine are taking place at the Thalasso Center Opatija until December 23, 2015. At the days, three doctors from the renowned Beijing "Hou Liping Hospital" are conducting examinations and recommending and conducting therapy, and all you need to do is make an appointment. After establishing the condition of the person, the doctors conduct some of the TCM treatments: Tui Na massage, which regulates the condition of the body, cupping therapy for relaxation and detoxification, Gua Sha therapy for reducing fatigue, improving immunity, and relieving pain in the neck and back, along with acupuncture, effective for headaches, paralysis of the face, sciatica, arthritis, etc. The Days of Traditional Chinese Medicine are being held for the third time due to great public interest.

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Gourmet Croatia

EASTERN SLAVONIA, BARANJA, AND WESTERN SRIJEM

Written by: Sanja Plješa Photos: Dražen Bota and Zvonimir Tanocki (archive: Vukovar-Srijem County Tourist Board)

Photo: homemade soups.

For a good appetite and good health The secret to the delicious dishes prepared in the easternmost part of Croatia lies in their simplicity.

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Photos: kulen, čobanac and fish specialties (top); homemade bread, kulen, bacon, and plum brandy (bottom left); various desserts are an integral part of the Slavonian spread (bottom right).

Since sugar wasn't always available as it is today, Slavonian women made cakes with natural sweeteners - honey or seasonal fruit. A special treat was compote without sugar, which was made from prunes, or dried apples and pears.

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lavonian hospitality has always been famous far and wide. In the past, each house in the easternmost part of Croatia had a special guest room. The best tableware was always saved for guests, along with the best quality ingredients to prepare dishes. So, guests always enjoyed the best cuts of meat, kajmak, and cakes.

Many things have changed, but Slavonian hospitality still remains. The secret to the delicious dishes of eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and western Srijem lies in their simplicity. Before they sit down at the table, the hosts and their guests will make a toast with a čokanjčić (shot glass) of plum brandy. It is, as they say - for a good appetite and good health.

The meal will start with an appetizer, for example, homemade pasta with cheese and cracklings, homemade sourdough bread, kulen, and pepper sausage, which

is made by processing meat from the indigenous Black Slavonian pig. That is followed by pork roasted on a spit, čobanac, but also fish dishes such as fish paprikash, and seafood dishes such as carp that is either dried or grilled over an open fire. Kulen, smoked ham, blood pudding, and head cheese are some of the most famous specialties of the eastern part of Slavonia.

Slavonian generosity In Ilok and Vukovar, you will often find Ilok ćevap on your plate, which bears a Turkish name and is served with a Hungarian sauce. Desserts include the popular yellow bazlamača with black plum marmalade. And just when you thought you were finished, you're wrong! Slavonian generosity can also be seen in the food. Those who prefer

soup must try the chicken soup with homemade noodles, and make sure to try the cakes with plum jam or the gingerbread. All those dishes can be found in most restaurants in eastern Slavonia.

Since good wine goes with every dish, Slavonian wine is just as good as in the rest of Croatia. Moreover, some of the best vineyards are located there, where excellent sorts of wine are grown, such as Traminac and Graševina. In eastern Slavonia, Ilok's vineyards are by far the most famous, and thanks to the large quantity of sun they get, the grapes in this region are of excellent quality.

The final result are superb wines that pair well with various types of dishes.

The famous red sorts include Cabernet Sauvignon and Frankovka, which is thought to originate from this part of Srijem, Slavonia, and Lower Austria. 

tip: Kulen, Ilok ćevap, fish paprikash, čobanac, homemade cakes, gingerbread... they are all must-try dishes in the easternmost part of Croatia.

November 2015 - January 2016

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CULTURAL SCENE

Vanna Vanna proudly owns a collection of five Porin awards. She celebrated the 25th anniversary of her career with a concert in the "Vatroslav Lisinski" concert hall in Zagreb on November 20, 2015.

I recharge in Pučišće

CULTURAL SCENE

on the island of Brač

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For 25 years, she has stood out on the domestic music scene as one of the best female vocals. Early on in her career she achieved great success with then popular dance group E.T., after which she decided to head out on her own.

She successfully stayed on the scene by preserving the quality that the public expected from a singer of her caliber.

Conducted by: Vlatka Vužić Photo archive: Vanna

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ou were raised in the heart of Podravina, in Koprivnica. What ties you to it, and what do you like most about your hometown?

Everything. The house I was born in, the street I took to school with Robert and Saša for eight years, the tame landscape, the safe streets with the largest number of bike trails in Croatia, the wide city square, the wonderful park with the statue of the nude women, and the concert pavilion...

I adore the Renaissance festival and the Podravina Motives festival that nurture our tradition, I love Štagelj and Klet, original Podravina-style houses with a fantastic

offer of homemade food, located on the hill above the city. There I experienced my childhood and memories that have made me who I am.

You have chosen to live in Zagreb. Do you have a favorite part of town?

My favorite part of the town I live in is the place I live in - my home. I live in the lovely area of Dobri dol, where there is no traffic and family homes are surrounded by plenty of greenery. We also have a large yard and garden where we can enjoy our time isolated from the bustle of the city, which is actually very close to us.

CULTURAL SCENE and which concerts abroad do you fondly recall?

I sang in Australia and New Zealand, but I also really enjoyed singing in the town of Rochester in the States, at RIT University.

The audience was full of American students and I think they had a good time. Also, the technical conditions for the concert were the best I have ever had.

Winter is coming. Are you amongst those who enjoy the joys of winter and go on winter vacation?

For me, snow is just something to complete the Christmas ambiance, and after that I would love for it to melt and disappear. I didn't know how to ski until I was thirty, and I have never really overcome the fear of falling, but I don't want to ruin the fun for my family so I go on winter vacation. I would prefer, instead of winter, cold, and snow, sun, the sea, a (secluded) beach, a little clothing and flip-flops.

You have had a large number of concerts throughout Croatia, but your music has also taken you on tour abroad. Where have you performed,

You have two children and have gone on many family vacations. What is it like travelling with children?

I love to travel with my children. We went with them to the Olympic Games in Peking in 2008. Jana was then seven years old and I remember my father then saying that we were crazy to take such a small little girl on such a distant and unsafe journey. Of course, nothing bad happened, we just had the feeling that our blonde little girl was a true attraction because people were constantly nicely asking us if they could take a picture of her alone or with their children. We also loved the excursion to the Forbidden City, and when we got to the Great Wall, my eyes filled with tears because it was something I had always dreamt of. We also enjoyed London during the Olympic Games...

Winners of the Ana Rucner album from the last issue: Željka Bratić Odobašić (Zagreb, Croatia); Tamara Pavlović (Ljubljana, Slovenia)

Do you have an oasis of your own, somewhere where you recharge most quickly?

Yes. Pučišće on the island of Brač where we can never spend enough time during the summer. I cry every time we leave and promise we'll come back the next sunny weekend, but, of course, that never happens. 

The authors of the two most original answers will receive an album as a gift.

November 2015 - January 2016

CULTURAL SCENE

tip: Would you like to win Vanna's "Zajedno 20 godina" CD/DVD album? Write us why and send your answer to contest@tiptravelmagazine.com

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WORLD

Return to school - the desire of 13 million children

UNICEF / Khuzaie

For children caught up in crises, education is the only hope for a better future, and a hope to achieve their dreams suddenly cut off by war.

Text: UNICEF Croatia Photo archive: UNICEF

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Photo: Pupils sit in one of the 12 classroom tents in the refugee camp in Baghdad, Iraq. Currently, 825 children attend this temporary school.

UNICEF estimates that in Yemen, a country that has been brought to a collapse due to the conflict, 2.9 million children do not attend school, and a quarter of the schools, more than 3500, have been demolished. The same fate was experienced by 281 schools in Gaza.

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n the Kawergosk Iraqi refugee camp, twelve-year-old Safaa attends class in a tent. Her family fled from the conflict in Syria, and she has been adapting to new living conditions for some time.

"Even though all of this is sad, it won't hold me back in life", said the girl.

A total of 13 million children have been deprived of education, one of the key child rights, because they cannot attend school due to the conflict in their countries. For children caught up in crises, education is the only hope for a better future, and a hope to achieve their dreams suddenly cut off by war.

Education - a chance for a future With its partners, UNICEF ensures continued education in refugee camps for 300 thousand children who experienced a fate similar to Safaa. Still, the needs are much greater. Children are paying the highest price for armed conflicts in the countries of Northern Africa and the Middle East. Besides losing their homes

and sense of safety, and were forced to leave their own countries, many of them experienced severe trauma by witnessing the injuries of those closest to them and the destruction of their homes and schools.

Like the girl from the beginning of the story, many see education as their only chance for a future.

In nearly nine thousand schools in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya, classes can no longer take place because the buildings are damaged or demolished, used as temporary shelter for refugees, or they are occupied.

More than 700 thousand refugee children in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey cannot attend school because the overcrowded educational systems in those countries cannot bear that number of new students.

Throughout the Middle East, children are demanding to return to school. They dream of a better future for themselves and their families, and the day they will be able to help build their communities. They are the future teachers, nurses, doctors, architects, musicians, scientists, and technicians of Syria, Iraq, the State of Palestine, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen.

UNICEF / Noorani UNICEF / Noorani

Throughout the region, UNICEF and its partners are advocating for the return of children to school and conducting campaigns. Educational materials are being distributed, temporary learning centers are being established to replace damaged or destroyed schools. In Gaza, for example, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, UNICEF ensured the return to school for 260 thousand children. ď ś

UNICEF / Noorani

Photos: Safaa attends class in a tent in a refugee camp (top); the destroyed educational infrastructure in Syria has left 2.3 million children without schools (bottom); girls learn mathematics on mats on the sandy floor of an elementary school for girls in the Abu Shouk refugee camp, Sudan (right).

November 2015 - January 2016

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From Berlin with Love

Photo: Robert KunĹĄtek

WORLD Photo source: ITB Berlin

News and announcements

In March 2016, ITB Berlin, one of the largest travel fairs in the world, will celebrate its 50th birthday. Half a century of life is a great reason to celebrate, so under the slogan "From Berlin with Love", the ITB, in collaboration with Air Berlin, is sending 50 Berliners to destinations worldwide as its ambassadors, and all citizens of Berlin can send in their applications for the trip. Everything is in the sign of 50. The 50 chosen travelers will visit 50 countries, meet with 50 representatives, and visit 50 travel events. By mid-November ambassadors visited, amongst other places, Abu Dhabi, Ibiza, Iceland, Copenhagen, Miami, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Tel Aviv, Vienna, Florida, and the Maldives, the partner for the next travel fair in Berlin.

Photo source: WTM

Photo: Luka Ĺ malcelj

Social networks and destination branding The impact of social networks on branding destinations was the main topic at the 9th Summit of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Travel Market (WTM). The summit held in early November 2015 in London gathered more than 60 ministers of tourism and representatives of Facebook, Expedia, Melia Hotels, Eurostar, and the World Council on Travel and Tourism. At that occasion, Talib Rifai, Secretary General of the UNWTO, emphasized that today's consumers have more information, a greater choice, and more opportunities to express their opinions in many ways, including via social networks. In that way, they can report unethical practices, but also be the greatest ambassadors in promoting a destination.

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According to data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in the first eight months of 2015, an increase in trips of 4.3 percent has been recorded in comparison with the same period the previous year. During that time, 810 million travelers traveled worldwide, and it is predicted that by the end of the year 2015, last year's number of 1.1 billion foreign tourists worldwide will be beaten. With an increase of five percent, Europe retained the title of the most visited region in the world, and of its subregions, the largest increase, of seven percent, was recorded in central and eastern Europe. They are followed by northern Europe at six percent, southern and the Mediterranean at five percent, and western at four percent. The regions of Asia and the Pacific, and both Americas recorded an increase of four percent, while Africa was the only one to mark a decrease of five percent.

Photo: Luka Ĺ malcelj

Increase in tourist trips worldwide

Britons travelled more in 2015 More than five thousand exhibitors from 190 countries worldwide promoted their travel offer at the 36th World Travel Market (WTM) in London in early November 2015. The arrival of a larger number of exhibitors than the previous year was initiated by excellent travel results in most of the world, but also by better economic conditions on the British market, so in 2015, Britons travelled and spent more. From August 2014 to July 2015, more than 63.3 million Britons travelled, which is an increase of seven percent in comparison with the same period in 2013/2014. On those trips they spent a total of 37.2 billion pounds.

Britons traditionally choose to travel to Spain, France, the USA, Ireland, and Italy.

Photo source: fotolia

International Halal Tourism Conference in March

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Stephan Boegli

From March 21 to 23, 2016, Istanbul, Turkey will host the International Halal Tourism Conference. The Halal market is developing faster than the global average for tourism development according to research conducted by CrescentRating, a company that is in the business of halal-friendly travel, and by MasterCard.

According to the research, in 2014 the value of that market amounted to around 145 billion dollars, while it is estimated that by 2020 its value will grow to 200 billion dollars. At the conference in Istanbul, there will also be discussions about the potential and strength of the halal market, and many B2B meetings will also be held.

Switzerland entering the winter season with a new slogan Under its new #inlovewithswitzerland slogan, the Swiss Tourist Board has invited avid skiers to spend their winter vacation this year in Switzerland. The strengthening of the Swiss Franc has, as is expected, left a mark in the Eurozone countries, so Switzerland has recorded a 13 percent decrease in the number of guests from those countries. On the other hand, hotels in cities recorded results equal to those in 2014 for the summer season, thanks mostly to domestic guests, and an increase in the number of tourists from the Asian market. In order to get Europeans back on Swiss slopes this winter, the Swiss Tourist Board launched a strong campaign, with this modern slogan as its backbone.

Photo archive: Val Thorens

Photo: Andrija Carli (source: PHOTOnet.hr)

The first Global Conference on Wine Tourism From September 7 to 9, 2016, Kakheti, a wine region in Georgia, will be the host of the first Global Conference on Wine Tourism. "Wine tourism is a growing segment with incredible opportunities for the diversification of demand.

In Georgia, this potential is well known and I am very happy the conference will be held there", noted Talib Rifai, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization, the main organizer of the conference.

Food and wine are key components in experiencing the culture and lifestyle of any destination and they represent one of the important motives of choosing a trip. In Georgia, wine production has a long history, of an incredible eight thousand years.

Top ski destinations Although in the 2014/2015 season, a decrease was recorded at French resorts in the amount of 2.7 percent in comparison to the previous year, France, with 53.9 million ski days sold, is still ahead of the USA, whose ski resorts, with 53.6 million ski days sold recorded a decrease of 5.2 percent due to lack of snow in the west of the country. Austria was traditionally third on this list with 51.8 million ski days sold and was the only one to record an increase of two percent. This year's winter season in France is in full swing, it started on October 3, 2015, and will last until May 8, 2016, for a full seven months.

November 2015 - January 2016

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Winter holidays

AUSTRIA AND SLOVENIA

Photo archive: Tourismusverband Obertauern

Photo: Obertauern is located at 1740 meters above sea level in the middle of the Snow Bowl, and from there, you can easily reach any point of the 100 km long chain of ski slopes.

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Written by: Željka Kunštek and Alma Radoš

Where to go for winter holidays?

If snowflakes always make you smile, if you truly enjoy winter sports and the joy of snow, if you love to relax in mountain cabins in good company with a crackle from the fireplace, tasty treats, and mulled wine, and you have nothing against relaxing in a wellness oasis after a day spent in the snow, then head up to the mountains this winter...

November 2015 - January 2016

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Winter holidays

AUSTRIA AND SLOVENIA

Photo: Evening walks in the snow under a starry sky are an experience to remember.

A

Photo archive: K채rnten Werbung GmbH

lthough it's common to say "we're going skiing" when your friends ask you where you're headed for winter vacation, today winter destinations and ski resorts offer much more than just skiing. Trends are changing, the winter offer of sports,

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accommodations, and destinations themselves are more diverse than ever, and so are the possibilities to relax and enjoy the snow cover.

So, along with "classic", and always popular, alpine skiing, today the true hits are snowshoeing on the snowy slopes, Nordic walking, and night sledding, where you are often allowed to use anything

that goes downhill - comfortable sleds, racing sleds, or bobsleds. Crosscountry skiing and snowboarding have a growing number of fans every year, and many ski resorts also offer special freeriding trails (skiing off path), of all difficulties, for those with a more adventurous spirit.

Winter trends Over the past few years, a new sport has developed - snowkiting, and ice climbing, or climbing a tower of ice, has also become popular. On the other hand, fans of riding motorcycles will get their dose of adrenaline while riding snowmobiles on specially designed trails. Long walks through idyllic landscapes, hiking, or skating on frozen lakes are also amongst the favorite activities, while special zones have been designated for children, along with

family ski parks, where your youngsters can practice the basics of skiing and snowboarding. Some ski resorts even offer babysitting services in such zones so that you can take some time for yourself and ski carefree.

Riding in a horse-drawn sleigh through the snowy winter landscape is a true experience, which is reminiscent of scenes from a fairytale. Those who prefer a somewhat livelier rhythm can choose to ride a dogsled, most often pulled by huskies.

Over the past few years, ski resorts have not only expanded their offer of sports, but also of entertainment, where après ski parties have become the main hit. Many ski resorts often organize live concerts, parties, and other fun events, and during Advent

even Christmas fairs and markets move from the lowlands to the mountains. Mountain cabins have become a place to socialize until the wee hours of the morning, and the gourmet offer has been expanded to the point that you can now enjoy superb delicacies prepared under the guidance of famous chefs.

As far as accommodation capacities are concerned, almost all hotels have wellness centers, various types of saunas, pools, and an abundant offer of spa treatments and massages to relax you after a day spent on the snowy slopes at "serious" winter destinations.

November 2015 - January 2016

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Winter holidays

AUSTRIA

PROMO

XXL winter in Obertauern Photo archive: Tourist Office Obertauern

Want to experience pure winter enjoyment when, in other places, not a single flake of snow has even fallen from the sky? Or when the snow everywhere else has already melted completely away? Obertauern, the highest ski area in all of SalzburgerLand, promises one of the most reliable snows anywhere in the Alps. That means perfect conditions from the end of November until the beginning of May!

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urrounded by the fantastic alpine world of Salzburg at elevations ranging between 1,630 and 2,313 meters above sea level, you are greeted by 100 km of magical pistes, 26 ski lifts, 26 km of glorious cross-country ski trails, the Bibo Bear Family Ski Park, plus a snow park for the freestyle scene, all just waiting to be explored and enjoyed by you. In addition, Obertauern offers you the most modern hotel and apartment comforts, top wellness and fitness opportunities, diverse shopping options, all kinds of après-ski watering holes, numerous extraordinary special events and, last but not least, a marvelously carefree holiday atmosphere. From here in town, every piste is within walking distance.

You have immediate access to over 100 kilometers of slopes - a unique Ski-in/Ski-out guarantee - from your bed to the slopes.

Tourismusverband Obertauern, Pionierstraße 1, 5562 Obertauern, Austria

 +43 6456 7252,  +43 6456 7252 9, info@obertauern.com, www.obertauern.com

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Nightlife isn't in the slightest neglected here in Obertauern either. In this exciting nighttime scene, everyone finds what they are looking for: hot rhythms, cool drinks, interesting people and all kinds of good fun. During the daytime, you can enjoy a hearty snack to recharge your batteries and daydream the hours away out on a sunny terrace. 

WHERE SNOW

IS AT HOME!

IT’S SNOWTIME IN OBERTAUERN FROM LATE NOVEMBER TO EARLY MAY! • Get the fantastic holiday feeling in one of the best skiing resorts of the Alps with a snow guarantee.

• Enjoy perfect winter sports conditions in a romantic atmosphere.

• Ski in – ski out: straight from your hotel onto the slope.

OBERTAUERN AT A GLANCE: 100 km of slopes, 26 cable cars and lifts, night skiing, snowkiting school, 5 skiing and snowboarding schools, fun park for snowboarders.

EVENTHIGHLIGHTS: • 27.11.2015: Culcha Candela LIVE • 07.12.2015: Ö3-Krampusparty • 07.04. – 10.04.2016: Gamsleiten Criterion • 15.04. – 16.04.2016: Fridge Festival ATTRACTIVE PACKAGE PERIODS: • 18.11. – 19.12.2015: Opening Weeks • 09.01. – 30.01.2016 | 26.03. - 02.04.2016: Bobby‘s Snow Adventure • 09.01. – 30.01.2016: Powder Snow Weeks • 02.04. – 01.05.2016: Sun & Fun Weeks Tourismusverband Obertauern | Pionierstraße 1 | A-5562 Obertauern | tel. +43(0)6456 / 7252 | info@obertauern.com November 2015 - January 2016

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Winter holidays

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From threshold to ski slope From threshold to ski slope could be the motto of the Marcius alpine houses with suites, located directly next to the ski slopes in the Sonnleitn settlement in Nassfeld, one of the best Austrian ski resorts.

The suites are located in thirty original Austrian country houses and are incredibly comfortable, regardless of whether it is the smallest of 35 square meters, or the biggest at 65 square meters.

Each suite has a balcony that offers an attractive view of the Alps. If you don’t want to leave your warm suite in the morning before you go skiing, simply order in a delivery of warm pastries from the nearby Marcius hotel. A fire crackling in the fireplace contributes to the pleasant atmosphere, and there is no need to worry about your car because it is safe in the indoor garage for guests of the suites. The Marcius alpine houses are also an excellent choice for vacationing in the Alps in the warmer part of the year.

Find out more at: www.marcius.at

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Photo source: Nassfeld - Pressegger See

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PROMO

Relax in Nassfeld

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with plenty of snow and sun

t Nassfeld, one of the top ten Austrian ski resorts, everything is ready for a long ski season.

Here you will find plenty of snow, a new modern ski lift, widened slopes, affordable prices, and great fun for the whole family, but also incredible nature and large number of sunny days.

Along with all these benefits, great

until the wee hours of the morning. Fans of relaxation and wellness will enjoy the indoor pool and sauna, and the hotel restaurant is open to all visitors and skiers in Nassfeld who love international, but also local Austrian dishes and fantastic pizzas that equally attract parents and children with their aroma and flavor. ď ś

comfortable accommodations with an abundance of facilities and attractive prices are an additional reason to choose to ski in Nassfeld.

Alpenhotel Marcius has everything you need for a pleasant winter vacation. This beautiful three-star hotel is located in the picturesque town of Sonnleitn at 1400 meters above sea level. It is located near the ski slopes, less than a hundred meters to the cable car, ski equipment rental is also nearby, and the ski school is 240 meters away. So, most of the visitors to Sonnleitn are families with children, and the offer of Alpenhotel Marcius is also adapted to them.

All the hotel rooms can accommodate two adults and two children, and if necessary, the room can be reconfigured to accommodate three adults. The pleasant atmosphere of the hotel bar is an excellent place to spend afternoon breaks with a warm beverage, and when night falls, you can enjoy a great time

Alpenhotel Marcius ***, Sonnleitn 4, 9620 Nassfeld, Austria

ďƒˆ+43 676 898 277 100, hotel@marcius.at, www.hotel-marcius.at

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Winter holidays

AUSTRIA AND SLOVENIA

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Relax...

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After testing your limits all day long on the slopes, relaxing in the wellness and spa zones is a great idea. The strength of warm water, with a view of idyllic winter, will do wonders. Relaxing massages, warm baths, pleasant saunas... The choice is yours.

tipTravelMagazine November 2015 - January 2016

PROMO

Unexpected possibilities embraced by nature Photo archive: Thermana Park Laško**** Superior

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In central Slovenia, you will come across the town of Laško with plenty of possibilities for walking, excursions, and culinary exploration. Here, on the Savinja River, you will discover a world of fun and health.

ontemporary architecture and the natural surroundings of the Hotel Thermana Park Laško**** Superior, located next to the Savinja River, will leave you breathless. The modernly furnished rooms with balconies and a view of the river are reason more to spend a family holiday or a getaway for two here. Embraced by the natural and

healthy thermal waters, with an average temperature of 30 to 34 degrees Celsius, you'll wish your vacation lasted longer.

The Thermal Center is one of the most attractive in Slovenia. There is a wave pool, three whirlpools, Kneipp area, children's water park, recreational massage pool, fast river, and a slide, and in the outdoor area, there are recreational swimming and children's pools, and small and large slides with a thermal pool that is connected to the indoor pool. While in the crystal-shaped massage pool at the estuary of the Savinja and Rečica rivers you will enjoy coexisting with the beautiful natural surroundings.

The Wellness Spa Center, with its incredible ambiance, offers a combination of tradition and experience with the most modern spa rituals and rich offer of wellness therapy treatments. Before you choose one of the massages, amongst which is the unique

massage with beer and honey, relax in the Sauna center with seven different saunas.

At the Thermana & Veda Ayurveda Center, the largest one in Slovenia, an Ayurvedic specialist, yoga master, therapists, and chefs from the south Indian state of Kerala will take care of your health. It's time you did something for your health and chose Thermana Park Laško for your holiday. 

Thermana Park Laško**** Superior Zdraviliška cesta 6, 3270 Laško, Slovenia, www.thermana.si November 2015 - January 2016

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We're taking you to...

LUCERNE

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Jan Geerk

Photo: the center of Lucerne and Kapellbr端cke, one of the oldest covered wooden bridges in the world.

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From a boat to a funicular, from the funicular to a ski lift, from the ski lift to a bus, from the bus to a train, and all with one ticket for the entire destination? Yes, in Switzerland even that is possible!

LUCERNE SWITZERLAND

Incredibly easy travelling through idyllic Lucerne Written by: Željka Kunštek Photo archive: swiss-image.ch, Luzern Tourismus / AURA Fotoagentur, and Robert Kunštek

November 2015 - January 2016

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LUCERNE

tip: The Swiss Travel Pass is the best solution for traveling in Switzerland. Find out what it includes and where to get it here:

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Jan Geerk

Photo: Luzern Tourismus / AURA Fotoagentur

We're taking you to...

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t's easy to be a tourist in Switzerland - say those who have experienced the comfort of travelling through that touristic country that is at the top of the world with its system of integrated public transportation. In early September 2015, we saw for ourselves how easy it is to travel through the country and discover the attractions of the Lucerne region.

Unlimited rides Chocolate, cheese, watches, elite ski resorts, idyllic landscapes... For many people, that is what they first think of when they think of Switzerland, a country that continually invents in strengthening existing brands, but also in developing new tourism products. In order to make the exploration of Swiss beauty and

Photo: swiss-image.ch

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Christian Perret

Photos: sailing on boats on turquoise Swiss lakes and riding trains through idyllic landscapes is a special experience (top left and bottom); the opposite shores of the Reuss River are connected with picturesque bridges (top right).

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attractions even easier, this country has developed the best connected system of public transportation in the world. In other words, in Switzerland you will only need one ticket, the Swiss Travel Pass, to ride all buses, boats, and trains, including panorama trains, as well as for public transportation in more than 75 Swiss cities.

The pass also includes free admission to almost 500 museums, and a 50 percent discount for most ski lifts and funiculars.

It is possible to buy a pass for three, four, eight, or fifteen days, during which time you can ride all the forms of transportation in the country without limits. Switzerland quickly won us over with its excellently connected public transportation so our attention was then focused on a new experience - the impressions offered by the Lucerne region.

Photo: Luzern Tourismus / AURA Fotoagentur

Annually, around 20 million tourists visit Switzerland and achieve around 70 million overnight stays. They prefer to stay in hotels, and on average spend around 240 Swiss Francs per day.

Photos: the buildings and houses in Lucerne have interesting façades (top left); when illuminated in the even hours, Kapellbrücke bridge looks magical (top right); the painted façade of one of the houses, City Hall, the holiday spirit in the streets of Lucerne, and the sculpture of the dying lion (bottom).

Photo: Luzern Tourismus / AURA Fotoagentur

Photo: Luzern Tourismus / AURA Fotoagentur

Photo: Robert Kunštek

Just like the rest of Switzerland, the city of Lucerne, located on the lake of the same name, is an example of a typical Swiss landscape. The image of the city, and the surrounding slopes of the Alps, is mirrored in the lake, which runs into the Reuss River. It is spanned by several bridges, the most picturesque one being Kapellbrücke, one of the oldest covered wooden bridges in the world, which is, together with the water tower, the symbol of the city. The locals often proudly speak of the ceiling of the bridge, which was once adorned with 110 paintings that dated back to 1611. Unfortunately, most were lost in a big fire that occurred in 1993, and only 25 were saved. Next to the bridge is a 34 meter high water tower, which,

together with the city walls, was part of the city's defense system. Throughout history, its use changed, so it was also an archive, later a jail, and a torture room.

One of the trademarks of the city is the large sculpture of a dying lion, which has become one of the most famous monuments in the world. It is dedicated to the heroic deaths of Swiss soldiers in 1792, and Mark Twain described it as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world".

Lucerne is also a city of interesting churches and museums, and the Swiss Transportation Museum is the most famous. While walking through the city streets you will also come across pictu­ resque squares with houses painted in an interesting style. Weinmarkt, Hirschen­ platz, and Kornmarkt are amongst the

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Christof Sonderegger

Walking through town

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LUCERNE

Photo: Robert Kunštek

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Christof Sonderegger

We're taking you to...

If you are travelling by plane, you can send your luggage by train from any part of Switzerland, and it will await you at your final destination.

Photos: the steepest railway in the world (top and bottom left); the view from Pilatus (top right); Pilatus can also be reached by cableway (bottom right).

most famous squares, and they are located in the old part of town, along the Reuss River. Don't miss out on walking along the city walls with nine towers, four of which are open to the public. The pride of Lucerne is a cultural and congress center, KKL Lucerne, which was designed

by Parisian architect, Jean Nouvel. The concert hall of this center, with 1800 seats, is considered to be one of the best concert halls in the world. Even after you have explored the center of the city and its cultural attractions, you still haven't completely gotten to know the area.

So, head out to nearby Pilatus, the Swiss "mountain of dragons", which offers 2132 possibilities above sea level...

The steepest railway in the world

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Urs Wyss

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Robert Boesch

Since the beginning of time, various myths and legends have been linked to

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the steep cliffs of Pilatus, which rises above Lucerne. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that the narrow cracks between boulders were the homes of good dragons and spirits. It was even said that the unsettled spirit of Roman governor Pontius Pilate found its final resting place on the mountain in the form of Pilatus Lake, and that for a long time it was forbidden to climb the mountain. Woe to one who disturbs the spirit of Pontius Pilate, they said...

Besides the many legends the locals will be delighted to tell you, today you can find many attractions and possibilities on Pilatus. How to reach it? With the steepest railway in the world!

Many thought engineer Eduard Locher was crazy when he proposed the construction of a railway to Pilatus in the 19th century. Still, his idea came to fruition and in 1889 the 4618 meter long railway was opened, and was considered

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Christian Perret

As of April 2015, the Swiss airline company, Swiss International Air Lines introduced seasonal flights to Zagreb and Split. It continued with direct Zürich - Zagreb flights in its winter schedule, four times a week.

Switzerland and the longest Swiss summer slide (1350 m). Not only is Pilatus a mountain for fans of adrenaline sports, but it is also a favorite amongst hikers and walkers, but also amongst fans of other outdoor sports all year long. When you feel like heading to the lowlands again, take the cable car to Kriens, where you can catch a bus to Lucerne.

Just when we got used to the excellently organized transportation system in Switzerland, upon our return home the country spoiled us with yet another benefit. Since we were travelling from Zürich to Zagreb by plane, we left our luggage at the train station in Lucerne, and continued on by boat on the Brienz Lake to Interlaken, and from there by train to Zürich, and our luggage awaited us in the airport of our final destination - in Zagreb. It's easy to travel like that, isn't it? 

Photos: Pilatus and the cableway (top); idyllic snow on the streets of Lucerne (bottom left); a panoramic view of the center of Lucerne (bottom middle); touring Lucerne with a group of Croatian journalists (bottom right).

Travelling enabled by:

Photo archive: Robert Kunštek

Photo: swiss-image.ch / Emanuel Ammon / AURA

Photo: Luzern Tourismus / AURA Fotoagentur

to be a wonder of the world at the time. With a 48 percent incline, it is still the steepest railway in the world and functions with the help of a cogwheel. It is truly a unique experience to ride this railroad, which departs from Alpnachstad, then adeptly runs through the alpine landscape, and with each meter it crosses, it opens incredible views. Snowy peaks, idyllic meadows, clean mountain streams... you will see them all from your window on your way to the peak of Pilatus. If the weather is nice, at the peak you will be awarded with an attractive view of 73 alpine summits and many lakes. Absolutely priceless.

For those who would like to enjoy this beauty for a longer period of time, there are two hotels, three restaurants, and panoramic terraces. If you need more adrenaline, take the "Dragon ride" cableway to Fräkmüntegg, where you find the longest rope park in central

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World attractions

SWEDISH LAPLAND

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Swedish Lapland Unusual, unique, and unforgettable. That is what your holiday in Swedish Lapland, a region in the far north of Sweden, will be like, where you will find a fairytale landscape, clean air, and crystal white snow, midnight sun, the magnificent Aurora Borealis (polar lights), but also many other attractions, unique to only this part of the world.

This cultural region is traditionally inhabited by the Sรกmi people, who are interesting for many reasons. Besides preserving the abundance of folk heritage, these people live in a special way today. If you would like to get to know them, contact one of the local travel agencies and they will enable you to have that unique experience.

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