INFORMATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL CENTRE - HOSTEL
The Drava
story
The Informative and Educational Centre Hostel Drava Story, is the visitor centre of the Public Institution for the management of protected parts of nature and the ecological network of Virovitica-Podravina County, located near the Drava River, in the municipality Čađavica, Virovitica-Podravina County. The facility is located within the protected park, monument of landscape architecture - A group of trees in Noskovačka Dubrava, protected in 1969. This area is a part of the National Ecological Network declared in 2007, which become a part of the European ecological network, Natura 2000 when Croatia joined to EU, but also part of the first Regional Park Mura - Drava declared in the territory of the Republic of Croatia (2011) in the field of 5 Croatian counties, cross-border Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube (HU-HR, 2012), and European Green Belt. The value of the area, in which this property is located, has been recognized at the global level for its exceptional biodiversity and examples of harmonious coexistence of man and nature thus the Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube, is under the protection of UNESCO (Man and Biosphere Programme). The object is former summer residence of Count Draskovic (built in the 19th century) reconstructed through several projects. The facility has been used for years as a Branch School of Primary School Davorin Trstenjak from Čađavica, and has the same purpose, in smaller part, today. The rest of the building is used by the Public Institution for its regular activities, the implementation of informative and educational programs (school in nature, students field work), and also for the development of tourism in protected areas of continental Croatia.
The building was renovated in the period from 2012-2015 through several projects: in 2012 by means of the World Bank; EU Natura 2000 Integration Project by Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection; NIP Office; by Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds and Virovitica Podravina County in 2014; by EU funds (IPA CBC HU-HR 20072013) through the project Three Rivers= One Aim and by means of the Fund for environmental protection and energy efficiency in 2015. Equipping the facility was financed by the Virovitica-Podravina County and the Public Institution. Equipping of the bio-research station, the purchase of equipment for bird watching, telescopes and presentation equipment were funded through the cross-border project Three Rivers= One Aim. The building measures 800 meter² on 3 floors - a basement area, ground floor and attic. It has space for presentations and education, but also accommodations which include 4 multiple bedrooms with 32 beds and two single rooms - a total of 34 beds. Additional features for facility users include the educational path ”In the embrace of Drava”, opened in 2013, which is equipped with 20 info educational boards, a resting area, and a bird-watching tower on the bank of the Drava River. This path connects the Drava story with the Drava River. The additional educational path was created in 2015, in the park which surrounds the centre. The path presents the types of trees and shrubs of this protected park. Nearby, is a bike path with a resting place for cyclists. Centre has its own souvenir shop with traditional souvenirs of the area.
Another benefit is the thematic arrangement of individual spaces of the centre. Installations in space interact with additional audio and video content (World of Owls, Flora, Corner of Butterflies, Fish, Amphibians and Reptiles, the Birds Singing Room, the Drava forest Fairies and Elves), and revitalized and arranged the park in 2015, all of this contributes to a pleasant, eventful stay in the Informative and educational centre - hostel Drava Story. With further projects of equipping and decorating, our Drava Story continues, unique and unrepeatable, always new and wonderful, as is the nature of which it speaks….
Public Institution for the management of protected parts of nature and the ecological network of Virovitica-Podravina County
Noskovci 2/a • 33523 Čađavica • CROATIA OIB: 82943640239 tel: +385 33 722 033 fax: +385 33 721 763 info@virovitica-nature.hr www.virovitica-nature.hr